Evidence Based Interventions

Evidence-based interventions are practices or programs that have peer-reviewed, documented empirical evidence of effectiveness. Evidence-based interventions use a continuum of integrated policies, strategies, activities, and services whose effectiveness has been proven or informed by research and evaluation.

The SS/HS Initiative and its grantees use data-driven strategies, identify needs and gaps, prioritize needs, identify evidence-based practices, and implement strategies to achieve successful outcomes for children, families, schools, and communities. The initiative targets several specific outcomes:

• Decreasing the number of students who abuse substances
• Improving school climate
• Increasing the number of students who receive mental health services
• Reducing the number of students who are exposed to violence.

To meet these goals, communities must work together to provide an array of high-quality services and supports for young people (birth through high school). As such, one of the guiding principles of the SS/HS Initiative is to use evidence-based interventions to ensure that safe and nurturing environments for young people are designed and implemented based on knowledge and are informed by science. Many SS/HS grantees continually collect data to assess needs and determine which evidence-based practices are having lasting effects on students. Based on such data-driven findings about what works locally, SS/HS grantees have selected one or more evidence-based interventions to implement, for example: Second Step, 40 Developmental Assets, Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports, First 5, The Incredible Years, and many more.