Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #105817

Kraig J. Knudsen, PhD, Center for Mental Health Services Research, Washington University in Saint Louis, 1 Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1196, Saint Louis, MO 63130, 314-935-8140, knudsenkraig@hotmail.com, Wynne S. Korr, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1207 West Oregon, Urbana, IL 61801, and John A. Encandela, PhD, ORC Macro, 3 Corporate Sq NE, Ste 370, Atlanta, GA 30329.

Stakeholder groups have diverse views about the adoption of evidence-based practices (EBP) in programs that serve persons with severe mental illness (SMI). Although a number or EBPs are available for use, they have not been readily adopted. One reason for this slow adoption is the opposing viewpoints of stakeholders. As mental health systems become stakeholder-driven, it is imperative to understand how the motives and priorities of these vested groups can impact the decision to adopt new practices. A better awareness of these viewpoints can lead to a stakeholder-driven mental health system that is built on consensus and agreement. This study explored what issues influenced stakeholder perspectives on the dissemination of one evidence-based practice, Assertive Community Treatment.

Various stakeholders were interviewed to discuss the adoption-implementation process of ACT and other best-practices in their states and nationally. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 participants representing state mental health system administrators, program directors, advocates (e.g., consumers and family members), and academicians. Using symbolic-interactionism as a conceptual framework, interview transcripts were coded, categorized in themes, and placed in a framework which revealed a theory explaining how and why stakeholders' attitudes differ about the dissemination of ACT. The study found that participant's viewpoints were contingent upon: 1) their in-group alliances, 2) their past experiences with the mental health system, 3) their interpretation of other stakeholder groups' motives and priorities, and 4) how they define the current ‘situation' of persons with mental illness, as well as the system responsible for their care.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Articulate why stakeholders have different perspectives on the current needs of their mental health system.
• 2.Identify what stakeholder priorities impact the decision to adopt, reject, or adapt a new practice in a mental health system.
• 3.Discuss how stakeholder groups interact and interpret each groups incentives and motives for changing existing structures and practices in their mental health system.

Keywords: Mental Health System, Planning

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.