Why Community Defined Evidence Practices (CDEPs) Matter

In the world of behavioral health, we often talk about Evidence Based Practices (EBPs)—and for good reason, as they use clinical expertise and research evidence in patient care that are crucial and effective for treatment and care. However, EBPs can overlook specific cultures and communities because BIPOC communities are underrepresented in the research to guide treatment, which means the “evidence” from the research is not always relevant for people of color. Many behavioral health supports used by BIPOC communities rarely appear on lists of EBPs because of the rigorous research required by the Western medical model. The lack of evidence does not mean that there is a lack of effectiveness.

Community Defined Evidence Practices (CDEPs) help bridge this gap and bring cultural wisdom to behavioral health care—helping to make care more accessible and more effective. At CIBHS, we believe in the critical importance of CDEPs and we are eager to support their scaling and replication across the state.

In short, CDEPs aren’t just about what works; they’re about what truly resonates and heals within the unique context of diverse communities.

These are approaches developed by and for specific populations, rooted in their cultures, values, beliefs and lived experiences. They build trust, enhance relevance, and ultimately bridge critical gaps in care, ensuring that services are not only effective but genuinely accessible and meaningful.

At CIBHS, we believe that understanding and integrating CDEPs is fundamental to creating a truly equitable and impactful behavioral health system in California. Moving forward, the goal is not for CDEPs to replace traditional EBPs, but rather for them to exist in a complementary and integrated fashion.

What We Must Do: Time is of the Essence

Invest in community-led initiatives and provide resources for communities to develop, implement, and evaluate their own behavioral health solutions;

Promote dialogue—foster collaboration among communities, community based organizations and larger behavioral health system to share what is needed and share what each other is doing and what they are seeing as effective so that we can cross-pollinate best practices in similar communities across the state.

Foster collaboration—between researchers and community leaders to bridge the gap between scientific rigor and cultural relevance, as well as payors and legislators to bridge CDEP services to be covered by insurance,

Recognize diverse forms of evidence—expand definitions of evidence to include qualitative data, community consensus, and lived experience outcomes.

Let’s champion CDEPs together so we can move closer to a behavioral health system that is truly equitable, effective and responsive to the tapestry of needs across our state and nation. Let’s work together to ensure every individual has access to care that not only heals but honors who they are and where they come from.

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