Partnering with Communities
Getting an evidence-based practice up and running in real-world settings takes purposeful planning-- here are strategies to help! These efforts will help you better meet the specific needs of the communities you serve and address barriers such as social determinants of health, discrimination, and structural racism.
CM and Health Equity
Programs thrive when communities lead. By involving voices from the communities you serve in design and rollout, you create CM programs that are culturally relevant, build trust, increase adoption, and promote sustainability.
Hirchak, K. (2024). Closing the research-to-implementation gap for contingency management as an effective intervention for substance use disorders across diverse communities. Addiction, 119(9), 1519–1521. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16569
Higgins S. T. (2023). Behavior change, health, and health disparities 2023: Contingency management for treating substance use disorders and promoting health in vulnerable populations. Preventive medicine, 176, 107746. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107746
Framework for Cultural Re-centering
Researchers have noted that culturally centered interventions lead to better treatment engagement, acceptability and outcomes.
Venner, K. L., Hernandez-Vallant, A., Hirchak, K. A., & Herron, J. L. (2022). A scoping review of cultural adaptations of substance use disorder treatments across Latinx communities: Guidance for future research and practice. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 137, 108716. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108716
Spotlight on American Indian/Alaska Native Communities
One example of cultural centering of CM has been with American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Incentives that were especially meaningful included the cultural values of bringing families together, gift giving, generosity and supporting the individual’s healthy role in their community.
Hirchak, K. A., Echo-Hawk, H., Parent, S., Peavy, K. M., Webb, K., Bajet, K., Richardson, M., Granbois, A., Herron, J. L., Catron, K., King, K., Parsells, E., Freese, T. E., Thomas, L. R., Rawson, R., Clark, H. W., Roll, J., & McDonell, M. G. (2023). The urgent need for contingency management among Tribal communities in the United States: Considerations for implementation, policy, and sovereignty. Preventive Medicine, 176, 107662. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107662
Hirchak, K. A., Oluwoye, O., Nadeau, M., Richardson, M., Bajet, K., Brigman, M., Herron, J. L., Hernandez-Vallant, A., Vasquez, A., Pham, C., Oliver, K. A., Baukol, P., Webb, K., Belone, L., McDonell, M. G., Venner, K. L., & Campbell, A. N. C. (2023). Coming together for something good: Recommendations from a scoping review for dissemination and implementation science to improve Indigenous substance use disorder treatment. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1265122. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1265122
Behavioral Health Innovations WSU. (2019, August 30). Red Road [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=sx4nAkWG9lM&t=5s
Hirchak, K. A., Leickly, E., Herron, J., Shaw, J., Skalisky, J., Dirks, L. G., Avey, J. P., McPherson, S., Nepom, J., Donovan, D., Buchwald, D., McDonell, M. G., & HONOR Study Team (2018). Focus groups to increase the cultural acceptability of a contingency management intervention for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities. Journal of substance abuse treatment, 90, 57–63. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2018.04.014
Spotlight on Rural Settings
If you’re working in a rural community, there may be different implementation strategies that can lead to increased success. Staffing needs or workforce shortages, stigma related to treatment, and how to ensure long-term program delivery may need additional thought.
Winstanley, E. L., McPherson, S. M., & Korthuis, P. T. (2024). Introduction to the special series: Using evidence to enhance health services for individuals using drugs in rural communities. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice, 19, 59. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13722-024-00489-z
Peavy, K. M., Olsen, J. (2025). Contingency Management Impact: Lived experience and rural practice [Webinar]. Northwest Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Collaborative. https://wsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bw5zh3RpmMIGhIG
Implementation Frameworks and Tools
Implementation frameworks create a roadmap from planning to sustainment. RE-AIM includes 5 domains to help your program better engage the population you work with and monitor on-going success and sustainability of CM at your organization. Click on each domain to learn more.
Becker, S. J., DiClemente-Bosco, K., Rash, C. J., & Garner, B. R. (2023). Effective, but underused: Lessons learned implementing contingency management in real-world practice settings in the United States. Preventive Medicine, 176, 107594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2023.107594
Holtrop, J. S., Estabrooks, P. A., Gaglio, B., Harden, S. M., Kessler, R. S., King, D. K., Kwan, B. M., Ory, M. G., Rabin, B. A., Shelton, R. C., & Glasgow, R. E. (2021). Understanding and applying the RE-AIM framework: Clarifications and resources. Journal of Clinical and Translational Science, 5(1), e126. https://doi.org/10.1017/cts.2021.789
Oluwoye, O., Kriegel, L., Alcover, K. C., McPherson, S., McDonell, M. G., & Roll, J. M. (2020). The dissemination and implementation of contingency management for substance use disorders: A systematic review. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 34(1), 99–110. https://doi.org/10.1037/adb0000487
Glasgow, R. E., Battaglia, C., McCreight, M., Ayele, R. A., & Rabin, B. A. (2020). Making implementation science more rapid: Use of the RE-AIM framework for mid-course adaptations across five health services research projects in the Veterans Health Administration. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 194. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00194
Shelton, R. C., Chambers, D. A., & Glasgow, R. E. (2020). An extension of RE-AIM to enhance sustainability: Addressing dynamic context and promoting health equity over time. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 134.
