TRAINING FOSTER PARENTS TO BE TEACHERS OF LIFE SKILLS

该项目的目标是为寄养父母开发、制作和评估一个以家庭为基础的多媒体培训计划，帮助寄养儿童为成功的独立生活做好准备。第一阶段用一个生活技能话题证明了这种方法的有效性。在第二阶段，我们将把生活技能主题增加到八个；将教学扩展到更广泛的年龄范围的儿童(8-18岁)；并通过创新的DVD驱动的图书格式提供教学。这将包括制作一本教学书籍的印刷和DVD-Video版本。印刷版将以传统书籍的形式出现，并在整个过程中引用DVD-Video，并将在背面插入。DVD-Video将涵盖基本上相同的材料，但将包括交互式多媒体增强。观众可以浏览到节目的不同部分，观看模拟育儿技能的视频序列。纸质书将为家长提供详细的书面信息，而DVD版本将更多地以视听为基础，满足那些阅读能力有限的人，并将复杂的育儿技能带入生活。为期九周的培训计划将在全国范围内对200名养父母进行评估。成果衡量标准将包括对一般和特定主题的家长做法的改变。拟议的商业应用：拟议的计划将代表寄养父母方面的最先进的培训，无论是在内容还是交付系统方面。NWM在寄养系统的营销网络包括全国14,000多家机构。

The goal of the proposed project is to develop, produce, and evaluate a home-based multimedia training program for foster parents on preparing foster children for successful independent living. Phase I provided evidence of the approach's efficacy with one life skills topic. In Phase II, we will increase the number of life skills topics to eight; extend the instruction to a wider age range of children (8-18 years); and deliver the instruction via an innovative DVD-driven book format. This will involve producing print and DVD-Video versions of an instructional book. The print version will appear as a traditional book, with references throughout to the DVD-Video, which will be inserted at the back. The DVD-Video will cover essentially the same material, but will include interactive multimedia enhancements. Viewers can navigate to different portions of the program to see video sequences that model parenting skills. The printed book will provide parents with detailed written information, while the DVD version will be more audio-visually based, accommodating those with limited reading skills and bringing to life complex parenting skills. The nine-week training program will be evaluated with a nationwide sample of 200 foster parents. Outcome measures will include changes in general and topic-specific parent practices. PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: The proposed program will represent state-of-the-art training in foster parenting, both in terms of content and delivery system. NWM's marketing network in the foster care system includes over 14,000 agencies nationwide.