The Child Abuse and Neglect User Manual Series: Gathering Knowledge for the Field

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The Child Abuse and Neglect User Manual Series
Gathering Knowledge for the Field

• Jeannie Newman, MSW, MIBS
• Matthew Shuman, MSW
• Presented at the 17th National Conference
• on Child Abuse and Neglect
• April 1, 2009

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Presentation Goals/Objectives

• Publicize the Child Abuse and Neglect User Manual
  Series (UMS) as an excellent and FREE resource
• Provide examples of ways professionals and the
  general public can use the manuals
• Obtain feedback about the UMS for future editions

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UMS Background

• Developed under the guidance and direction of the
  Office on Child Abuse and Neglect (OCAN),
  Childrens Bureau, ACF, HHS
• Catherine Nolan Director, OCAN
• Irene Bocella Federal Task Order Officer, OCAN

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UMS Background (cont.)

• Provides a foundation for understanding child
  maltreatment, including
• Prevention
• Identification
• Response/investigation
• Assessment
• Treatment
• Co-occurring issues (e.g., domestic violence,
  substance abuse)
• Intended for multidisciplinary professionals and
  the general public
• Are FREE in both hard copy and electronic formats

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UMS Background (cont.)

• First edition of UMS released in 1970s
• Second edition released in 1990s
• Third (and current) edition manuals have been
  (and will be) released during the 2000s
• Another edition of the manuals is expected in the
  2010s

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Focus of Current Edition

• New edition includes updates of previous manuals
  and the addition of manuals on new topics
• Topics based on guidance of OCAN and the UMS
  Technical Advisory Panel

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Authors and Reviewers

• Written by individuals with extensive child
  welfare and human services experience
• Given external review by multidisciplinary
  experts in the field for content, applicability,
  and ease of understanding

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Research ? Practice

• Synthesis of current research, best practices,
  and policies
• Goal is to improve practice and not just present
  facts
• Outreach broadened to target those actively
  involved in the prevention, response, and
  treatment of child maltreatment (i.e., include
  non-CPS workers such as educators, domestic
  violence service providers, community partners,
  etc.)

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Format and Dissemination

• Recognize evolving formats (CD-ROMs, online
  versions)
• Provide readers with access to other resources
  via in-text hyperlinks and resource listings

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Current Manuals
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A Coordinated Response to Child Abuse and
Neglect The Foundation for Practice

• Philosophical tenets of child protection
• Description and scope of child maltreatment
• Factors contributing to and consequences of abuse
  and neglect
• Prevention
• Legislation and policies
• The child protection process, including who
  should be involved and how they can work together

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Child Protective Services A Guide for Caseworkers

• CPS theory, practice, and responsibilities
• Partnering with families
• Intake, assessment/investigation, case planning,
  service provision, and case closure
• Supervision and consultation

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Supervising Child Protective Services Caseworkers

• Making the transition from caseworker to
  supervisor
• Building staff capacity and the foundation for
  effective unit performance
• Supervisory feedback and performance recognition
• Clinical supervision
• Recruitment and retention
• Managing from the middle

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Child Neglect A Guide for Prevention,
Assessment, and Intervention

• Definition, scope, and impact of neglect
• Risk and protective factors
• Assessment, prevention, and intervention

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Working with the Courts in Child Protection

• Role of courts in child protection
• Overview of child welfare legislation
• The juvenile and criminal court processes
• Domestic relations cases and other proceedings
• What to expect when going to court
• Court improvement and best practices

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Child Protection in Families Experiencing
Domestic Violence

• Background information on domestic violence (DV)
• Overlap between child maltreatment and DV
• Child protection practice with families
  experiencing DV
• Enhancing worker safety and support in cases with
  overlap
• Building collaborative responses for families
  experiencing DV

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The Role of Educators in Preventing and
Responding to Child Abuse and Neglect

