Progress 11/15/07 to 07/14/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Task 1: Training for Implementation of New Processes to be Used by Air Force Central Registry Board (CRB): Kansas State facilitated the implementation of new CRB procedures intended to standardize the evaluation and administration of military family maltreatment cases. A part-time faculty member was assigned to FAP headquarters for the purpose of providing on-site training and implementation assistance to field commands. The CRB training has been complete and has implemented throughout AF world-wide. Task 3: New Parent Support Group Initiatives - Male Family Needs Screener: Kansas State awarded a contract to Northern Illinois University to conduct an examination of the current Air Force Family Needs Screener (FNS) to determine what changes, if any, were necessary to ensure the instrument also adequately measures the needs of males. KSU had planned to draw on the expertise of NIU in analyzing Air Force family data bases as both Universities collaborate in the development of a revised FNS specifically focused on the unique family-rearing needs of males. However, the USAF Family Advocacy program managers determined that this effort is of a lower priority, and decided to shift the focus of the project to two different projects. NIU completed analyses of the New Parent Support Program data collection process and suggested ways to revise the data collection process to make it more useful in answering questions for the Air Force. KSU researchers completed focus groups with new fathers at Robbins AFB and Dover AFB and presented a report at the Force Research Conference in San Antonio the last week of January on lessons learned from these focus groups. Kansas State also provided the Air Force Family Advocacy Nurses Conference in June 2009 with a special training from the University of Washington on promoting new relationships in young families. Task 4: Outreach Family Maltreatment Prevention Support - PREP Study: The purpose of this study was to determine the comparative effectiveness, participant compliance and participant satisfaction with an evidence-based relationship enhancement program, PREP, delivered in either of two distinct formats: a 6 week multi-couples group, or a self-study program [12 Hours to a Great Marriage]. Follow-up data collection is complete. As part of the project, KSU provided PREP materials to five Air Force bases worldwide. The first report of results of this project was presented at the Air Force Research Conference in San Antonio during the last week of January. Presentations will also be presented at NCFR in November, AAMFT in September and the Uniformed Services Social Work Conference in October. A journal article from this work is in process. Task 5: Overall Project Management and Coordination - Consulting Services: The project PI is regularly consulted by the FAP managers regarding family maltreatment issues, and research objectives. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Sandra M. Stith, Ph.D., principal investigator, provided overall project guidance and direction and subject-matter consultation with FAP program managers; Dari Tritt, Ph.D. (LtCol, USAF- ret), research associate, provided guidance to Air Force FAP field program managers at bases worldwide on the implementation of new CRB procedures; Michele Gorzek and Josh Cook, masters candidates, assisted with literature searches and other activities related to the USAF New Parent Support program; Marjorie Strachman, PhD candidate, assisted with FAP outreach efforts and execution of the PREP study; and William Giles, MPA (Capt, USCG-ret), research associate, assisted with management of grant resources and expedited project travel and procurement efforts. Partner organizations: USAF Family Advocacy Program staff, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General (San Antonio, TX); and the Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL). TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences for the efforts undertaken in this project are the USAF military family members who have experienced incidents of family maltreatment (PREP Study), new male parents who are caring for a child without a female partner (FNS for males), and members of USAF CRB's at bases worldwide (training for and implementation of new CRB procedures). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Through the PREP Study activities, we found that both methods of distributing this training to Air Force families had a positive impact on marital relationships within the 224 families enrolled. We presented results of this project in San Antonio at the AF Research conference January 27-28 and have been accepted to present the work at the AAMFT, NCFR, and Uniformed Services Social Workers annual conferences. We have a paper in process from this work. We also believe the efforts of the faculty member assigned to FAP through September 2008 produced a better understanding of the new CRB procedures and have enhanced their implementation at Air Force commands worldwide. A journal article has recently been published describing the validity of the measures. Results in this article indicate that the new measures are being implemented reliability throughout the AF. Also, there is some evidence that the new procedure which involves Command in the substantiation decision process is making a difference in reducing maltreatment recidivism.

Publications

• Heyman, R. E., & Slep Smith, A. (2009). Reliability of Family Maltreatment Diagnostic Criteria: 41 Site Dissemination Field Trials. Journal of Family Psychology, Vol. 23, No. 6, 905-910.

