Children's Behavioral Health

Children’s Services Evidence – Based Practice Advisory Committee

 

On this page:

Mission Purpose Publications

Current Projects Resources

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Mission

The Children’s Services Evidence-Based Practice Advisory Committee reviews and advises the Office of Child and Family Services and other key stakeholders on proven treatment practices used in addressing the behavioral health disorders of childhood. 

The Committee reviews and assesses treatments and practices for the following:

• Level of empirical evidence
• Outcomes
• Effect size
• Applicability to Maine’s children
• Ease of dissemination
• Fidelity monitoring
• Sustainability

Purpose

The Committee was formed in 2007 as a subgroup of the DHHS Evidence-Based Practice Coordinating Committee and is charged with researching, evaluating, and disseminating information regarding evidence-based practices for behavioral health conditions in children.  In addition to reviewing the effectiveness of specific treatments, the Committee examines implementation of evidence-based practices in the community in order to identify potential barriers to increased accessibility of evidence-based practice in Maine. 

The Committee is strictly advisory in nature and does not make policy, nor does it or advocate for specific treatments or practices.  Members of the Committee include a broad representation of stakeholders in Maine’s children’s behavioral health system, including family representatives, youth advocacy groups, and provider organizations.

Publications

Evidence-Based Treatments for Children and Adolescents with Disruptive Behavior Disorders

In 2007-2008, the Committee conducted a comprehensive review of treatments for Disruptive Behavior Disorders as defined by the DSM-IV-TR, excluding Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  This report summarizes the Committee’s findings.  Treatments are rated according to their level of scientific evidence.  Implementation requirements for treatments rated with the highest levels of evidence are also included in the report (pdf*).

Current Projects 

The Committee is currently reviewing interventions and treatments for Pervasive Developmental Disorders, including Autism.

Evidence-Based Treatments in Autism Spectrum Disorders (word*1.28MB) or (pdf*1.03MB) - A report that reviews the scientific research behind treatments for Autism Spectrum Disorders

Resources

• Achieving the Promise - Transforming Mental Health Care in America: The final report of the President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health.
• Evidence-Based Treatment for Children and Adolescents - The evidence-based practice website of the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (Division 53 of the American Psychological Association) and the Network on Youth Mental Health.
• NAMI – Choosing the Right Treatment: What Families Need to Know About Evidence-Based Practice - A comprehensive family guide on identifying and choosing evidence-based practices.
• National Association of State Mental Health Directors, National Research Institute Evidence-Based Practices Website - Website that includes commonly used definitions of evidence-based practice and research on implementation of evidence-based practice in the states. 
• National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP) - A registry of evidence-based treatments and prevention programs for children and adults by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SMAHSA).
• National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) - A research center based at the University of South Florida’s Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute dedicated to studying implementation of evidence-based practices.  The website includes a monograph on the science, theory, and practice regarding implementation.
• SAMHSA Guide to Evidence-Based Practices on the Web - A guide for the public on evidence-based practice, including links to websites and reviews of research findings on evidence-based practices.
• Therapy Advisor - A free and anonymous website for consumers, families, and practitioners with information on evidence-based practices for specific conditions, including links to relevant books and articles.