• Recognizing and reporting child maltreatment
• Providing support to a child who is at risk or a
  possible victim of abuse
• Preventing child maltreatment

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The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy
Development of Children

• The impact of fathers on child well-being and
  maltreatment
• Effective fathering
• Involving fathers in assessments, case planning,
  and services
• Establishing father-friendly environments and
  programs
• Fatherhood initiatives

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The Role of Professional Child Care Providers in
Preventing and Responding to Child Abuse and
Neglect

• Recognizing and reporting child maltreatment
• Minimizing the risk of maltreatment
• Responding to allegations of maltreatment
• Caring for maltreated and at-risk children
• Supporting parents

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Protecting Children in Families Affected by
Substance Use Disorders(to be released in Spring
2009)

• The nature of substance use disorders (SUDs)
• How parental SUDs affect children
• In-home examination, screening, assessment, and
  treatment of SUDs
• The roles of CPS when SUDs are identified
• Similarities and differences between CPS and SUD
  treatment providers
• Making the CPS and SUD treatment systems work for
  families

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Current Manuals

• Two additional manuals are scheduled for release
  later this year
• The Role of First Responders in Child
  Maltreatment Cases Disaster and Nondisaster
  Situations
• Community Partnerships Improving the Response to
  Child Maltreatment
• A compilation CD-ROM of all of the released
  manuals was included in your conference bag

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Distribution Data
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Users of the Manuals

• Child welfare professionals (frontline and
  administrators)
• Academic staff (e.g., professors, researchers)
• Undergraduate and graduate students
• Educators
• Multidisciplinary trainers
• Policymakers
• Other professionals (e.g., DV service providers,
  court personnel, law enforcement)
• Individuals involved in the child welfare system
• Others interested in learning more about child
  welfare

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Uses of the Manuals

• Training and easy-reference materials for child
  welfare workers and other professionals
• Textbooks and research materials for students
• Background information on the child welfare
  system for collaborating professionals
• Information for the general public about the
  child welfare system and related issues

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Manual Usage Anecdotes

• One state used the Supervisors manual for each of
  its child welfare supervisors
• A graduate professor in school counseling used
  Foundation manuals to serve as a textbook about
  child maltreatment for her students
• An online reader indicated that she used the
  Caseworker manual to research a career in child
  welfare (and gave the manual a five-star rating)
• CPS practitioners use manuals as handy reference
  materials
• Are there other ways that you have used the
  manuals?

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How to Put the Manuals to Use in Your Workplace

• Things to consider
• What are the information gaps for staff, clients,
  or others?
• What level of information do they need to obtain
  (e.g., broad overview, very detailed)?
• What level of information are they able to absorb
  (e.g., basic reading level, advanced reading
  level)?
• How do they best learn (e.g., in-person training,
  on-line training, self-led reading)?
• What type of access to technology do they have
  (e.g., computers, internet access)?

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Discussion Questions

• What topics would be of interest to you in future
  manuals?
• Are there other populations we should include in
  our target audience?
• What formats would be most useful for you (e.g.,
  hard copy, CDs, flash drive, online)?
• Would PDA or tablet-supported programs be
  helpful?
• Would online training guides be helpful?

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Sample Training Slide
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Discussion Questions (cont.)

• Would you prefer a comprehensive manual on a
  single subject (such as SUD) or several smaller,
  mini-manuals that address various aspects, i.e.,
  brevity or comprehensiveness?.
• Would you be interested in more regular updates
  of the stats/data within the manuals (as opposed
  to waiting for the next edition of the manual)?
• What would your ideal Child Abuse and Neglect
  User Manual look like?
• What do you think would be effective ways to
  advertise the manuals?

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Contact Information

• To view the manuals online or obtain hard copies,
  visit http//www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/umnew.cfm
• For more information about the manuals or to
  offer additional suggestions or feedback, contact
• Jeannie Newman - jnewman_at_icfi.com
• Matthew Shuman - mshuman_at_icfi.com