1 Organizational Readiness Jan M. Markiewicz, M.Ed. National Center August 13, 2007

2 Learning Objectives Participants will be able to identify the rationale for evaluating readiness Participants will be able to describe key questions to assess readiness

3 Is Your Organization Ready to Change? Conduct an honest assessment of organizational readiness. An objective, concrete organizational assessment should be conducted and should involve staff at all levels, to get multiple perspectives. Such an assessment can help identify barriers to the implementation of EBPs or new practices early on and provide a better understanding of the roles and responsibilities of different personnel in the implementation process. Keep in mind that organizations tend to overestimate their readiness in self-assessments!

4 Key Questions in Assessing Your Organization These questions represent key issues to consider when changing practice within an organization. The targeted areas are ones that might be considered “deal breakers” if not considered in the planning stage. Clients Are clients screened for trauma- related symptoms that could qualify them for the new practice? Leadership/Clinicians/Staff Does the agency and clinical leadership actively support the adoption of the new practice for reasons clinicians can understand and share? Supervision Are supervisors prepared to learn about the new practice through training, careful study of the literature, and consultation with experts? Internal and External Stakeholders Has information been collected from key stakeholders within the agency (e.g. intake, records, and billing personnel) that might be affected by the new practice? Program/Culture/Services Have measurement systems been developed to provide feedback on the progress in adoption of the new practice? Finance and Administration Will current reimbursement practices cover the new practice? Education Do therapists have adequate time to formally learn about the new practice?

5 Additional Information, Help, or Resources Jan Markiewicz, Training Director Allred, C., Markiewicz, J., Amaya-Jackson, L., Putnam, F., Saunders, B., Wilson, C., Kelly, A., Kolko, D., Berliner, L., & Rosch, J. (2005). The Organizational Readiness and Capacity Assessment. Durham NC: UCLA-Duke National Center for Child Traumatic Stress. Fixsen, D., Naoom, S., Blase, K., Friedman, R., & Wallace, F. (2005). Implementation Research: A Synthesis of Literature. Tampa, FL: Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute. Kauffman Best Practices Final Report. (2004). Closing the Quality Chasm in Child Abuse Treatment: Identifying and Disseminating Best Practices. Kauffman Foundation: PA.