The National Collaborative For Implementation Support
The National Collaborative for Implementation Support (NC-IS) aims to improve the lives and outcomes of people and communities through the adoption, implementation, sustainment, and scaling of innovative, evidence-based, and equitable interventions in justice, health, and community settings. Their vision is to become a national leader in change initiatives that build the capacity of practitioners, organizations, communities, and systems to effectively use interventions and improve outcomes. NC-IS’s Executive Leadership Team, led by Drs. Dara Drawbridge, Brian Daly, Michelle Crist, and Amy Thornton were joined by 19 Project Co-Leaders and Team Members whose efforts drove tremendous work across eight projects in FY25 that support implementation in state agencies and communities.
Meet The Team:
Dara Drawbridge, PhD
Executive Leader
Brian Daly, MD
Executive Leader
Michele Crist, PhD
Executive Leader
Amy Thornton, BS
Executive Leader
Charlie Clark, BS
Research Coordinator II
Chelsea Colageo, BS
Implementation Support Specialist
Sam Fagan, MA
Clinical Research Coordinator I
Elena Munzell, MA
Implementation Support Specialist
Emma Narkewicz, MPA
Clinical Research Coordinator III
Hanaan Osman, MA
Clinical Research Coordinator
Research:
Massachusetts Center of Excellence for Specialty Courts
Principal Investigators: Drawbridge & Daly
Funding Source: Executive Office of the Massachusetts Trial Court
The Massachusetts Center of Excellence (CoE) for Specialty Courts is an initiative of the Executive Office of the Massachusetts Trial Court. It is operated by the National Collaborative for Implementation Support at UMass Chan Medical School. Treatment Courts serve individuals involved with the court system who are at high likelihood of system re-involvement and experience behavioral health disorders. The CoE supports treatment courts across the commonwealth through implementation, dissemination, research, evaluation, and policy advisement.
Achieving Outcomes through Implementation Support: Advancing Risk-Need-Responsivity
Principal Investigators: Drawbridge & Crist
Funding Source: Massachusetts Office of Community Corrections
The National Collaborative for Implementation Support has partnered with the Massachusetts Office of Community Corrections. We support the implementation of Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) across a statewide system of Community Justice Support Centers to improve public safety.
This project is informed by the Interactive Systems Framework for Dissemination and Implementation and the Evidence-Based System for Innovation Support. These frameworks enhance effective implementation of risk-needs assessment, case management, and cognitive-behavioral groups.
Shannon Community Safety Initiative: Local Action Research Partner
Principal Investigators: Crist & Drawbridge
Funding Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety & Security
The National Collaborative for Implementation Support is partnered with the City of Fitchburg in its Shannon Community Safety Initiative (CSI). We provide research, evaluation, training, and technical assistance. These efforts aim to improve youth and young adult outcomes in the Fitchburg, Gardner, and Leominster communities.
Our Shannon CSI work includes several key components. We assist with implementing and monitoring risk assessments. A significant focus is the design of intervention maps and implementation blueprints. We also conduct community risk assessments and needs and resource assessments. Additionally, we design and facilitate a Shannon Young Adult Advisory Board.
Enhancing System Delivery of Risk-Need-Responsivity through the Voice of Lived Experience
Principal Investigators: Drawbridge & Crist
Funding Source: Massachusetts Office of Community Corrections
The National Collaborative for Implementation Support partnered with the Massachusetts Office of Community Corrections. Working together, we’ve planned, designed, and deployed a Community Advisory Board. The Community Advisory Board is comprised of people with lived experiences in the criminal-legal system. They provide recommendations on policy, practice, and service delivery to the state’s 18 Community Justice Support Centers.
Community Service: Improving Public Safety Through Accountability and Strengths
Principal Investigators: Drawbridge & Crist
Funding Source: Massachusetts Office of Community Corrections
The National Collaborative for Implementation Support partnered with the Massachusetts Office of Community Corrections. We’ve worked together to re-imagine the state’s Community Service Program. We worked with stakeholders to conduct a comprehensive needs assessment. We clarified the goals of community service. We selected evidence-based principles to achieve the program’s goal. Finally, we re-designed and piloted a Community Service Program that fosters strengths within clients.
Family Treatment Court: Implementation Support
Principal Investigators: Drawbridge
Funding Source: Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Program & Executive Office of the Massachusetts Trial Court
The National Collaborative for Implementation Support partnered with the Executive Office of the Massachusetts Trial Court. Family Treatment Courts serve adults with substance use disorders and open Care & Protection cases with the courts. We’ve worked together to design, deploy, and operate a data infrastructure for Family Treatment Courts.
