Toward a framework for bridging the gap between science and practice in prevention: A focus on evaluator and practitioner perspectives

In the past decade, government agencies and foundations have funded numerous community-driven initiatives in the area of prevention that have demonstrated mixed results in terms of outcomes and impacts. This article addresses several challenges faced by community-driven initiatives that may limit the attainment of significant program outcomes. A preliminary framework is presented that identifies the current state of prevention practice, the contributions of prevention science, and the barriers that limit the reciprocal transfer of knowledge between practice and science. Evaluation strategies are also presented which address these barriers, potentially bridging the gap between prevention science and prevention practice. The perspectives of those in the field are included through the presentation of the results of a survey of 101 Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) project directors, evaluators, and consultants. Although the focus is on evaluator and practitioner perspectives, the purpose of the paper is to stimulate discussion and action among the multiple stakeholders in the field of prevention.