Amy Damashek - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Amy Damashek
Frontiers in digital health, Sep 7, 2023
Conducting a child injury prevention RCT in the wake of COVID-19: lessons learned for virtual hum... more Conducting a child injury prevention RCT in the wake of COVID-19: lessons learned for virtual human subjects research.
Infant Mental Health Journal
Child maltreatment is associated with a range of negative outcomes, including mental health, medi... more Child maltreatment is associated with a range of negative outcomes, including mental health, medical, educational, and interpersonal problems. This chapter discusses (a) interventions designed specifically for common problems among children who have been maltreated, and (b) treatments to change abusive or neglectful behavior. The chapter draws from reviews conducted by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC). Additional models that have not yet been reviewed by CEBC, but would likely be highly rated, are also included in this chapter. The number of supported treatments in the child maltreatment domain has increased substantially over the past decade, including several that are adaptations of well-established models in related areas. Programs that have received the most empirical study and support to date are those designed to change physically abusive behavior among parents and those designed to address traumatic stress conditions among children. Models targeting child neglect have been studied less. Among models targeting sexually abusive behavior, there is evidence of good effectiveness for juvenile interventions, but mixed evidence for treatment of adult sexual abusers. The chapter emphasizes the diversity among children who have experienced maltreatment, and the corresponding need for services matched to the child's behavioral and emotional status and the child's coping needs. Keywords: child maltreatment; treatment; child abuse; neglect
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2004
Child Abuse Neglect the International Journal, Aug 1, 2010
Objectives: Many children who die from abuse or neglect are survived by siblings. However, little... more Objectives: Many children who die from abuse or neglect are survived by siblings. However, little data are available about what happens to these siblings after the victim's death, such as whether they are removed from their home. Even less is known about how decisions are made regarding sibling removal following a child fatality. This study examined socialecological factors related to the likelihood that siblings would be removed from their homes after a child maltreatment fatality. Methods: This study utilized Oklahoma child death review and child welfare data from 1993 to 2003 for 250 families to examine which sibling, caregiver, alleged perpetrator, family, community, and maltreatment characteristics were related to sibling removal following a child maltreatment fatality. Results: Logistic regression analyses indicated that younger sibling age, more previous family reports to child welfare, and type of maltreatment (i.e., abuse rather than neglect) predicted greater likelihood of sibling removal. Conclusions: The sibling and family factors found to be related to sibling removal are consistent with literature indicating that these variables are associated with death from child maltreatment. Few caregiver and family variables were predictive of sibling removal, despite evidence that such variables are related to child maltreatment fatalities. Further research that investigates siblings' return to their homes and subsequent CPS referrals would help to clarify whether decisions about sibling removal were useful in protecting siblings from future maltreatment. Practice implications: It may be important for child welfare workers to consider more caregiver and family factors when making removal decisions after a child maltreatment fatality.
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 2015
ABSTRACT Many research studies address child trauma experiences that take place before foster car... more ABSTRACT Many research studies address child trauma experiences that take place before foster care placement. However, few studies focus on the types and patterns of trauma experiences that reportedly take place during and after foster care placement; that is, after entry into adult living. This study examined the testimony of 43 foster care youth who spoke to a listening panel comprised of state legislators, child welfare professionals, and university educators. Qualitative analyses of transcribed text data revealed 3 main themes. First, the youth reported experiencing trauma before, during, and after placement. Second, the youth described trauma events and situations that were chronic (i.e., intense, composite, or cumulative). Third, youth offered suggestions for reducing traumatic experiences for foster care youth. They recommended earlier family interventions, access to people who listen and care, improved parenting skills for foster parents, continuity of relationships, and opportunities for leadership for foster youth. Foster youth voices offer important suggestions for building, strengthening, and evaluating trauma-informed systems of care.
Journal of interpersonal violence, Jan 26, 2014
More than 1,500 children died in the United States in 2011 due to child maltreatment. A substanti... more More than 1,500 children died in the United States in 2011 due to child maltreatment. A substantial portion of these deaths were due to neglect. Previous research has found that a large percentage of child neglect cases involve supervisory neglect; however, the role of inadequate caregiver supervision (ICS) in child maltreatment deaths is unknown. The present study reviewed files from the Child Death Review Board in the state of Oklahoma for the years 2000 to 2003 to examine (a) how many deaths were due to inadequate caregiver supervision and (b) which child, caregiver, family, alleged perpetrator, and incident characteristics predicted risk for death related to ICS. Results indicated that almost half of the child maltreatment deaths were related to ICS. Older children and those living in homes with greater numbers of children were more likely to die from causes related to ICS. In addition, the alleged perpetrators of deaths related to ICS were more likely to be biological parents t...
Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 2014
Unintentional injury is the leading killer of children in the United States. Children under the a... more Unintentional injury is the leading killer of children in the United States. Children under the age of 5 are at particularly high risk for death from injury. The evidence base for prevention programs in the area of unintentional injury is limited by a lack of rigorous research, inclusion of low-risk participants, and interventions that do not include behavioral skills training. The article presented here will discuss promising injury prevention programs for children below age 5 and will highlight program strengths and weaknesses. Interventions that prevent the leading causes of death among young children will be discussed, including car seat use, safe infant sleep, home hazard reduction, and caregiver supervision.
Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention, 2015
Much of the research on child injury risk has focused on trait-like factors (eg, hyperactivity, c... more Much of the research on child injury risk has focused on trait-like factors (eg, hyperactivity, child gender) that influence injury risk rather than state-like factors (eg, environmental circumstances, child behaviour). Additional research is needed to better identify the proximal risk factors for children's risk for unintentional injury. The present study examined the antecedents to minor unintentional injury events and whether unusual circumstances and child behaviour predicted injury risk. The study used archival data that were collected via biweekly in-person interviews with 170 mothers of toddlers (15-36 months) for 6 months. A case crossover design was used to predict children's risk for injury from proximal risk factors. Children were at a higher risk for injury when circumstances were unusual and when they were engaging in an unusual behaviour. When a child was engaging in an unusual behaviour, higher levels of maternal supervision predicted lower injury risk. Childr...
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2009
Objective The present study used a case-crossover design to investigate the association of caregi... more Objective The present study used a case-crossover design to investigate the association of caregiver alcohol consumption and supervision to children's injury occurrence and severity. Method A community sample of 170 mothers of toddlers was interviewed biweekly about their children's daily injuries for a period of 6 months. Results Proximal caregiver-reported alcohol use predicted higher likelihood of injury occurrence and higher injury severity, whereas caregiver-reported supervision predicted lower likelihood of injury occurrence and lower injury severity. Conclusion Even at low levels, proximal caregiver alcohol use may contribute to higher risk for childhood injuries and more severe injuries. The combined effect of supervision and drinking on injury likelihood warrants further exploration.
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2013
Research indicates that mothers' supervision protects children from injuries. However, little res... more Research indicates that mothers' supervision protects children from injuries. However, little research has examined the role of fathers' supervision in children's injuries. Objectives This study compared the role of maternal and paternal supervision in children's injury risk and severity using maternal reports. Methods Mothers (n ¼ 170) of toddlers were interviewed for 6 months about their children's unintentional injuries. Results Children were more likely to engage in high activity levels and were at higher risk for injury when being cared for by their fathers. Although higher supervision predicted lower injury risk for both mothers and fathers, fathers' close supervision (as reported by mothers) was a stronger predictor of injury risk than mothers' supervision. Conclusion Children's higher levels of activities may have accounted for their higher risk of injury when in their fathers' care. These findings indicate the need to include fathers in injury prevention efforts.
Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 2002
Unintentional injury is the leading killer of children in the United States. Although many may co... more Unintentional injury is the leading killer of children in the United States. Although many may consider such injuries to be accidents, the majority of unintentional injuries are preventable. This article reviews research on programs intended to prevent injuries in young children. The article examines levels of intervention (e.g., national, community, family, and individual), methods of intervention (e.g., legislation, education, and behavioral training), types of intervention (e.g., passive and active), and targets of intervention (e.g., families, caregivers, and children). The paper also suggests a means of categorizing types of interventions along a numerical continuum from most passive to most active.
Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2011
Child maltreatment is a serious threat to children's physical and psychological well-being; there... more Child maltreatment is a serious threat to children's physical and psychological well-being; therefore, it is critically important to develop high-quality educational programs to train psychologists in effectively addressing child abuse and neglect. Various health care disciplines and areas within the field of psychology have established competencies as a guide for student training curricula; however, none have been established for the area of child maltreatment. The present article presents training competencies for the field of child maltreatment that have been developed from a program designed to train psychology graduate students to practice and conduct research in child maltreatment. The competencies have been divided into eight core areas including assessment, treatment, multidisciplinary collaboration, advocacy, ethics, research, research ethics, and professional development.
