Fostering healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral development through effective implementation and scale-up

Abstract

The evidence base around what causes mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders is substantial. Likewise, researchers have found methods for preventing and treating disorders, as well as for promoting healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being. However, high rates of these disorders continue to persist in children and adolescents across the United States. A recent report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine entitled Fostering Healthy Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Development in Children and Youth: A National Agenda explores updated research in epidemiology, risk and protective factors, effective strategies, and implementation science that will help diverse partners and stakeholders better support healthy mental, emotional, and behavioral development. This paper outlines the implementation science research related to programs detailed in the report and emphasizes the key components for successful intervention implementation and scale-up. It highlights the necessity of identifying core intervention components, as well as other factors such as community partnerships, implementation strategies, and the systems capacities necessary for increasing success and sustainability.