LifeSpring Blog

For the past several years there has been a lot of talk about implementing evidence-based practices in behavioral healthcare settings such as LifeSpring.  At the most basic level, an evidence-based practice is a treatment method that has been shown to be effective through outcome research studies. 

Just as medications must undergo rigorous study to demonstrate their effectiveness before they are released for use, there has been a strong movement to encourage the adoption and implementation of behavioral health treatments that have similarly been proven effective.

In the not so distant future, it is highly probable that funding sources will only pay for those behavioral health services that have supporting research.  Staff members at LifeSpring have been hard at work developing evidence-based practices within our service system.  Currently, LifeSpring is a state leader in the adoption of Systems of Care services- an evidence based practice for children and families.  Due to the excellenr work by the Children and Family services staff, county offices, and our Development Department, today we have a Systems of Care program in every county that is in LifeSpring’s exclusive geographic area.

LifeSpring also provides an Assertive Community Treatment Program (ACT) and Supported Employment which are also evidence based practices. Both of these programs have an excellent reputation and are seen as models throughout the state.

LifeSpring is still working to implement additional evidence based practices such as   Integrated Dual Diagnosis Treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and evidence based approaches to treat people with substance abuse in prison re-entry programs.  The implementation of evidence-based practices is just one of the many things that LifeSpring staff   are doing to continually improve the quality of our services.

Terry L. Stawar, Ed.D.

President/CEO

LifeSpring