Service to Science

New Hampshire’s Service to Science program allows substance use prevention programs (defined as any prevention program, practice or approach) that have been developed in the state to become designated as Innovative (Tier I), Promising (Tier II) or Evidence-Based (Tier III).

Achieving Evidence-Based designation is a rigorous process.  It is important to recognize the different tiers of proven effectiveness along the way.

3 tiers of service to science

Tier I: Innovative Program

Innovative programs may be newly developed programs or programs that have been addressing needs in their community for a number of years.

An Innovative Program:

  • is implemented by an established group/organization
  • fills a previously unmet need
  • is based on sound research/theory
  • is implemented in a way that can be replicated
  • addresses and impacts risk and protective factors linked to substance misuse
  • has considered program evaluation and/or there is a desire to expand evaluation efforts

Tier II: Promising Practice

Programs that are endorsed as a Promising Practice have demonstrated readiness to conduct a high quality, systematic evaluation.

A Promising Practice:

  • provides an explanation for the need for the program
  • provides a thorough description of the theory and/or research-base on which the program/practice rationale is based and links program activities to research-based outcomes
  • provides a logic model that connects all program activities to indicated outcomes
  • aligns program design with the intended outcomes
  • demonstrates program delivery/Implementation
  • has developed evaluation design
  • has collected pilot outcomes

Tier III: Evidence-Based

Programs that are endorsed as evidence-based have demonstrated a commitment to refining program protocols and processes, and a high quality, systematic evaluation documenting short-term and intermediate outcomes. A program that has achieved Evidence-Based designation has presented to the NH Service to Science Expert Panel and has demonstrated through data collection and evaluation, program development and manualization, and quality improvements that the program is effective in preventing substance misuse in its target population and can be replicated.

An Evidence-Based program meets the criteria of a Promising Practice and has:

  • developed a comprehensive staff training and program implementation manual
  • stabilized the # of people served
  • measured program fidelity (content, staffing, intensity, method of delivery, location)
  • measured key outcomes and achieved meaningful results (short-term at minimum)
  • measured and achieved participant satisfaction
  • demonstrated that results are used for quality assurance
  • disseminated results to key stakeholders