Although evidence-based practices (EBPs) exist to support emotional and behavioral health for children and their families, their adoption in community settings remains startlingly low. While therapist training is a promising method to promote the successful adoption of EBPs, there is often a lack of agreement on the foundational skills therapists need to be successful in learning and adopting specific EBP approaches. Unfortunately, this absence of agreement hinders the advancement of training interventions that can better support EBP implementations in community health settings and provide families with access to research-based care.To address this concern, this study produced consensus on the core therapist skills and corresponding training methods that support the adoption of family focused EBPs in community health settings. Using a mixed method modified Delphi study process, data were collected from a group of 51 panel experts representing 11 family focused EBP models commonly implemented in community mental health settings to treat SED symptoms in youth. This expert panel reached consensus on 175 skills considered most important for successful EBP adoption. Follow up semi-structured interviews with participants yielded agreement on the training methods most promising to support therapists in acquiring these foundational skills. Research findings establish a specific skillset not presently found in the literature that crosscuts multiple family focused EBPs. These findings have significant implications to inform future training interventions supportive of EBP adoption in community health settings. Results are applicable to community health providers and leaders making strategic decisions about investment in EBP training and workforce development. Moreover, a call to clinical training programs is established suggesting this core therapist skillset be used to guide future curriculum development and assessment of strengths and capacity of therapists in training.
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