Harnessing the Growing Momentum for Implementation Support
By Dr. Julia E. Moore, Executive Director
4-min read
Over the past few years, we ’ve had countless conversations with funders, intermediaries, researchers, and implementers who are passionate about improving the way we implement and think about implementation support. As 2024 ended, it seemed like this energy and momentum grew rapidly. There’s a buzz around implementation support coming from many different places.
In 2025, we have an incredible opportunity. It feels like we’re witnessing a movement—a shift in how people think about and approach implementation and implementation support. People are asking more profound questions, seeking better strategies, and wanting to build capacity in ways that have meaningful and lasting impacts. We have a chance right now to leverage this momentum and strengthen both the science and the practice of implementation support.
Building on the Momentum
At TCI, we often describe ourselves as ‘rogue scientists’ – so it makes sense that the place we would love to start a movement from is the evidence base. If we want to make implementation support more impactful, we need to understand what works, for whom, and under what conditions – related to implementation support (not just the programs, practices, and implementation strategies that are being delivered).
While the research in this area is still relatively sparse, two recent special issues focus specifically on the science and practice of implementation support (sometimes called training and technical assistance). In July 2024, we featured the first special issue of the journal, Evaluation & the Health Professions. This month’s featured resource is the second special issue.
These articles explore research and evaluation questions and provide practical examples of implementation support. With hundreds of millions of dollars invested annually in training and technical assistance, plus the large financial investments into research and service provision, the need for a rigorous evaluation of how best to support implementation and scale-up has never been more pressing.
Here are a few of the articles that might be of particular interest.
The Need for Theories of Change in Training and Technical Assistance: Where the Rubber Meets the Road
This is a great place to start if you want to delve into the special issue. This commentary puts into perspective key issues raised by all of the articles in the special issue. The commentary takes the articles one step further, highlighting the need for motivational theories that drive support mechanisms and unraveling the “black box” and figuring out what drives behavior change from an instructional point of view (i.e., tying learning together with the core competencies as part of capacity building).
Evidence-Based Implementation Support: Considering Motivation and Capacity Within the Ecosystem of Training and Technical Assistance
The authors of this commentary (including TCI’s Julia Moore) describe eight priorities for furthering effective and efficient training and technical assistance focusing on what funders need to know: (1) an ecosystem of implementation support connecting research and practice; (2) capacity building; (3) equity; (4) trust and relationships; (5) evaluation; (6) continuous quality improvement; (7) implementation support mechanisms; and (8) cost-effective solutions.
Advancing the Science and Practice of Training and Technical Assistance to Improve the Equitable Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices
This article explores how to embed equity into the Interactive Systems Framework and introduces the new Healthy Equity Interactive Systems Framework. As the field of implementation science aims to better incorporate equity into frameworks and how we implement, this is a great article to get people started.
Embracing Complexity: Developing a Framework for Evaluating a Multi-Faceted Training and Technical Assistance System
This article presents a framework for evaluating implementation support. There is a strong call from the field for more evidence about what works in supporting implementation, so it’s great to see frameworks on this topic.
Who Should Care About Implementation Support?
One fascinating aspect of implementation support is the wide range of audiences it touches. Over the past year, we have talked to funders, intermediaries, researchers, and delivery system organizations, each with unique questions and challenges. Here are some of the types of questions we have heard from each audience.
Funders (e.g., research funders, service provision funders, and philanthropic and non-profits funders): How can funding streams promote high-quality implementation support? What evidence should funders look for when investing in training and technical assistance? What training and expertise do people need to effectively support implementation? What roles do funders play in providing some degree of implementation support for their funded work?
Leaders of intermediary organizations or training and technical assistance centers: What strategies can be used to enhance the impact of implementation support? How can intermediaries ensure they are applying evidence-based approaches to their support? What competencies do staff need to support implementation?
Researchers and evaluators of implementation support: What aspects of implementation support are most critical to evaluate? How can evaluations move beyond outputs and satisfaction to measure meaningful outcomes?
Delivery system organizations (e.g., health centers, schools, community organizations): What support is available to help select, adapt, and implement evidence-based programs/initiatives that fit their unique context?
For each of these groups, the special issue offers valuable insights, frameworks, and research to address these pressing questions.
Being Part of the Momentum
What excites us most here at TCI is the sense of shared purpose related to implementation support. Whether you’re a funder, practitioner, or researcher, we’re all working toward the same goal: making implementation support as impactful as possible. We hope we can continue building on this momentum together.
There are so many ways you can learn more and get involved.
The editors of this special issue are exploring the idea of a conference or meeting on implementation support, which would be an incredible opportunity for collaboration and learning.
At TCI, we’re committed to supporting implementation support capacity building through our core competencies, our courses, and Implementation Support Specialist certificate program.
Details are in development, but at TCI we’re planning an invitation-only free virtual event series in mid-2025 to share the latest advancements in implementation support with funders and intermediaries.
Together, we can ensure that implementation support fulfills its potential, driving meaningful change and improving outcomes in every corner of the world.
Click here to explore the special issue of Evaluation & the Health Professions. This special issue is publicly available until April 20.
This article was featured in our monthly Implementation in Action bulletin! Want to receive our next issue? Subscribe here.