Decades of research has produced a wide range of evidence- based programs, interventions and practices (EBPs) for use in schools and other community settings. However, EBPs alone are not enough to create sustainable and equitable outcomes for children and adolescents if they are not sufficiently and appropriately disseminated and implemented in schools and communities.

Available research suggests that only 25- 50% of EBPs are likely to be disseminated and implemented with sufficient fidelity (quality) to bring about their intended intervention effects. Only one in three efforts to install EBPs are successful.  Successfully adopting EBPs requires deliberate and focused efforts and support to promote equitable and positive outcomes for children and adolescents.

Widespread recognition of this longstanding gap between research and practice has given rise to a rapidly maturing field of implementation science. Implementation science is the study of how evidence-based programs, interventions and practices can be effectively and sustainably disseminated and implemented to maximize sustainable, positive and equitable outcomes.

Better Futures for Children believes that the best available evidence from research needs to be disseminated and implemented in schools and community settings, otherwise children and adolescents in resource constrained countries like Kenya will continue to have poor educational, health and development outcomes.  We advocate for dissemination and implementation of evidence based school and after-school programs, interventions and practices in Kenya. Our clarion call “Making Research Evidence Work for Children and Adolescents in Kenya” should be supported.