Web-Based Training Center for Foster & Adoptive Parents

我们建议开发和评估一个基于网络的培训中心的寄养和养父母。该网站将为儿童保育系统的父母提供高质量和全面的继续教育。合适的材料选择有限，难以获得，质量参差不齐，说教性，并且不是专门针对这些父母面临的问题和问题设计的。拟议网站的内容将分为六个主要的教学领域，每个领域都有一系列按主题排列的学分课程。在第一阶段，我们将开发和测试一个原型网站，将包括从一个教学领域的四个主题：处理儿童的严重情绪问题。该格式将允许家长搜索以简单实用的术语提供的专家临床信息。这将通过一个互动的多媒体过程，其中包括一个重点介绍的问题，从父母的故事叙述的问题，一个问答会议与临床专家;信息的合成，并建议家长后续的步骤。一项评估研究将评估家长在知识方面的收获以及家长信心和观点的变化。我们将在一个由州和县机构组成的全国网络中推广该网站。拟议的商业应用：在全国范围内，寄养和收养系统的州和县机构迫切需要为父母客户提供继续教育培训材料。父母不仅需要满足每年的认证要求，而且真正寻求解决他们作为照顾问题儿童的准专业人员所面临的关键问题的答案。该网站将以合理的价格为家长提供急需的资源。

We propose to develop and evaluate a Web-based training center for foster and adoptive parents. The site will provide high quality and comprehensive continuing education for parents in the child care system. Suitable materials are limited in selection, difficult to access, uneven in quality, didactic, and not specifically designed for the problems and issues these parents face. Content for the proposed site will be organized into six major areas of instruction, each with an array of courses for credit arranged by topic. In Phase I, we will develop and test a prototype site that will include four topics from one instructional area: Dealing with Children's Serious Emotional Problems. The format will allow parents to search for expert clinical information delivered in simple and practical terms. This will be accomplished through an interactive multimedia process that includes a focused introduction to the problem, story narratives from parents about the problem, a question-and-answer session with a clinical expert; a synthesis of information, and suggested steps for parent follow-up. An evaluation study will assess parent gains in knowledge as well as changes in parent confidence and perspective. We will promote the site throughout an established national network of state and county agencies. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATIONS: Nationally, state and county agencies in the foster and adoptive care system urgently need continuing education training materials for their parent-clients. Parents not only need to meet yearly accreditation requirements but are genuinely seeking answers to critical problems they face as paraprofessionals caring for problem children. The site will offer parents a much needed resource at reasonable costs to agencies.