Rockville, Oct. 21, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has awarded an Abt Associates-led team an $8.2 million contract to develop guidance for the behavioral health field on evidence-based practices that address mental health and substance use issues. The contract includes a base year and three option years. Each year, the Abt team will develop approximately five guidebooks that will provide SAMHSA grantees and others in the field the ability to identify, implement and evaluate behavioral health practices and programs that research shows improve outcomes.
The Abt team will work with SAMHSA and its partners to develop the guidebooks to help organizations choose, implement and evaluate programs and practices. The team will review the research related to the behavioral health topics of concern, programs and practices that address the topic and implementation and evaluation resources. They also will identify which settings and populations have experienced positive outcomes because of the interventions. Technical expert panels will provide valuable input to development of the guidebooks. Abt is partnering with A-G Associates to provide logistics support for the panels.
“People in the field lack tools they need to identify and implement effective programs and practices to meet the needs of their population,” says Sarah Steverman, an associate in Abt’s Division of Health and Environment. “These guidebooks will enable behavioral health practitioners and organizations to make informed, evidence-based decisions to address the concerns of their communities.”
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About Abt Associates
Abt Associates is an engine for social impact, dedicated to moving people from vulnerability to security. Harnessing the power of data and our experts’ insights, we provide research, consulting and technical services globally in the areas of health, environmental and social policy, technology and international development. http://www.abtassociates.com