Exploring Behavioral Health Services for Youth & Families in Louisiana - Part 2 - Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Utilization, Areas for Growth, and Strengths

Sep 25, 2026

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A three-part mixed-methods study examines behavioral health services for youth and families across Louisiana, focusing on evidence-based practice (EBP) use supported through Medicaid. Provider perceptions were captured through a statewide provider survey and supplemented by three provider focus groups, following a 2024 assessment. Findings show expanding awareness of LDH-OBH supported EBPs among agency leaders and clinicians, but differences in training, access, and infrastructure limit reach. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy leads utilization, while gaps highlight opportunities for growth and dissemination.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Methodology

Statewide EBP Utilization: Agency Leadership and Provider Views

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and key EBP variations

Study Brief Series: July 2025 Exploring Behavioral Health Services for Youth & Families in Louisiana-Part 2 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) Utilization, Areas for Growth, and Strengths Introduction This brief is part of a three-part series describing the findings from a 2024 assessment of behavioral health services for youth and families in Louisiana. The study* was performed by the LSU Center for Evidence to Practice as part of its collaboration with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) -Office of Behavioral Health (OBH) . This brief describes a mixed-methods study that captured provider perceptions of the services offered to youth and families, served primarily using Medicaid, across Louisiana. The findings describe how providers are maintaining Medicaid contracts to serve referrals who are socioeconomically stressed with histories of trauma. These agency leaders and individual providers are using evidence-based practices (EBPs) to meet behavioral health needs. Readers will discover that EBPs are being utilized at higher frequency than reported in previous *The study was a three-pronged approach to assessing services for youth and their families in Louisiana. The ﬁrst approach was to analyze Medicaid claims including information on diagnoses, services provided, and location of services throughout Louisiana. The next step was a statewide behavioral health provider survey to understand their perceptions of services and on the state of the workforce. Finally, to better understand the ﬁndings generated by the survey, three focus groups of providers were gathered to explain what they believed the ﬁndings suggested. years 1 and with room for continued growth. This is critical as EBPs are tied to improved outcomes in behavioral healthcare systems and many of these models are endorsed and supported by LDH-OBH and Louisiana’s Medicaid plan. The implementation and sustainment of EBPs play a vital role in behavioral health care to ensure treatment effectiveness, accountability, and cost-efficiency — especially for populations with complex needs.2 Gaps and needs assessments, like the survey and focus groups described in this brief, are vital for identifying strengths and deficits to guide resource allocation, highlight challenging areas, and consider promising strategies for increasing accessibility of quality care and ultimately improving outcomes. This brief explores how EBPs are currently being used and is intended to inform LDH, Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), and behavioral health providers in planning resource allocation, workforce development, and clinically responsive programming. Methodology The findings reported in this brief result from a mixed-methods study, beginning with a survey of children’s behavioral health providers and agency leaders which was administered in fall 2024. This was a voluntary, 1 Phillippi, S., Beiter, K., Thomas, C. & Vos, S (2020) . Identifying gaps and using evidence-based practices to serve the behavioral health treatment needs of Medicaid-insured children. Children & Youth Services Review. [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105089](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105089) [2](2 Connor L)[ Connor L](2 Connor L), Dean J, McNett M, Tydings DM, Shrout A, Gorsuch PF, Hole A, Moore L, Brown R, Melnyk BM, Gallagher-Ford L. Evidence-based practice improves patient outcomes and healthcare system return on investment: Findings from a scoping review. Worldviews Evid Based Nurs. 2023 Feb;20(1):6-15. doi: 10.1111/wvn.12621 . Epub 2023 Feb 8. PMID: 36751881. convenience sample and the exact number of those receiving the survey throughout the state is not known. However, the demographics of the respondent sample show a representation of agencies and individual providers from across Louisiana, including a mix of urban and rural locations. To more accurately interpret the results of the survey warranting further exploration, three focus groups of providers

FAQs

What is the purpose of this brief series?

The brief series presents findings from a 2024 assessment of behavioral health services for youth and families in Louisiana, emphasizing how evidence-based practices are used by providers and agencies.

How were survey and focus-group findings collected?

A mixed-methods approach was used, including a statewide provider and agency leader survey administered in fall 2024, followed by three provider focus groups to interpret survey results and context.

Which evidence-based practices were most commonly reported by agencies and providers?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) was the most widely reported approach, with Trauma-Focused CBT, Motivational Interviewing, EMDR, and DBT also frequently identified. A subset of agencies reported not using any EBPs.

Sep 25, 2026

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