Progress 11/15/08 to 11/14/09

Outputs
OUTPUTS: PREP Study: The purpose of this study was to determine the comparative effectiveness, participant compliance and participant satisfaction with an evidence-based relationship enhancement program, PREP, delivered in either of two distinct formats: a 6 week multi-couples group, or a self-study program [12 Hours to a Great Marriage]. Follow-up data collection is complete. The first report of results of this project will be presented at the Air Force Research Conference in San Antonio the last week of January. Male Family Needs Screener: Kansas State has awarded a contract to Northern Illinois University to conduct an examination of the current Air Force Family Needs Screener (FNS) to determine what changes, if any, are necessary to ensure the instrument also adequately measures the needs of males. KSU had planned to draw on the expertise of NIU in analyzing Air Force family data bases as both Universities collaborate in the development of a revised FNS specifically focused on the unique family-rearing needs of males. However, the USAF Family Advocacy program managers have since determined that this effort is of a lower priority, and decided to shift the focus of the project to two different projects. NIU is completing analyses of the New Parent Support Program data collection process and suggesting ways to revise the data collection process to make it more useful in answering questions for the Air Force. KSU researchers have completed focus groups with new fathers at Robbins AFB and Dover AFB and will be presenting a report at the Air Force Research Conference in San Antonio the last week of January on lessons learned from these focus groups. Air Force Central Registry Board (CRB) procedures training and implementation: Kansas State facilitated the implementation of new CRB procedures intended to standardize the evaluation and administration of military family maltreatment cases. A part-time faculty member was assigned to FAP headquarters for the purpose of providing on-site training and implementation assistance to field commands. The CRB training has been complete and has implemented throughout AF world-wide Consulting services: The project PI is regularly consulted by the FAP managers regarding family maltreatment issues, and research objectives. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Sandra M. Stith, Ph.D., principal investigator, provided overall project guidance and direction and subject-matter consultation with FAP program managers; Dari Tritt, Ph.D. (LtCol, USAF- ret), research associate, provided guidance to Air Force FAP field program managers at bases worldwide on the implementation of new CRB procedures; Michele Gorzek and Josh Cook, masters candidates, assisted with literature searches and other activities related to the USAF New Parent Support program; Marjorie Strachman, PhD candidate, assisted with FAP outreach efforts and execution of the PREP study; and William Giles, MPA (Capt, USCG-ret), research associate, assisted with management of grant resources and expedited project travel and procurement efforts. Partner organizations: USAF Family Advocacy Program staff, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General (San Antonio, TX); and the Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL). TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences for the efforts undertaken in this project are the USAF military family members who have experienced incidents of family maltreatment (PREP Study), new male parents who are caring for a child without a female partner (FNS for males), and members of USAF CRB's at bases worldwide (training for and implementation of new CRB procedures). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
Through the PREP Study activities, our preliminary indications are that both methods of distributing this training to Air Force families is having a positive impact on marital relationships within the 158 military families currently enrolled. We will presenting results of this project in San Antonio at the AF Research conference and have written proposals to present the work at the AAMFT and NCFR annual conferences. We also believe the efforts of the faculty member who was assigned to FAP through September 2008 have produced a better understanding of the new CRB procedures and have enhanced their implementation at Air Force commands worldwide. A journal article has recently been published describing the validity of the measures. Results in this article indicate that the new measures are being implemented reliability throughout the AF. Also, there is some evidence that the new procedure which involves Command in the substantiation decision process is making a difference in reducing maltreatment recidivism.

Publications

• Heyman, R. E., & Slep Smith, A. (2009). Reliability of Family Maltreatment Diagnostic Criteria: 41 Site Dissemination Field Trials. Journal of Family Psychology, Vol. 23, No. 6, 905-910.

