FEMALE SPEAKER: I know it’s here somewhere. I was just looking at it. Ah. Here it is. Tiffany says that over the last several years she’s used crack, meth, oxy, marijuana. Here. The list goes on. FEMALE SPEAKER: Well, is she attending NA yet? FEMALE SPEAKER: I’ve been hesitant to have her do that. FEMALE SPEAKER: Why? FEMALE SPEAKER: Well, she already has her hands full. Three rests in two years, emotional and physical abuse growing up, and she still isn’t free of her pimp. It’s just a lot to ask of her to also start going to NA, especially since we really don’t know how effective those 12-step programs really are. FEMALE SPEAKER: What do you mean? FEMALE SPEAKER: I don’t know if I’ve seen any research to support it. Have you? FEMALE SPEAKER: You have to be kidding. 12-step programs are the gold standard. FEMALE SPEAKER: But the research–FEMALE SPEAKER: Look at the drugs she’s been abusing. You’re telling me this doesn’t make her a candidate for the primary approach for treating addiction? You can supplement it with other approaches, but the 12-step program is the foundation for everything else. FEMALE SPEAKER: I don’t agree. I think some of this depends on the client. And in Tiffany’s case, the research–FEMALE SPEAKER: No. You’re not hearing me. Research and practice are two very different things. I think you should get Tiffany into NA. And do it soon. Bradley Family Episode 4 Additional Content Attribution MUSIC: Music by Clean Cuts ©2013 Laureate Education, Inc. 1  

The first steps toward narrowing the gap between  research and practice are recognizing that one exists and educating  oneself and others. Social workers must realize the benefits and  eliminate the misconceptions surrounding evidence-based practice. In the  Bradley episode featured in the resources, the social worker combines  her assessment of Tiffani Bradley’s individual situation with her  knowledge of research to evaluate her supervisor’s recommended  intervention. Now that the social worker has recognized a gap,  she/he/they need to access potentially relevant information for a  specific case and critically analyze for its applicability to that case.  This week’s Assignment allows you to practice these critical next steps  in the Bradley family case.

To prepare for  this Assignment, review Episode 4 of the Bradley family case study.  Develop a list with 2–3 researchable questions that you could use to  find evidence about the efficacy of 12-step programs or other treatments  for substance abuse in adolescents. Then, using the resources provided,  search for two evidence-based interventions that would be appropriate  for Tiffani Bradley. Be sure to consider quality of research, readiness  for dissemination, replications, and costs. By Day 7

Submit a 2.5 page paper that includes the following: Summaries of the two interventions and their respective research regarding effectiveness Recommendations for Tiffani’s social worker that address the following:     Factors to consider when choosing between the two interventions The social work skills that the staff would require to implement the intervention The training required to implement each intervention An evaluation of evidenced-based practice based on your reaction to  the experience, in which you address the following questions:     Would you, as a beginning researcher, have enough knowledge to  benefit from researching evidence-based practices? Why or why not? How might the research that you conducted increase your confidence in the intervention with Tiffani? Is the information provided enough to make a decision regarding interventions? Why or why not? Appropriate APA citations in your writing