Technology-Based Innovations in Child Maltreatment Prevention Programs: Examples from SafeCare®

Melissa Cowart-Osborne, Matthew Jackson, Elizabeth Chege, Evander Baker, Daniel Whitaker, Shannon Self-Brown, Melissa Cowart-Osborne, Matthew Jackson, Elizabeth Chege, Evander Baker, Daniel Whitaker, Shannon Self-Brown

Abstract

Each year, hundreds of thousands of children in the U.S. are victims of child maltreatment. Experts recommend behavioral, skill-based parent training programs as a strategy for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. These programs can be enhanced using innovative technology strategies. This paper presents a brief history of the use of technology in SafeCare®, a home visiting program shown to prevent child neglect and physical abuse, and highlights current work that takes a technology-based hybrid approach to SafeCare delivery. With this unique approach, the provider brings a tablet computer to each session, and the parent interacts with the software to receive psychoeducation and modeling of target skills. The provider and parent then work together to practice the targeted skills until mastery is achieved. Initial findings from ongoing research of both of these strategies indicate that they show potential for improving engagement and use of positive parenting skills for parents and ease of implementation for providers. Future directions for technology enhancements in SafeCare are also presented.

Keywords: SafeCare; child maltreatment; child welfare; evidence-based programs; parenting; technology.