Progress 11/15/07 to 11/14/08

Outputs
OUTPUTS: PREP Study: The purpose of this study is to determine the comparative effectiveness, participant compliance and participant satisfaction with an evidence-based relationship enhancement program, PREP, delivered in either of two distinct formats: a 6 week multi-couples group, or a self-study program [12 Hours to a Great Marriage]. Since the start of the current study, signed MOUs have been obtained from each of the 12 Air Force bases participating in the study, online IRB training has been completed for the assistant investigators obtaining consent, and study materials have been distributed. Each base currently involved in the study has begun to either conduct 6-week classes or distribute books to couples participating in self-study. Two bases, Offutt and Hurlburt, are currently in the process of recruiting participants and will start class as soon as they have recruited enough participants. For those bases that have already consented participants, pre-tests and post-tests have begun to be collected. These pre- and post-tests have been mailed to Kansas State University where the data from the surveys is being entered into SPSS for later analysis. KSU has also been sending participants an email which contains the link to the secure web-based post-test (for those self-study participants, and those who did not complete the post-test during the final class meeting because they were not in attendance). Male Family Feeds Screener: Kansas State has awarded a contract to Northern Illinois University to conduct an examination of the current Air Force Family Needs Screener (FNS) to determine what changes, if any, are necessary to ensure the instrument also adequately measures the needs of males. KSU had planned to draw on the expertise of NIU in analyzing Air Force family data bases as both Universities collaborate in the development of a revised FNS specifically focused on the unique family-rearing needs of males. However, the USAF Family Advocacy program managers have since determined that this effort is of a lower priority, and are in the process of developing new tasking for this partnership. Air Force Central Registry Board (CRB) procedures training and implementation: Kansas State facilitated the implementation of new CRB procedures intended to standardize the evaluation and administration of military family maltreatment cases. A part-time faculty member was assigned to FAP headquarters for the purpose of providing on-site training and implementation assistance to field commands. Although we also planned to provide logistic support for conducting two more CRB "boot camps" in the Spring of 2009 to continue the process of training USAF military, civilian and contract personnel in CRB procedures at overseas locations, that work has been suspended by our FAP sponsors as they re-examine research and training priorities within their organization. Consulting services: The project PI is regularly consulted by the FAP managers regarding family maltreatment issues, and research objectives. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Sandra M. Stith, Ph.D., principal investigator, provided overall project guidance and direction and subject-matter consultation with FAP program managers; Dari Tritt, Ph.D. (LtCol, USAF- ret), research associate, provided guidance to Air Force FAP field program managers at bases worldwide on the implementation of new CRB procedures; Erin Menhusen, masters candidate, assisted with literature searches and other activities related to the USAF New Parent Support program; Cheryl Lugo, Amanda Mazouch and Marjorie Strachman, all masters candidates, assisted with FAP outreach efforts and execution of the PREP study; and William Giles, MPA (Capt, USCG-ret), research associate, assisted with management of grant resources and expedited project travel and procurement efforts. Partner organizations: USAF Family Advocacy Program staff, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General (San Antonio, TX); and the Center for the Study of Family Violence and Sexual Assault, Northern Illinois University (DeKalb, IL). TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audiences for the efforts undertaken in this project are the USAF military family members who have experienced incidents of family maltreatment (PREP Study), new male parents who are caring for a child without a female partner (FNS for males), and members of USAF CRB's at bases worldwide (training for and implementation of new CRB procedures). PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: An austere budgetary environment within the Air Force for 2009 and beyond has prompted our sponsors to re-evaluate the research priorities described in this award (when it was submitted for approval over a year ago). Once that evaluation has been completed in the second quarter of FY2009, we anticipate the sponsor may request the award objectives be modified (through an amendment to the award) to address more pressing research needs.

Impacts
Through the PREP Study activities, our preliminary indications are that both methods of distributing this training to Air Force families is having a positive impact on marital relationships within the 158 military families currently enrolled. Since the project got a late start due to the delayed project award and the normal summer transfers of military personnel, it will be several more months before KSU researchers will have a clearer determination of the changes in knowledge and attitude that actually occur, and which training delivery method is the most effective. We also believe the efforts of the faculty member who was assigned to FAP through September 2008 have produced a better understanding of the new CRB procedures and have enhanced their implementation at Air Force commands worldwide, but the known outcomes of those efforts are only anecdotal in nature. Through consultation with new FAP research director and program director, the project PI has been able to help them increase their understanding of the past decade's collaborative research efforts involving land grant universities, CSREES, and FAP. The project is too new and the issues too complex to have yet resulted in any significant change in conditions within FAP or its military family customer base.

Publications

• No publications reported this period