Enhancing Early Engagement (E3) in Mental Health Services Training for Children's Advocacy Center's Victim Advocates: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Date
2021
Journal Title
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Publisher
Research Square
Abstract
Background: Child maltreatment is a major public issue in the United States, yet most children affected by
abuse or neglect never engage in evidence-based practices (EBP) for child mental health. Children’s Advocacy
Centers (CACs’) are uniquely situated to serve as Family Navigators who connect children impacted by
maltreatment to appropriate EBPs. In fact, the CAC position of Victim Advocate mirrors the Mental Health
Family Navigator national initiative.
Methods: We developed, implemented, and will evaluate web-based and consultative training for Victim
Advocates to enhance early engagement in services (E3 training). The interactive web-based training will
embed key targets of knowledge and skills related to family engagement, trauma, and EBP services.
Participating CACs will be randomized to E3 webinar-based training, E3 webinar plus consultation, or delayed
training. The project will test the E3 training’s impact on key mechanisms of change (e.g., knowledge, skills)
to improve rates of screening, referral, and access to EBP services. The feasibility of implementing the
training program, and differential impact and costs by level of training will be examined.
Discussion: The overarching goal of this project is to test a training that is readily implemented through CACs
and examine the mechanisms for improving early engagement and, ultimately, child and adolescent mental
health outcomes. Results and cost ndings will be used to plan a large-scale comprehensive, mixed-methods
Hybrid Type II effectiveness-implementation and cost-effectiveness trial of Family Navigator E3 training. If
outcomes are positive, considerable infrastructure exists to support the scale-up and sustainability of E3
training nationwide, by embedding the training in national CAC training protocols.
Description
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Keywords
child abuse, children's advocacy centers, sexual abuse, victim advocates, training
Citation
Taylor, E. K., Dopp, A. R., Lounsbury, K., Thompson, Y., Miller, M., Jorgensen, A., & Silovsky, J. F. (2021). Enhancing Early Engagement (E3) in Mental Health Services Training for Children's Advocacy Center's Victim Advocates: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.