Research at CDP: The Turning Training into Action Study
By Jaime Rodden, Tim Rogers & Jeff Cook
The Center for Deployment Psychology is proud to announce the successful and early completion of recruitment for the Turning Training Into Action study!
About the Turning Training into Action Project
The collaboration study "Turning Training into Action: Translating Training of Behavioral Health Providers into Evidence-Based Practices" is led by Dr. Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth from the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University, with CDP site-PI Jeffrey Cook. The study utilizes the Star Behavioral Health Providers (SBHP) program, a training and referral system used by the National Guard Bureau to elevate the standard of community-based behavioral health services. SBHP recruits and equips community providers with evidence-based knowledge through online and in-person training delivered to thousands across the country.
The 12-month study examines how to improve the implementation of evidence-based treatments for insomnia and PTSD by evaluating strategies to strengthen the implementation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD, two well-validated evidence-based therapies. The study explores different follow-up support methods to enhance provider adoption of these therapies, ensuring greater patient access to care. It focuses on sustaining provider knowledge, building confidence, and promoting ongoing use of evidence-based practices and therapies. Participants receive support through a community of practice, a post-training support method where they share knowledge and develop common practices. Additionally, they are randomly assigned to one of two groups: one receiving weekly consultations with the CDP implementation team (a consultee-centered case consultation), and the other proceeding without additional consultation. After six months, all participants are invited to complete a simulation encounter, applying the SBHP training protocols. This approach allows researchers to assess the impact of different support strategies on provider competence and long-term use of these therapies.
The Big Picture
Mental health challenges are a significant concern for military members and their families, who experience higher levels of insomnia, alcohol use, and PTSD than the general public. While effective evidence-based therapies have been developed, many civilian providers lack the training needed to support military-connected patients. This gap is especially critical for military families who don’t live near DoD healthcare facilities or providers and must rely on community-based providers. To ensure these families receive the care they need, it’s essential that civilian providers undergo proper training to deliver evidence-based therapies effectively. However, challenges remain, not only in equipping providers with the right skills, but also in ensuring that military families can access well-prepared clinicians. With the support of the National Guard Bureau, the Turning Training into Action study is working to bridge this gap by exploring strategies to help translate their knowledge into action. By strengthening the connection between providers and military-connected patients, the study aims to improve access to high-quality mental health care for those who serve and their families.
Participants
Participants are recruited from the Star Behavioral Health Providers training program (SBHP).
Learn More
To learn more about the Turning Training into Action study, or for more information about the Star Behavioral Health Providers Program, visit the SBHP website: https://starproviders.org/ or contact us at SBHPAdmin@purdue.edu. For general CDP-related research inquiries, please reach out to the research team at cdp-research@usuhs.edu. We’re here to answer any questions and provide additional details. Stay tuned for more updates!
The Turning Training into Action study is funded by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).
The opinions in CDP Staff Perspective blogs are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science or the Department of Defense.
Jaime Rodden is a Research Coordinator for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP). She received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Linfield University, and Master of Science in Exercise Physiology from California State University, Fullerton.
Tim Rogers, Ph.D., is Assistant Director of Online Training, Technology and Telehealth for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University for the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. He is responsible for managing the development, delivery, and evaluation of a range of clinical training and research programs and serves as a subject matter expert/trainer on evidence-based psychotherapies for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Insomnia.
Jeff Cook, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist serving as the Director, Military Training, Education & Research (MTER) for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, Maryland. In this capacity, he oversees the Center’s military focused research and education programs.
By Jaime Rodden, Tim Rogers & Jeff Cook
The Center for Deployment Psychology is proud to announce the successful and early completion of recruitment for the Turning Training Into Action study!
About the Turning Training into Action Project
The collaboration study "Turning Training into Action: Translating Training of Behavioral Health Providers into Evidence-Based Practices" is led by Dr. Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth from the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University, with CDP site-PI Jeffrey Cook. The study utilizes the Star Behavioral Health Providers (SBHP) program, a training and referral system used by the National Guard Bureau to elevate the standard of community-based behavioral health services. SBHP recruits and equips community providers with evidence-based knowledge through online and in-person training delivered to thousands across the country.
The 12-month study examines how to improve the implementation of evidence-based treatments for insomnia and PTSD by evaluating strategies to strengthen the implementation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for PTSD, two well-validated evidence-based therapies. The study explores different follow-up support methods to enhance provider adoption of these therapies, ensuring greater patient access to care. It focuses on sustaining provider knowledge, building confidence, and promoting ongoing use of evidence-based practices and therapies. Participants receive support through a community of practice, a post-training support method where they share knowledge and develop common practices. Additionally, they are randomly assigned to one of two groups: one receiving weekly consultations with the CDP implementation team (a consultee-centered case consultation), and the other proceeding without additional consultation. After six months, all participants are invited to complete a simulation encounter, applying the SBHP training protocols. This approach allows researchers to assess the impact of different support strategies on provider competence and long-term use of these therapies.
The Big Picture
Mental health challenges are a significant concern for military members and their families, who experience higher levels of insomnia, alcohol use, and PTSD than the general public. While effective evidence-based therapies have been developed, many civilian providers lack the training needed to support military-connected patients. This gap is especially critical for military families who don’t live near DoD healthcare facilities or providers and must rely on community-based providers. To ensure these families receive the care they need, it’s essential that civilian providers undergo proper training to deliver evidence-based therapies effectively. However, challenges remain, not only in equipping providers with the right skills, but also in ensuring that military families can access well-prepared clinicians. With the support of the National Guard Bureau, the Turning Training into Action study is working to bridge this gap by exploring strategies to help translate their knowledge into action. By strengthening the connection between providers and military-connected patients, the study aims to improve access to high-quality mental health care for those who serve and their families.
Participants
Participants are recruited from the Star Behavioral Health Providers training program (SBHP).
Learn More
To learn more about the Turning Training into Action study, or for more information about the Star Behavioral Health Providers Program, visit the SBHP website: https://starproviders.org/ or contact us at SBHPAdmin@purdue.edu. For general CDP-related research inquiries, please reach out to the research team at cdp-research@usuhs.edu. We’re here to answer any questions and provide additional details. Stay tuned for more updates!
The Turning Training into Action study is funded by the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs (CDMRP).
The opinions in CDP Staff Perspective blogs are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Science or the Department of Defense.
Jaime Rodden is a Research Coordinator for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP). She received her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science from Linfield University, and Master of Science in Exercise Physiology from California State University, Fullerton.
Tim Rogers, Ph.D., is Assistant Director of Online Training, Technology and Telehealth for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University for the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. He is responsible for managing the development, delivery, and evaluation of a range of clinical training and research programs and serves as a subject matter expert/trainer on evidence-based psychotherapies for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Insomnia.
Jeff Cook, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist serving as the Director, Military Training, Education & Research (MTER) for the Center for Deployment Psychology (CDP) at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, Maryland. In this capacity, he oversees the Center’s military focused research and education programs.