Abstract

Expanding behavior change programs into widespread use with meaningful population impact is a public health challenge. This report described the CDC Arthritis Program's strategic approach to fostering widespread availability and sustainability of community-based self-management education and physical activity interventions, and reviews common errors observed in efforts to disseminate and implement these interventions. The Arthritis Program strategic approach focuses on embedding interventions in delivery systems to facilitate spread and sustainability. Minimizing common implementation errors, such as pay-to-play partnerships, unsustainable delivery models, non-strategic growth strategies, non-selective training, imbalance between delivery and demand, infrequent interventions, and inadequate attention to data collection, can also enhance scaling up and sustaining behavior change interventions.