Lawrence Palinkas, the Albert G. and Frances Lomas Feldman Professor of Social Policy and Health in the USC School of Social Work, was awarded a $180,179 grant by the William T. Grant Foundation to look at how policymakers and practitioners acquire, use and interpret research evidence.

California and several counties in Ohio are currently undergoing a large, federally funded trial investigating an attempt to implement an evidence-based, statewide foster care program – Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care – with the help of community development teams. The grant will give Palinkas access to agency leaders who are in the midst of making decisions about adopting and implementing the program, and he will study how they acquire research evidence on the program and other relevant topics.

"Despite all the emphasis being placed on adoption of evidence-based practices in health and social services, we have very little understanding as to how providers and systems leaders acquire, evaluate and use research evidence when making decisions about adopting new and innovative programs," Palinkas said. "This project will hopefully give us some of that understanding and enable us to make predictions as to when and how providers and administrators use research evidence and whether this use actually leads to improved outcomes for patients and consumers."

It will also enable them to more effectively translate research into clinical practice, he added.