John R. Lutzker

Teaching Daily Living Skills to Children with Autism Through Instructional Video Modeling

Research on video modeling has typically utilized either competent peer models or self-models engaging in criterion performances. Although both methods have demonstrated utility in achieving skill acquisition, each has potential disadvantages. The current research utilized a multiple probe design across tasks and replicated across participants in order to demonstrate the efficacy of an instructional video modeling technique to teach functional living skills to three children with autism. Five tasks were selected. Prior to the development of each training video, task analyses were created. Videotapes were developed from the participants viewing perspective, that is, as the participant would be viewing the task. Instructional video modeling was effective in promoting skill acquisition across all three children and maintained during the postvideo phase and a 1-month follow up.

Handbook of child abuse research and treatment

Section One: The Current Status of Etiological Theories in Intrafamilial Child Maltreatment S.T. Azar, et al. Balancing Rights and Responsibilities: Legal Perspectives on Child Maltreatment S.G. Portwood, et al. Section Two: Assessment Issues in Child Abuse Evaluation J.S. Milner, et al. Methodological Issues in Child Maltreatment Research R.T. Ammerman. Section Three: Community-Based Partnership-Directed Research: Actualizing Community Strengths to Treat Child Victims of Physical Abuse and Neglect J. Fantuzzo, et al. An Ecobehavioral Model for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect: History and Applications J.R. Lutzker, et al. Section Four: Sexual Abuse of Children: Assessment, Research, and Treatment C.C. Swenson, R.F. Hanson. School-Based Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Programs: Questions, Answers, and More Questions S.K. Wurtele. Section Five: Implications for Child Abuse and Neglect Interventions from Early Educational Interventions B.H. Wasik. Addressing Current and Planning for Future Ethical Issues in Child Maltreatment Research: Professional and Policy Ethical Decision Making A.J. Tymchuk. Conclusions: Child Abuse and Neglect: Weaving Theory, Research and Treatment in the Twenty-First Century J.R. Lutzker. 13 Additional Chapters. Index.

Dynamic adaptation process to implement an evidence-based child maltreatment intervention

BackgroundAdaptations are often made to evidence-based practices (EBPs) by systems, organizations, and/or service providers in the implementation process. The degree to which core elements of an EBP can be maintained while allowing for local adaptation is unclear. In addition, adaptations may also be needed at the system, policy, or organizational levels to facilitate EBP implementation and sustainment. This paper describes a study of the feasibility and acceptability of an implementation approach, the Dynamic Adaptation Process (DAP), designed to allow for EBP adaptation and system and organizational adaptations in a planned and considered, rather than ad hoc, way. The DAP involves identifying core elements and adaptable characteristics of an EBP, then supporting implementation with specific training on allowable adaptations to the model, fidelity monitoring and support, and identifying the need for and solutions to system and organizational adaptations. In addition, this study addresses a secondary concern, that of improving EBP model fidelity assessment and feedback in real-world settings.MethodsThis project examines the feasibility, acceptability, and utility of the DAP; tests the degree to which fidelity can be maintained using the DAP compared to implementation as usual (IAU); and examines the feasibility of using automated phone or internet-enabled, computer-based technology to assess intervention fidelity and client satisfaction. The study design incorporates mixed methods in order to describe processes and factors associated with variations in both how the DAP itself is implemented and how the DAP impacts fidelity, drift, and adaptation. The DAP model is to be examined by assigning six regions in California (USA) to either the DAP (n = 3) or IAU (n = 3) to implement an EBP to prevent child neglect.DiscussionThe DAP represents a data-informed, collaborative, multiple stakeholder approach to maintain intervention fidelity during the implementation of EBPs in the field by providing support for intervention, system, and organizational adaptation and intervention fidelity to meet local needs. This study is designed to address the real-world implications of EBP implementation in public sector service systems and is relevant for national, state, and local service systems and organizations.

