Child Advocacy Studies: Implementation and expansion of Child Protection Training in Universities

1. Child Advocacy Studies: Implementation and expansion of Child Protection Training in Universities Angie Scott Dixon, JD Child Advocacy Studies Program Director Winona State University

2. “We must teach police officers, social workers, prosecutors and other child protection professionals to be community leaders in the prevention of child abuse. This training must begin in college and continue once these professionals are in the field.” Victor Vieth Unto the Third Generation

3. “Universities seldom prepare students for the reality of child protection. Social workers, nurses, law enforcement professionals receive between two hours to two weeks of information about child protection before beginning their professional careers.” Dr. Jackie Hatlevig

4. Child Advocacy Studies • In 2002, the NCPTC entered into an agreement with Winona State University to create a three course curriculum called Child Advocacy Studies • WSU faculty members from nursing, social work and criminal justice began to develop three undergraduate courses

5. Development • Content Review of 56 child protection training programs developed through federal funds

6. Development • Evidenced-based practice literature review of recent research (across the past five years) • Using the concepts of child maltreatment, child welfare, child abuse, child neglect, child protection, child advocacy, child interviewing, child abuse prevention, child abuse effects, child mental health, mandated reporting, pedophilia, child molesters, history of child abuse, medical treatment of child abuse, discipline specific terminology related to child abuse, and investigative and legal terminology related to child abuse and neglect.

7. Development • 563 articles relevant to the topics • Sorted by concept • Critiqued for quality by experts in the literature • Summarized by concept • Used to create an outline for three core courses.

8. Development • Focus groups April 2004 • Social services • Law enforcement • District attorney’s office • Physicians from Mayo Clinic • Public health nursing and Pediatric nurse practitioners • College Deans and administrators • Others

9. Development • Three core courses completed • CAST 301: Perspectives on Child Maltreatment & Child Advocacy (3 credits) • CAST 401: Professional and System Responses to Child Maltreatment (4 credits) • CAST 402: Responding to Survivors of Child Maltreatment (4 credits)

10. CAST 301: Perspectives on Child Maltreatment & Child Advocacy • Spring 2005 CAST 301 taught for the first time at Winona State University • Meets university studies, unity and diversity, critical analysis criteria. • No prerequisites are required • Designed for students majoring in criminal justice, education, social work, sociology, psychology, nursing, paralegal and …..

11. CAST 301: Perspectives on Child Maltreatment & Child Advocacy • Theory • Hands on Skills based • Child Observation • Etta Angel Wheeler House

12. CAST 301: Perspectives on Child Maltreatment & Child Advocacy • Group Work • Case Study • Controversial topic paper and presentation

13. CAST 401: Professional and System Responses to Child Maltreatment • Expand knowledge of how professionals and systems respond to abuse • Prerequisite CAST 301 • Hands on skills & Group work • Case studies • Visits to court • Forensic interviewing • Peer Review

14. CAST 402: Responding to Survivors of Maltreatment • Recognize the effects of child maltreatment • Apply interventions strategies • Guest speakers who are survivors • Hands on skills & Group Work • Large group project • Blue Ribbon Campaign • Miles for Matty

15. CAST Certificate • When students complete CAST 301, 401 and 402 they are awarded a Child Advocacy Studies Certificate

16. CAST Minor • Courses in addition to basis courses • CAST 302: Global Advocacy for Children • CAST 407: Capstone Experience (4 credits • One elective • CAST 403: Child Exploitation, pornography & the Internet (3 credits) • CAST 404: Sociology of Child Poverty (3 credits) • CAST 405: Gender, Violence and Society (4 credits) • CAST 406: Child Advocacy Research Studies (3 credits) • CAST 408: Anatomy of a Case (in development)

17. CAST 407: Capstone Project • Intense site-based experience • Multidisciplinary approach emphasized • Student Choice • Local human services • Law enforcement • Prosecutors office • CAC • Bangladesh • Many others

19. Currently at WSU • CAST Certificate • CAST minor • 97 declared CAST minors • CAST 501 and 502 for graduate credit • Child Advocacy Club • Support from a wide variety of departments • CAST Conference

20. CAST Conference • Federally funded • 40 Professors from 20 Colleges and Universities in 2009 and 2010

21. Arkansas State University • Interdisciplinary Minor in Child Advocacy • Child Advocacy Studies Certificate

22. Montclair State University Center for Child Advocacy (CHAD) http://chss.montclair.edu/chad

23. Montclair State University Center for Child Advocacy (CHAD) • Undergraduate Certificate in Child Advocacy • Bachelor of Arts in Child Advocacy • Post-BA in Child Advocacy • now also offered online • Master of Arts with a Concentration in Public Child Welfare

24. Child Advocacy Programs around the country • Montclair State U • Arkansas State U • Kennesaw State U • U of D.C. • NWACC • Northern State U • Judson U • U of South Carolina- Upstate • Oklahoma City U You can get a CAST program started in your community!

25. Just a Thought ….