iLook Out for Child Abuse: An Innovative Learning Module for Childcare Providers

摘要-- iLook Out for Child Abuse：一个针对儿童保育提供者的创新学习模块 美国虐待儿童的流行病（每年确认超过680，000例）对儿童造成了巨大的伤害， 他们成为的成年人。后遗症包括身体残疾和神经系统损伤，心理健康 问题，适应不良的行为，以及持续的虐待循环。幼儿（0-5岁） 特别容易受到伤害。她们占虐待致死人数的75%以上， 除性虐待外，所有类别虐待的受害者人数都高于年龄较大的儿童。尽管超过800万 美国儿童在儿童保育，儿童保育提供者（CCP）报告不到0.5%（~ 2，500） 证实的虐待儿童案件。研究表明，CCP没有充分准备好识别风险 儿童，没有证据为基础的干预措施，证明有效改善CCP 举报涉嫌虐待儿童。也就是说，提高CCP报告率的努力必须小心， 鼓励只会浪费稀缺资源并给家庭造成不必要压力的不适当报告。 这项为期5年的研究将评估一项创新的教育干预措施iLook Out for Child Abuse的有效性。 （iLookOut）提高虐待儿童的准确报告率。以体验式学习为基础 概念模型，iLookOut是一个多媒体，在线干预，吸引学习者的情感和 通过一个互动的，基于视频的故事情节，提供教育，挑战学习者 决策点，并提供关键的反馈。iLookOut使用游戏化策略来推广体验式 通过模拟，解决问题和实践机会来学习，以应用新信息， 认识它还将包括后续活动，以促进保留和纳入新的 知识，并帮助CCP保持意识和参与。 先前的研究表明，iLookOut显着改善了CCP的知识和态度， 举报怀疑虐待儿童的个案，并深受社区中心的欢迎。评价其对实际报告的影响 行为，拟议的研究将随机选择3个地理上不同的地区在缅因州（其中 被选中是因为其出色的儿童福利信息系统，集中的报告结构， 协作热情）接受iLookOut、标准培训或控制（无干预）。 主要目标是增加经证实的虐待儿童或社会虐待儿童的CCP报告的数量。 服务（例如，治疗服务，营养援助），因为这些都是报告的类型。 可能真正有益于儿童。第二个目标是减少报告中没有 提供这种好处，特别是减少国家与接收和调查有关的费用， 非盈利报告。如果，如假设的那样，iLookOut 1）增加了有益报告的发生率，以及2） 降低了非有益报告的比例成本，我们将拥有第一个基于证据的工具， 帮助社区中心准确识别和报告受虐待的幼儿。

ABSTRACT –– iLook Out for Child Abuse: An Innovative Learning Module for Childcare Providers   The epidemic of child abuse in the U.S. (>680,000 confirmed annually) causes massive harm to children and the adults they become. Sequellae include physical disabilities and neurological damage, mental health problems, maladaptive behaviors, and perpetuating cycles of abuse. Young children (aged 0–5 years) are particularly vulnerable to victimization. They account for >75% of deaths from abuse and a greater proportion of victims than older children for all categories of maltreatment except sexual abuse. Yet despite >8 million American children being in childcare, childcare providers (CCPs) report fewer than 0.5% (~2,500) of all substantiated cases of child abuse. Research shows that CCPs are not adequately prepared to identify at-risk children, and there are no evidence-based interventions with demonstrated efficacy for improving CCP reporting of suspected child abuse. That said, efforts to raise CCP reporting rates must be careful not to promote inappropriate reporting that merely wastes scarce resources and causes families undue stress. This 5-year study will evaluate the efficacy of an innovative educational intervention, iLook Out for Child Abuse (iLookOut) for increasing rates of accurate child abuse reporting. Grounded in an Experiential Learning conceptual model, iLookOut is a multi-media, online intervention that engages learners emotionally and intellectually through an interactive, video-based storyline that provides education, challenges learners with decision-points, and gives critical feedback. iLookOut uses gamification strategies to promote experiential learning through simulation, problem-solving, and practice opportunities to apply new information and understanding. It also will include follow-up activities that promote retention and integration of new knowledge, as well as help CCPs to remain aware and engaged. Prior studies have demonstrated that iLookOut significantly improves CCP knowledge and attitudes about reporting suspected child abuse, and is very well received by CCPs. To evaluate its impact on actual reporting behavior, the proposed research will randomize 3 geographically distinct regions in the state of Maine (which was chosen because of its excellent child welfare information system, centralized reporting structure, and enthusiasm to collaborate) to receive iLookOut, Standard training, or Control (no intervention). The primary goal is to increase the number of CCP reports for which either child abuse is confirmed or social services (e.g., therapeutic services, nutritional assistance) are recommended –as these are the kinds of reports that are likely to actually benefit a child. The secondary goal is to decrease the proportion of reports that don't offer such benefit, and in particular to decrease costs to the state associated with intake and investigation of non-beneficial reports. If, as hypothesized, iLookOut 1) increases the incidence of beneficial reports, and 2) decreases the proportionate costs of non-beneficial reports, we will have the first evidence-based tool for helping CCPs accurately identify and report young children who are victims of abuse.