Using recidivism data to evaluate project safecare: Teaching bonding, safety, and health care skills to parents

Project SafeCare was an in-home research and intervention, grant-funded program designed to teach parents who were reported for child abuse and neglect. Parents who participated in Project SafeCare received training in three aspects of child care: treating illnesses and maximizing their health-care skills (health), positive and effective parent-child interaction skills (bonding), and maintaining hazard-free homes (safety) for their children. Postcontact (after initial intake was made and the program began) incidents of child abuse and neglect for maltreating parents who participated in and completed Project SafeCare were compared to a comparison group of maltreating families from the point of initial intake through a 24-month follow-up period. The comparison group (referred to as the Family Preservation group) received intervention from Family Preservation programs. Families who participated in Project SafeCare had significantly lower reports of child abuse and neglect than families in the comparison group.

Project 12-ways: measuring outcome of a large in-home service for treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect

Described here is Project 12-Ways, a large service project employing an ecobehavioral approach to the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect. By ecobehavioral it is meant that multifaceted in-home services are provided to clients, and that in-home data are collected on as many variables related to these services as possible. Four levels of research, data collection, and assessment are used to evaluate these services: Included here is a discussion of these levels of assessment. They are: data collected for clinical purposes; data from single-case experiments; research through the use of single-subject design logic applied to several subjects or groups of subjects, or by group statistical research designs; and program evaluation. The particular focus here is the program evaluation data which compare incidents of abuse and neglect during and after treatment between 50 families served by Project 12-Ways and 47 comparison protective service families. The data showed significantly fewer combined abuse and neglect incidents among the families served by Project 12-Ways. Suggestions for additional program evaluation data are provided along with a discussion of the limitations of the current analysis.

Using recidivism data to evaluate project 12-ways: An ecobehavioral approach to the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect

Many programs and projects have been remiss at looking at outcome variables such as recidivistic child abuse and neglect. Presented here are program evaluation data which examine recidivism data over 5 years across more than 700 families. Families receiving services from Project 12-Ways, a multifaceted in-home ecobehavioral approach, were compared with families indicated in the same region who received child protective services other than those offered by Project 12-Ways. Families who receive services from Project 12-Ways are less likely to reinjure or neglect their children again.

Home safety with families being treated for child abuse and neglect

Home safety is a problem associated with child neglect. Previous attempts to remediate home safety problems within the context of an ecobehavioral approach to treating child abuse and neglect involved considerable counselor involvement. The present research demonstrates the effect of a less cumbersome intervention to reduce home safety hazards in three families being treated for child abuse and neglect. A multiple-baseline design across safety hazards within families and across each family was used to evaluate the effects of the treatment program. Social validation data from two of the families indicated satisfaction with the program.

Safety, Health Care, and Bonding Within an Ecobehavioral Approach to Treating and Preventing Child Abuse and Neglect

This paper describes Project SafeCare, an ecobehavioral research and treatment project with families reported or at risk for child abuse or neglect. Preliminary demographic data are reviewed along with indirect assessment data. Four case studies are described to exemplify the effects of training provided to families. The implications for the current assessment data, treatment, and outcome are discussed.

In-home parent training, treatment of migraine headaches, and marital counseling as an ecobehavioral approach to prevent child abuse

A low-income family received in-home treatment after the mother expressed a desire to kill her daughter. The ecobehavioral approach focused on stress reduction of the frequency and duration of the mothers migraine headaches, on parent-child training, and on behavioral marital counselling. Follow-up data 1 yr after the beginning of services indicated maintenance of improvements in all areas. This was sufficient to terminate services. Also, the mother reported that she no longer had any negative feelings about her child, and the home environment lacked the stressors originally seen when the counselors began treatment. Finally, a consumer satisfaction questionnaire indicated a high level of satisfaction by the couple about the services offered by Project 12-Ways, an ecobehavioral approach to the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Using Video to Reduce Home Safety Hazards with Parents Reported for Child Abuse and Neglect

Safety hazards are frequent in the homes of families reported for child abuse and neglect. The effectiveness of a videotape intervention with two families involved with child abuse and neglect was examined, using a replicated multiple probe design across settings. Data were collected using the Home Accident Prevention Inventory — Revised, and the Checklist for the Video-Trained Parents Behavior. Social validation and expert validation data are also presented.