Evidence-Based Practices

The term "evidence-based practice" is defined in many ways. The Institute of Medicine defined evidence-based practice as "the integration of the best research evidence with clinical expertise and patient values."1 The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health defined evidence-based practices as "a range of treatments and services whose effectiveness is well documented."2

Promising Practices

Promising practices refer to "interventions that have some research evidence to indicate that they produce positive outcomes…. Promising practices require additional supporting research evidence to be considered evidence-based practices."3

Practice-Based Evidence

Practice-based evidence has been defined as "a range of treatment approaches and supports that are derived from positive cultural attributes of the local society and traditions. Practice-based evidence services are accepted as effective by the local community, through community consensus, and address the therapeutic and healing needs of individuals and families from a culturally-specific framework."4

1Institute of Medicine, Crossing the quality chasm: A new health system for the 21st century, The National Academies Press, Washington, DC, 2001.

2The President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, Achieving the Promise: Transforming Mental Health Care in America, DHHS Pub. No. SMA-03-3832. Rockville, MD, 2003.

3Jeanne C. Rivard, G. Michael Lane, Kristin Roberts and Vijay Ganju, Promoting an evidence-based culture in children's mental health: A resource guide, NASMHPD Research Institute, Inc., 2007.

4Mareasa R. Isaacs, Larke N. Huang, Mario Hernandez and Holly Echo-Hawk, The road to evidence: The intersection of evidence-based practices and cultural competence in children's mental health, National Alliance of Multi-Ethnic Behavioral Health Associations, 2005.

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