References

    1. Barth Richard P. Preventing child abuse and neglect with parent training: Evidence and opportunities. The Future of Children. 2009;19:95–118.
    1. Fang Xiangming, Brown Derek S., Florence Curtis S., Mercy James A. The economic burden of child maltreatment in the united states and implications for prevention. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2012;36:156–65.
    1. Feil Edward G., Baggett Kathleen M., Davis Betsy, Sheeber Lisa, Landry Susan, Carta Judy J., Buzhardt Jay. Expanding the reach of preventive interventions: Development of an internet-based training for parents of infants. Child Maltreatment. 2008;13:334–46.
    1. Bureau Children's. [19 May 2014];Child Maltreatment. 2012 Available online: .
    1. Sedlak Andrea J., Mettenburg Jane, Basena Monica, Petta Ian, McPherson Karla, Greene Angela, Li Spencer. Fourth National Incidence Study of Child Abuse and Neglect (NIS-4): Report to Congress. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families; Washington: 2010. [26 June 2014]. Available online: .
    1. Baggett Kathleen M., Davis Betsy, Feil Edward G., Sheeber Lisa L., Landry Susan H., Carta Judy. J., Leve Craig. Technologies for expanding the reach of evidence-based interventions: Preliminary results for promoting social-emotional development in early childhood. Topics in Early Childhood Special Education. 2010;29:226–38.
    1. Felitti Vincent J., Anda Robert F., Nordenberg Dale, Williamson David F., Spitz Alison M., Edwards Valerie, Koss Mary P., Marks James S. Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults: The adverse childhood experiences (ACE) study. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 1998;14:245–58.
    1. Lundahl Brad W., Nimer Janelle, Parsons Bruce. Preventing child abuse: A meta-analysis of parent training programs. Research on Social Work Practice. 2006;16:251–62.
    1. Zimmerman Francie, Mercy James A. A better start: Child maltreatment prevention as a public health priority. Zero to Three. 2010;30:4–10.
    1. Kaminski Jim W., Valle Linda A., Filene Jill H., Boyle Cynthia L. A meta-analytic review of components associated with parent training program effectiveness. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology. 2008;36:567–89.
    1. Chaffin Mark, Friedrich Bill. Evidence-based treatments in child abuse and neglect. Children and Youth Services Review. 2004;26:1097–113.
    1. Whitaker Daniel J., Lutzker John R., Shelley Ganelle A. Child maltreatment prevention priorities at the centers for disease control and prevention. Child Maltreatment. 2005;10:245–59.
    1. Shaffer Anne, Kotchick Beth, Dorsey Shannon, Forehand Rex. The past, present, and future of behavioral parent training: Interventions for child and adolescent problem behavior. Behavior Analyst Today. 2001;2:91–105.
    1. Prinz Ronald J., Sanders Matthew R., Shapiro Cheri J., Whitaker Daniel J., Lutzker John R. Population-based prevention of child maltreatment: The U.S. Triple P system population trial. Prevention Science. 2009;10:1–12.
    1. Lutzker John R., Chaffin Mark. World Perspectives on Child Abuse. 10th ed. The International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect; Canberra: 2012. Safecare®: An evidence-based constantly dynamic model to prevent child maltreatment. pp. 93–96.
    1. Gershater-Molko Ronit M., Lutzker John R., Sherman James A. Intervention in child neglect: An applied behavioral perspective. Aggression and Violent Behavior. 2002;7:103–24.
    1. Chaffin Mark, Hecht Debra, Bard David, Silovsky Jane F., Beasley William H. A statewide trial of the SafeCare home-based services model with parents in child protective services. Pediatrics. 2012;129:509–15.
    1. Chaffin Mark, Bard David, Bigfoot Dolores Subia, Maher Erin J. Is a structured, manualized, evidence-based treatment protocol culturally competent and equivalently effective among American Indian parents in child welfare? Child Maltreatment. 2012;17:242–52.
    1. Silovsky Jane. Prevention of Child Maltreatment in Families at High Risk.. Paper presented at 1st Annual Convening of SafeCare Home Visitors in Colorado; Denver, CO, USA. 30 July 2014.
    1. Silovsky Jane F., Bard David, Chaffin Mark, Hecht Debra, Burris Lorena, Owora Arthur, Beasley Lana, Doughty Debbie, Lutzker John. Prevention of child maltreatment in high-risk rural families: A randomized clinical trial with child welfare outcomes. Children and Youth Services Review. 2011;33:1435–44.
    1. Bigelow Kathryn M., Lutzker John R. Using video to teach planned activities to parents reported for child abuse. Child & Family Behavior Therapy. 1998;20:1–14.
    1. Bigelow Kathryn M., Lutzker John R. Training parents reported for or at risk for child abuse and neglect to identify and treat their children's illnesses. Journal of Family Violence. 2000;15:311–30.
    1. Gershater-Molko Ronit M., Lutzker John R., Wesch David. Using recidivism data to evaluate project safecare: Teaching bonding, safety, and health care skills to parents. Child Maltreatment. 2002;7:277–85.
    1. Gershater-Molko Ronit M., Lutzker John R., Wesch David. Project SafeCare: Improving health, safety, and parenting skills in families reported for, and at-risk for child maltreatment. Journal of Family Violence. 2003;18:377–86.
    1. Abrams David, Emmons Karen, Linnan Laura. Health Behavior and Health Education: Theory, Research, and Practice. 2nd ed. Jossey-Bass; San Francisco: 1997. Health behavior and health education: The past, present, and fugure. pp. 453–78.
    1. Dorsey Shannon K., Conover Kate L., Cox Julia R. Improving foster parent engagement: Using qualitative methods to guide tailoring of evidence-based engagement strategies. [26 June 2014];Journal of Clinical Child Adolescent Psychology. 2014 Mar 10; doi: 10.1080/15374416.2013.876643. Available online: .
    1. Duggan Anne, Windham Amy, McFarlane Elizabeth, Fuddy Loretta, Lcsw Mph, Rohde Charles, Buchbinder Sharon, Sia Calvin. Hawaii's Healthy Start Program of home visiting for at-risk families: Evaluation of family identification, family engagement, and service delivery. Pediatrics. 2000;105:250–59.
    1. Gomby Deanna S. The promise and limitations of home visiting: Implementing effective programs. Child Abuse & Neglect. 2007;31:793–99.
    1. Jones Deborah J., Forehand Rex, Cuellar Jessica, Parent Justin, Honeycutt Amanda, Khavjou Olga, Gonzalez Michelle, Anton Margaret, Newey Greg A. Technology-enhanced program for child disruptive behavior disorders: Development and pilot randomized control trial. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. 2014;43:88–101.
    1. Carta Judy J., Lefever Jennifer B., Bigelow Kathryn, Borkowski John, Warren Steven F. Randomized trial of a cellular phone-enhanced home visitation parenting intervention. Pediatrics. 2013;132:167–73.
    1. Bigelow Kathryn. Cellular-Phone Enhanced Home Visitation Parenting Intervention: A Randomized Trial.. Paper presented at 22nd Annual Meeting for the Society of Prevention Research; Washington, D.C., USA. 27–30 May 2014.
    1. Self-Brown Shannon, Whitaker Daniel J. Parent-focused child maltreatment prevention: Improving assessment, intervention, and dissemination with technology. [26 June 2014];Child Maltreatment. 2008 Jun 20; doi: 10.1177/1077559508320059. Available online: .
    1. Barone Vincent J., Greene Brandon F., Lutzker John R. Home safety with families being treated for child abuse and neglect. Behavior Modification. 1986;10:93–114.
    1. Mandel Uri, Bigelow Kathryn M., Lutzker John R. Using video to reduce home safety hazards with parents reported for child abuse and neglect. Journal of Family Violence. 1998;13:147–62.
    1. Jabaley Julie J., Lutzker John R., Whitaker Daniel J., Self-Brown Shannon. Using iPhones™ to enhance and reduce face-to-face home safety sessions within SafeCare®: An evidence-based child maltreatment prevention program. Journal of Family Violence. 2011;26:377–85.
    1. Gaskin Emily H., Lutzker John R., Crimmins Daniel B., Robinson Lara. Using a digital frame and pictorial information to enhance the SafeCare® parent-infant interactions module with a mother with intellectual disabilities: Results of a pilot study. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities. 2012;5:187–202.
    1. Cresswell Anthony, Cook Meghan, Helbig Natalie, Nam Taewoo, Ran Weija, Hrdinova Jana. Does Mobility Make a Difference? A Cumulative Study of the Impact of Mobile Technology in New York State Child Protective Services. Center for Technology in Government, University at Albany; Albany: 2011.
    1. Neuhauser Linda, Kreps Gary L. Ehealth communication and behavior change: Promise and performance. Social Semiotics. 2010;20:9–27.
    1. Wald Hedy S., Dube Catherine E., Anthony David C. Untangling the web—the impact of internet use on health care and the physician–patient relationship. Patient Education and Counseling. 2007;68:218–24.
    1. Coyle David, Doherty Gavin, Matthews Mark, Sharry John. Computers in talk-based mental health interventions. Interacting with Computers. 2007;19:545–62.
    1. Fabiano Gregory A. Father participation in behavioral parent training for ADHD: Review and recommendations for increasing inclusion and engagement. Journal of Family Psychology. 2007;21:683–93.
    1. Pew Research Center [23 June 2014];The web at 25 in the U.S. Available online: .
    1. Pew Research Center [23 June 2014];Home broadband 2013. Available online: .
    1. The White House [23 June 2014];President obama details plan to win the future through expanded wireless access. Available online: .

Source: PubMed

Sponsoren und Mitarbeiter

Krankheiten

Drogeninterventionen

3
Abonnieren