State Capacity Assessment (SCA) - April 2020 Version 26.2 - Agency Capacity Assessment (ACA)

Oct 15, 2026

State Capacity Assessment (SCA), also known as the Agency Capacity Assessment (ACA), evaluates the impact and presence of efforts to build strong foundations for adopting, sustaining, and scaling evidence-based practices that produce positive outcomes. The assessment measures how an agency invests in and aligns system components to support use of best practices, including support and development of implementation teams across all system levels. It outlines administration by key roles, preparation steps, focus areas, scoring forms and rubrics, and follow-up action planning and next steps after administration.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages26

Reading Time1 h 6 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction & Purpose

Administration Process & Key Roles

Facilitator

Note Taker

Participants

Observer

Focus of the SCA-ACA and Scoring

Preparation for the Assessment

Research Basis

Next Steps After Administration

Fidelity Checklist

Scoring Form

Scoring Rubric

Action Planning

Scoring the SCA-ACA

STATE CAPACITY ASSESSMENT (SCA) April 2020 Version 26.2 Also known as the Agency Capacity Assessment (ACA) State Capacity Assessment (SCA) Version 26.2 Also known as the Agency Capacity Assessment (ACA) Caryn Ward, Dale Cusumano, Allison Metz, Laura Louison, Audrey Loper, & Tanya Ihlo State Implementation and Scaling up of Evidence-based Practices Center University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Related Information: [http://sisep.fpg.unc.edu/](http://sisep.fpg.unc.edu/) [http://nirn.fpg.unc.edu/](http://nirn.fpg.unc.edu/) State Capacity Assessment – Agency Capacity Assessment Suggested Citation Ward, C., Cusumano, D., Metz, A., Louison, L., Loper, A., & Ihlo, T. (2019) . Agency Capacity Assessment. Chapel Hill, NC: National Implementation Research Network, State Implementation and Scaling-up of Evidence-based Practices Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Based on Fixsen, D. L., Ward, C. S., Duda, M.A., Horner, R. & Blase, K.A. (2015) . State Capacity Assessment (SCA) for Scaling Up Evidence-based Practices (v. 25.2). Chapel Hill, NC: National Implementation Research Network, State Implementation and Scaling-up of Evidence-based Practices Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. © 2011-2020 National Implementation Research Network (NIRN) at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill This content is licensed under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND, AttributionNonCommercial-NoDerivs. You are free to share, copy, distribute and transmit the work under the following conditions: Attribution —You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work); Noncommercial —You may not use this work for commercial purposes; No Derivative Works —You may not alter, transform, or build upon this work. Any of the above conditions can be waived if you get permission from the copyright holder. We ask that you let us know how you use these items so we can use your experience and data to improve and expand the assessment. Please respond to Caryn Ward (contact information below). Thank you. Caryn S. Ward, Ph.D. Senior Implementation Specialist [caryn.ward@unc.edu](caryn.ward@unc.edu) National Implementation Research Network FPG Child Development Institute CB 8040 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapel Hill, 27599-8040 Cell\# 919-414-9528 Fax 919-966-1786 State Capacity Assessment – Agency Capacity Assessment Table of Contents STATE CAPACITY ASSESSMENT (SCA) ................................................................................................................. 2 INTRODUCTION & PURPOSE ............................................................................................................................................. 5 ADMINISTRATION PROCESS & KEY ROLES ........................................................................................................................... 5 Facilitator .............................................................................................................................................................. 5 Note Taker ............................................................................................................................................................ 5 Participants ........................................................................................................................................................... 5 Observer ................................................................................................................................................................ 5 FOCUS OF THE SCA-ACA AND SCORING ............................................................................................................................ 5 PREPARATION FOR THE ASSESSMENT.......................................................................................

FAQs

What is the State Capacity Assessment (SCA) and what is it also known as?

The SCA is a tool used to assess foundations for adopting, sustaining, and scaling effective practices. It is also known as the Agency Capacity Assessment (ACA).

What does the SCA measure about an agency?

It assesses the extent to which an agency invests in and aligns system components to support use of best practices, including support and development of implementation teams within and across system levels.

Who administers the assessment and what roles are involved?

Administration is conducted by a Facilitator, with additional key roles including Note Taker, Participants, and Observer.

Oct 15, 2026

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