Integrating behavior change into care delivery
Integrating behavior change into care delivery is most effective when grounded in specific care needs, clearly defined roles, and alignment with existing teams and workflows.
Where to Start
Organizations often begin by identifying where additional support could strengthen care delivery, such as:
low engagement or activation
limited follow-through between visits
gaps in self-management
limited time for behavior change within clinical roles
increasing need for whole-person support
Defining the Role
Behavior change professionals—including Clinical Health & Well-Being Coaches—complement clinical and service-based roles by focusing on the behavioral and contextual factors that influence outcomes over time.
They support individuals in translating goals and care plans into meaningful, sustainable action.
As organizations move toward implementation, the Institute for Behavior Change supports this work through standards, credentialing pathways, and approaches that help build and sustain behavior change capacity across care settings.
Learn how organizations can assess readiness, implement behavior change support, and partner with the Institute.
Approaches to Integration
Organizations integrate behavior change support in different ways depending on setting and need, including:
- embedded within care teams
- referral-based support models
- virtual or hybrid programs
- employee or workforce well-being initiatives
- community-connected care models
Key Considerations
Effective implementation requires alignment across roles and systems, including:
- referral pathways and role clarity
- workflow, communication, and documentation integration
- coordination within interdisciplinary teams
- supervision and escalation processes
- measures for engagement, experience, and outcomes
A Phased Approach
Implementation is often most effective when approached in stages:
Explore and design → define the need and role
Pilot → introduce within a focused setting
Evaluate → assess impact and refine
Expand → scale across populations or services
Working with the Institute
The Institute for Behavior Change supports organizations through standards, credentialing pathways, and approaches that strengthen the integration of behavior change expertise across care settings.
Organizations may engage the Institute to support:
- workforce and credentialing alignment
- role clarity and integration
- implementation planning and decision-making
Considering implementation in your setting?
We welcome conversations with organizations exploring how behavior change expertise can be integrated into care delivery.