Just what it takes to get learning from experiments into everyday life – what’s beginning to be called Type 2 translation research – is expected to be one of the themes of this year’s conference

It’s a question that has many aspects and takes many forms. What are the most effective methods of designing, implementing and evaluating evidence based programs? What kinds of technical assistance, including training, coaching and manual preparation achieve the best program fidelity? What kinds of program fidelity matter to better child outcomes? And so on.

Another question not being asked – but it needs to be – is how much and what kind of impact do evidence based programs have on common-or-garden policy and practice?

Some claims for impact on the culture and organizational climate of child welfare, youth justice and mental health services are patently unrealistic. For all their strengths, there are few evidence based programs. They are used extremely sparingly and it takes a lot of skill, effort and political nous to make sure those that are used are used well.

Much effort goes into assembling an evidence base to work out the logic behind effective programs. How about a similar effort to work out the extent to which combinations of programs, in which contexts would be needed to shift the day-to-day policy and practice that currently swamp the work of people represented here?