Abstract: Communication Is Key: State-Level Organizational Determinants of Readiness for Evidence-Based Programming within the Cooperative Extension System (Society for Prevention Research 24th Annual Meeting)

Schedule:

Friday, June 3, 2016

Seacliff C (Hyatt Regency San Francisco)

* noted as presenting author

Sarah Meyer Chilenski, PhD, Research Associate, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Jonathan R. Olson, PhD, Research & Evaluation Scientist, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Jill A. Schulte, MEd, Implementation Specialist, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Daniel Perkins, PhD, Professor, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA

Mark T. Greenberg, PhD, Edna Peterson Bennett Chair; Professor, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

Richard Spoth, PhD, F. Wendell Miller Senior Prevention Scientist Director, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Introduction

The necessity to implement evidence-based programs to support the positive development of youth and families is increasingly becoming part of national policy. Organizations that are not “ready” to adopt an evidence-based approach to programming will likely lose support and resources, disallowing them to serve youth and families as they have set out to do. To examine factors that may assist organizations in adapting to this demand, the current study draws from a national sample of Cooperative Extension personnel involved in youth and family programming at state, regional, and local levels. Our purpose was to examine characteristics of the organizational context within the Extension System that may promote readiness for an evidence-based prevention approach to youth and family programming.

Methods

The current study draws from a national sample of Cooperative Extension personnel in 2009 to examine characteristics within their organizational context that may facilitate successful change related to youth and family programming. Data were collected from 946 4-H/Youth Development and Family and Consumer Sciences employees at all levels of the Cooperative Extension System. Self-reported indices of each state organization’s openness to change, leadership, morale, communication, and resources were constructed to assess the organizational context. Dependent variables included indicators of readiness to implement prevention and evidence-based programming. Multi-level mixed models with state-level aggregates of independent variables and individual-level dependent variables were run with SAS V9.2. All models controlled for relevant individual demographic characteristics.

Results

Ratings of organizational leadership, communication, openness to change, and morale were rated positively, whereas the adequacy of resources was rated as low. Though Extension’s focus on prevention was rated quite high, ratings on other readiness indicators were rated lower. Results from our multivariate models suggest that the organizational context strongly associated with indicators of readiness for evidence-based prevention programming, and specifically, that the clarity of communication was the most important characteristic.

Conclusion

An organization’s quality of communication as well as openness of leadership and an organization’s openness to change are important factors likely to affect success at integrating evidence-based prevention programming into current practices. The presentation will discuss these findings and offer concrete recommendations as to how organizational communication may be improved.

Abstract: Communication Is Key: State-Level Organizational Determinants of Readiness for Evidence-Based Programming within the Cooperative Extension System (Society for Prevention Research 24th Annual Meeting)

586 Communication Is Key: State-Level Organizational Determinants of Readiness for Evidence-Based Programming within the Cooperative Extension System