A Sustaining Partnership That Connects Service and Research to Prevent Mental and Substance Use Disorders: Experience with the Samhsa/Ce-PIM Partnership

Background:  We discuss an innovative partnership model that links service delivery and research around the prevention of mental and substance use disorders.  The SAMHSA/Ce-PIM partnership was formed nearly four years ago between the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration and the Center for Prevention Implementation Methodology (Ce-PIM) for Substance Abuse and Sexual Risk Behavior, which is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. 

Approach:  Using methods from implementation science, we discuss how qualitative and quantitative approaches are useful both in monitoring and facilitating the work of this partnership.  Using the lens of cultural exchange theory, we discuss how this partnership evolves over stages, identifying key milestones and assessing both process and outcomes.

Results:  This partnership is based on mutual self-interest, focusing as it does on SAMHSA’s unique leadership and responsibility to “yield better outcomes for people with, or  at risk for, mental and substance use disorders,” and Ce-PIM’s focus on bringing methodologic rigor to both the research and practice of implementing effective prevention programs.  As Ce-PIM is funded by NIDA, it is aligned with this institute’s goal of “bringing the power of science to bear on drug abuse and addiction [including] ensuring the rapid and effective dissemination and use of the results of research to significantly improve prevention…”   While these mutual interests are valuable in forming such a partnership, specific structures and processes are needed to sustain and strengthen this partnership.  We discuss these structures in the context of a collaborative effort to predict and improve sustainment of four prevention programs at SAMHSA; CSAP’s Strategic Prevention Framework State Incentive and Partnerships for Success, CSAP’s STOP Act as an extension of the Drug Free Communities, CMHS’  Garrett Lee Smith State-sponsored Youth Suicide Prevention Program, and CMHS’ Prevention Practices in Schools.   We discuss how both generalizable knowledge and local knowledge is continually exchanged and increased across prevention practice, policy, and research. Unobtrusive, automated measures of implementation are presented as well.

Conclusions  This partnership provides a general model for federal service agencies and researchers to collaborate.  We point to future directions of mutual interest including the uses of technology in implementing prevention programs, addressing the needs of health disparity populations, and integration of behavioral health in primary care.