The Digital Divide in Child Abuse and Neglect

1. The Digital Divide in Child Abuse and Neglect How to build bridges for the future Tom Hanna Karen Rich

2. Contact us! • Tom Hanna, Director, The Child Abuse Prevention Network, tom@child-abuse.com • Karen Rich, National Exchange Club Foundation Child Abuse Centers Liaison, kkrr@aol.com

3. Tom In Spain • Almuñecar is on the Mediterrannean Sea, in the province of Granada, Spain • It is late afternoon here, and I’m in an Internet Access center -- Zen Dos

4. A Taste of Spain • This is the beach, looking mostly west, and you can see the ancient castle on the hill.

5. Orientation • Definition • Categories

6. Orientation • Definition • The gap between the Haves and the Have-nots • How this gap expresses itself over time

7. Orientation • Definition • The gap between the Haves and the Have-nots • Foot, bike, bus, car, plane • Voice, phone, public access, home dial-up, home broadband, wireless network access

8. Orientation • Definition • How this gap expresses itself over time • Initial effects are small but dramatic • Continuing effects are deeply erosive

9. Orientation • Categories • The rich and the poor • Rich countries and poor countries • High-paid professionals and low-paid workers/volunteers

10. Digital Divide Baseline • Watershed of 1995 • Explosion until 2005 • A very different Internet is emerging

11. Digital Divide Baseline • Watershed of 1995 • Child Abuse Prevention Network • National Clearinghouse on Child Abuse and Neglect • Early Starters: APSAC, Prevent Child Abuse New York

12. Digital Divide Baseline • Explosion until 2005 • Almost every organization is on the web • Almost every sub-specialty is covered • Almost every kind of document is accessible • Every basic Internet tool is being used

13. Digital Divide Baseline • Explosion until 2005 • Every basic Internet tool is being used • Website • Document centers • Databases • Listservs • Forums

14. Digital Divide Baseline • A very different Internet is emerging • Online live and self-paced training systems • The new wireless world

15. Digital Divide Baseline • A very different Internet is emerging • Online live and self-paced training systems • Huge benefits • Vast savings • Promise of better outcomes

16. Digital Divide Baseline • A very different Internet is emerging • The new wireless world • Impact of wireless networks • No longer “just my computer” • Portables • Handhelds • Mobile phones

17. Digital Divide in Child Abuse • Still a significant percentage of "disconnected" • Generation gap • Broadband vs dial-up • Institutional Barriers

18. Digital Divide in Child Abuse • Institutional Barriers • Institutional restraints • Technologist-imposed restraints • Lack of an Internet plan or strategy • Professional bias • Service provider bias and client access

19. Digital Divide in Child Abuse • Economic and attitudinal divides • Within the agency • Among agencies • Among professions

20. Digital Divide in Child Abuse • What can we do about it? • Examine significant case studies • Look at one evolving model • Build and implement your own strategy

21. Case Studies • The Pediatricians Network (Tom describes “the haves”) • The Online Professional Training Network (mostly “haves”, but lessons in “have nots”) • Parent Aide Study (Karen provide slides on data from the survey)

22. Case Studies • The Pediatricians Network on Child Abuse and Neglect • 1996- Present • Over 20,000 communications • Almost 700 health professionals • Major advances in medical practice • Multiple professional articles published

23. Case Studies • The Pediatricians Network on Child Abuse and Neglect • Strictly private network by invitation only • All members share the same goals • Very varied in professional specialty, but all medical and hospital-clinic-based • Annual subscription provides access to archives

24. Case Studies • The Online Professional Training Network on Abuse and Disabilities • Based on an Online Training Conference • Seed funding from Department of Justice • Outreach to all workers on all sides of the issue • Outreach to people with disabilities

25. Case Studies • The Online Professional Training Network on Abuse and Disabilities • Over 500 registrations • One-year membership of $150 • 22 top experts serve as faculty and ongoing resource to the network • Full documentation of all training resources available online all the time

26. Case Studies • The Online Professional Training Network on Abuse and Disabilities • All materials are accessible both to those with disabilities, and those whose "office security" might prevent Internet access • Examples: Java, JavaScript, Movies, Streaming sound, other interactive resources

27. Case Studies • The Online Professional Training Network on Abuse and Disabilities • Started September 9; Ongoing • Over 1300 evaluation forms received • All participants now linked through two listservs • Doubled the network of people concerned with abuse and disabilities

28. Case Studies • The Online Professional Training Network on Abuse and Disabilities • Every side of the issue: • All forms of disability • All age groups, birth through aging • Institutional; and familial abuse • All professionals…

29. Case Studies • The Online Professional Training Network on Abuse and Disabilities • All professionals… all service providers on the disabilities side, all forms of advocacy, all child protective and adult protective, medical, mental health, social work, lawyers, legislators, police, prosecuters, etc.

