Putting science to work: A statewide attempt to identify and implement effective interventions

Few systematic efforts have been undertaken to identify and deploy evidence-based interventions at a state-wide level. Moreover, no previous attempts have attempted to delineate criteria for judging the effectiveness of evidence-based interventions, and then to apply these criteria to the existing evidence base to evaluate interventions for children's behavioral and emotional disorders. Chorpita and their colleagues are to be commended for addressing these much-needed issues, and systematically attempting to close the gaps between "what we know" versus "what we do." While their work represents an important step forward, further evaluation of its impact will be needed. Nonetheless, in the hope that they will succeed, other groups of scientists, parents, providers, and policy-makers should consider such strategic approaches in closing the gaps between optimal, evidence-based treatments and current treatment practices.