Implementation science is the scientific study of methods and strategies that facilitate the uptake of evidence-based practice and research into regular use by practitioners and policymakers.

The field of implementation science seeks to systematically close the gap between what we know and what we do (often referred to as the know-do gap) by identifying and addressing the barriers that slow or halt the uptake of proven health interventions and evidence based practices.

Source: https://impsciuw.org/implementation-science/learn/implementation-science-overview/

Implementation support practitioners are professionals supporting others in implementing evidence-informed practices, policies and programs, and in sustaining and scaling evidence for population impact. They are not involved in direct service delivery or management and work closely with the leadership and staff needed to effectively deliver direct clinical, therapeutic or educational services to individuals, families and communities.

Source: https://bmchealthservres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12913-020-05145-1

Core Competencies for Implementation Support Practitioners – UNC School of Social Work, National Implementation Research, European Implementation Collaborative and Centre for Effective Services: https://cippro.wpengine.com/resources/implementation-support-practitioner-competencies/

Core Competencies for Implementation Practice — The Center for Implementation (please note this document is being updated, and a revised version will be released soon): https://thecenterforimplementation.com/toolbox/core-competencies

Learn more about the Implementation Support Specialist certificate program offered by The Center for Implementation: https://thecenterforimplementation.com/certificate-program (Applications for the Level 1 certification are open year-round.)

Learn more about the Certificate Program in Implementation Practice offered by the Collaborative for Implementation Practice: https://implementationpractice.org/certificate

The Center for Implementation (TCI)

• For those who mentioned wanting resources that are tangible, easy-to-understand, and that aren’t academic, TCI’s toolbox could be helpful to you: https://thecenterforimplementation.com/toolbox

• For greater connection and support for your implementation work, consider joining TCI’s online community of changemakers: the Implementing Change Community. Learn more here: https://thecenterforimplementation.com/community

• You can also learn more about TCI’s comprehensive online training here: https://thecenterforimplementation.com/online-training

Collaborative for Implementation Practice

• Recordings and resources for previous Institute on Implementation Practice events can be accessed here: https://implementationpractice.org/events/

• Additional tools, publications, blogs and podcasts are available here: https://implementationpractice.org/resources/

• The CIP team had the privilege of co-editing a special supplement to the Stanford Social Innovation Review titled Bringing Equity to Implementation, which includes eight case studies detailing how implementation science was explicitly used to advance equity. The open-source supplement can be accessed here: https://ssir.org/supplement/bringing_equity_to_implementation

• A corresponding Equitable Implementation Guide is also available here: https://implementationpractice.org/resources/centering-equity-in-your-work-a-guide-for-equitable-implementation/

The NIRN Active Implementation Hub has freely available online modules here: https://nirn.fpg.unc.edu/ai-hub

The Society for Implementation Research Collaboration (SIRC) is creating spaces for implementation support practitioners to come together with implementation researchers; learn more here: https://societyforimplementationresearchcollaboration.org/network-of-expertise/practitioner-networks-of-expertise-home/