State policymakers in Washington are planning a large-scale effort to disseminate research findings and assessment tools on adverse childhood experiences (ACE). The body of research related to ACE includes a tool assessing exposure to childhood trauma as well as findings relating those early experiences to negative health behaviors and outcomes later in life. In Washington State, state and community organizations are encouraged to use this research to engage schools and health and social services providers in efforts to improve the health and well-being of residents, especially youth. This presents an opportunity to study both how the state goes about designing an effort to get research used and the factors that influence which local providers take up the research and how they use it. The first phase of the study will examine how the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) develops their plan to disseminate ACE research evidence and clarify whether the State and other key policy partners have developed content and plans to promote the incorporation of ACE in practice. Investigators will analyze how the State and key policy actors view ACE and its use and value. They will also examine the reach of ACE across geographic regions of Washington State. They will interview key policy actors in Washington, and gather a body of literature about ACE that these policy actors deem key evidence. They will also conduct a literature and grant review to see if there are similar dissemination activities taking place in other states. Findings from the first phase will inform the design of the second phase.
The first phase of the study will examine how the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) develops their plan to disseminate ACE research evidence and clarify whether the State and other key policy partners have developed content and plans to promote the incorporation of ACE in practice.