30. Case Studies • The case of the National Exchange Club Child Abuse Centers, and Their Parent Aide Programs.

31. Digital Divide Overview • Most people not aware of it • What is digital divide • Why is it a problem • Benefits of technology • Value of web to child abuse professionals • Why be connected

32. Resources Communication Information Networking Data collection Documentation Client access Benefits

33. Clients • Parents are accessing resources online • Children access information online • Potential for increased contact with clients

34. Obstacles • Techno-phobia • Equipment • Resources • Time

35. CAP Services Circumstances • Motivated by • Reduced resources • Continued or increased need • 83 centers and assorted outreach programs • Maintain services • Center development • Quality assurance • Training • Technical support • Miscellaneous services to centers and clubs

36. CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION SERVICES Training for Exchange Club Centers New Director Orientation Annual Symposium Training materials for Parent Aides Quality Assurance Center Accreditation through the Standards of Operation and Practice Evaluation/Accreditation Committee Technical Support to Centers Consultation Trouble-shooting Center Relations Committee Other Services Public Awareness/ Marketing Materials Listservers for Center Directors and Parent Aides Advocacy Special projects, e.g. SBS, FAS National Parent Aide Network (NPAN) Monthly Informational Mailings to Centers

37. NEC’s CAP Services Strategy • Opportunity for assessment and growth • Existing channels to open new avenues • Remaining true to mission • Internet support of Parent Aides a priority • Empirical base for development • Developing in-house Internet plan • Reaching out • Update

38. Phases and Stages • Staff recommendations for data collection • Solicited outside proposal (Geosolve) • Involve Child-Abuse Network • Website concept paper • Parent Aide Survey • TOPS proposal • Long range planning

39. Parent Aide Survey – Summary • 59 Centers responded • Serve 50-90 families a year – most CPS referred • 4 to 6 volunteer parent aides • 2 to 3 paid parent aides • 1-2 professional case managers

40. Parent Aide Survey – Summary • On average, centers had 7 – 9 computers • About half had database for client records • "Nearly everyone" has Internet access • 98 percent of Centers • 92 percent of case managers • 68 percent parent aides

41. Internet Access • Of 59 responding centers, all had computers • Average 8.7 desktops • Most networked • 51 centers have Internet access at center • 100% case managers at work, 92% at home • 68% parent aide access at work, 74% at home

42. Measuring the Divide • 26 percent of our Parent Aides do not have access to the Internet • Our survey doesn't tell us how many of our families are "off the web." • Nor do we know how many parent aides outside the Exchange Club network have access

43. Addressing the Divide • Seeking a grant to help bring more Parent Aides online • Reaching out via Internet to find Aides across the country • Creating Internet resources just for them

44. Expanding Parent Aide Network • Identifying other Parent Aide Programs • Parent aide identification group (PAID) • Solicit information through Centers • Make connections through NPAN • Post on prevention listserv

45. Expanding Parent Aide Network • Identifying other Parent Aide Programs • Solicit information through our website • Identify State Liaison Officers • Post on OCAN’s Prevention website • CAP Symposium/NPAN Conference • Parent aide listserv • Vital tool for linking Parent Aides • Already working in the way imagined • Open to all Parent Aides & supervisors

46. Technology Planning • Envision • Assess • Inventory • Act * Adapted from www.techatlas.org

47. Steps • Mission statement • Identify team members • Develop technology vision statement • Assess current status and future needs • Review resources • Develop action plan * Adapted from www.techatlas.org

48. Build your own strategy • Look at what you are doing on the Internet right now • Review what your organization is actually doing right now • Compare both of these to your existing mission statement

49. Build your own strategy • Begin your strategy by making your mission statement the center focus of your Internet plan: • "Live your mission on the Internet."

50. Build your own strategy • "Live your mission on the Internet." • Find the gaps where the mission statement is not being met on the Internet • Find out in your Stakeholder List who does not have full access to the Internet