Reinventing Mpowerment for Black Men: Long-Term Community Implementation of an Evidence-Based Program

Although research on the dissemination of evidence-based programs to community providers has rapidly grown, research describing
implementation of evidence-based efforts remains a central need. Insight on implementation may aid in developing approaches
to assisting organizations to use a variety of evidence-based practices effectively and to improve the design of programs
that can and will be used faithfully. This mixed-method case study provides a descriptive account of the implementation of
an evidence-based program designed principally for white gay and bisexual young men, the Mpowerment Project, in the 4th and
5th years after its initial adoption by an organization serving black gay and bisexual men. We identify factors that have
shaped how the program has evolved and is currently operated. The case study results highlight how the dynamic interaction
of practice-based experiences, skills, relationships, local context, and practitioner judgments about the relevance and credibility
of evidence for specific actions propel the reinvention of evidence-based program procedures. Implications for research and
practice are provided.