Practice improvement collaboratives: An overview

The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment created Practice Improvement Collaboratives (PICs) to promote implementation of evidence-based practices for the treatment of alcohol and drug dependence through partnerships of practitioners, investigators, policy makers and consumers. Early implementation experiences within 11 PICs are examined and factors that facilitated and inhibited program maturation are identified. Case studies, structured interviews and a review of presentations and reports were used to document developmental processes. Successful development consistently required environmental adaptation, construction of formal organizational structures and processes, recruitment and retention of membership, and implementation of activities that fostered the mission of the Collaboratives. The Collaboratives provide a useful model for promoting the application of research-based innovations to practice and policy in the treatment of alcohol and drug abuse and dependence.