Are we there yet? Evaluation and the knowledge translation journey.

INTRODUCTION: Critical to knowledge translation are organizations' efforts to evaluate their implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs). Organizations face challenges in their ability to be aware of emerging practices, to measure their efforts against current evidence, and to adapt EBPs to their contextual environments. The Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health has engaged in initiatives to increase the uptake of EBPs and mobilize knowledge by building capacity for evaluation and research in the sector.
METHODS: Consultation services and innovative grants to organizations with mental health programs and services, where the Centre acts as both knowledge and relationship broker, are contributing to organizations' capacity to do and use evaluation.
RESULTS: Case exemplars illustrate the processes, successes and challenges experienced by organizations in Centre-supported activities. The Centre's efforts to build organizations' skills in doing and using evaluation, promoting a learning-by-doing approach and fostering collaboration are described.
CONCLUSIONS: Organizations with the capacity to conduct effective evaluations are better able to implement and assess EBPs, conduct quality evaluations, and contribute to research in the child and youth mental health sector. Widespread gains in mental health organizations' evaluation capacities will contribute to system innovations and the fostering of collaborative partnerships.