Injury Prevention, 2001
Objectives-To examine recent trends in baby walker and exersaucer use, and to assess maternal mot... more Objectives-To examine recent trends in baby walker and exersaucer use, and to assess maternal motivations for choosing to use or not use these devices with children. Setting-Small, Midwestern city in the United States. Methods-Retrospective telephone survey with a sample of 329 mothers who provided information about their use of walkers and exersaucers with 463 children born in Columbia, Missouri between January 1994 and April 1999. Results-Baby walker use in the sample declined fairly steadily from 1994 to 1999, whereas exersaucer use increased during the same period. Altogether 88% of mothers were aware of the injury risks associated with walkers, and this knowledge was the most commonly reported reason for abstaining from walker use. Remarkably, 38% of participants with knowledge of walker risks nevertheless used these devices. Participants reported many reasons for using walkers and exersaucers, including child entertainment, perceived developmental benefit, easy availability, and improved safety of exersaucers. Conclusions-Public knowledge of the hazards of walkers seems to be high, and this awareness is a likely factor in many caregivers' decisions not to use them. Future interventions should focus particular attention on those caregivers who continue to use walkers despite knowledge of the associated risks. In addition to persuasive interventions, alternatives to walkers should be encouraged. Exersaucers represent one viable alternative, and should be promoted as such by the media, pediatricians, and other child care professionals.
Child Maltreatment, 2011
High rates of program attrition in home-based family support and child maltreatment prevention se... more High rates of program attrition in home-based family support and child maltreatment prevention services are common. Researchexamining factors related to family engagement (i.e., enrollment and completion rates) may help program developers increase theimpact of child abuse prevention services by reducing attrition. The present study examined the relative influence of provider,program, and individual factors from the Integrated Theory of Parent Involvement (ITPI) as well as maternal and family demo-graphic and risk variables in predicting service enrollment and completion in a home-based child maltreatment prevention service(SafeCareþ) and a standard community care program (Services as Usual [SAU]). Participants were 398 female caregivers ofchildren ages 5 and below. Support was found for the primary role of program and provider factors in client enrollment andcompletion of services. Specifically, participants in SafeCareþ were 4 times more likely to enroll in services and 8.5 times morelikely to complete services than those in SAU. Family risk variables including intimate partner psychological aggression, substanceabuse, and depression were also significant predictors. Recommended next steps include integration of risk-related factors in theITPI framework and disentangling specific provider and program factors related to service engagement.
Child Maltreatment, 2003
This article reviews research on the parenting characteristics of female survivors of childhood s... more This article reviews research on the parenting characteristics of female survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Various aspects of parenting are considered, including (a) childbearing patterns, (b) the intergenerational transmission of CSA, (c) maternal reactions to child CSA disclosure, (d) parenting skills and behaviors, (e) parental violence toward children, (f) attitudes toward parenting, and (g) adjustment of survivors' children. Overall patterns suggest CSA survivors may experience diffi culties with some aspects of parenting. Among the more consistent trends are fi ndings that survivors may have diffi culties establishing clear generational boundaries with their children, may be more permissive as parents, and may be more likely to use harsh physical discipline. Despite associations between CSA and parenting diffi culties, the limited research addressing specifi c aspects of parenting, and limitations in study design, preclude causal inferences and make conclusions tentative at the present time. The clinical implications of this work and directions for future research are discussed.
Frontiers in digital health, Sep 7, 2023
Conducting a child injury prevention RCT in the wake of COVID-19: lessons learned for virtual hum... more Conducting a child injury prevention RCT in the wake of COVID-19: lessons learned for virtual human subjects research.
Infant Mental Health Journal
Child maltreatment is associated with a range of negative outcomes, including mental health, medi... more Child maltreatment is associated with a range of negative outcomes, including mental health, medical, educational, and interpersonal problems. This chapter discusses (a) interventions designed specifically for common problems among children who have been maltreated, and (b) treatments to change abusive or neglectful behavior. The chapter draws from reviews conducted by the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse for Child Welfare (CEBC). Additional models that have not yet been reviewed by CEBC, but would likely be highly rated, are also included in this chapter. The number of supported treatments in the child maltreatment domain has increased substantially over the past decade, including several that are adaptations of well-established models in related areas. Programs that have received the most empirical study and support to date are those designed to change physically abusive behavior among parents and those designed to address traumatic stress conditions among children. Models targeting child neglect have been studied less. Among models targeting sexually abusive behavior, there is evidence of good effectiveness for juvenile interventions, but mixed evidence for treatment of adult sexual abusers. The chapter emphasizes the diversity among children who have experienced maltreatment, and the corresponding need for services matched to the child's behavioral and emotional status and the child's coping needs. Keywords: child maltreatment; treatment; child abuse; neglect
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 2004
Child Abuse Neglect the International Journal, Aug 1, 2010
Objectives: Many children who die from abuse or neglect are survived by siblings. However, little... more Objectives: Many children who die from abuse or neglect are survived by siblings. However, little data are available about what happens to these siblings after the victim's death, such as whether they are removed from their home. Even less is known about how decisions are made regarding sibling removal following a child fatality. This study examined socialecological factors related to the likelihood that siblings would be removed from their homes after a child maltreatment fatality. Methods: This study utilized Oklahoma child death review and child welfare data from 1993 to 2003 for 250 families to examine which sibling, caregiver, alleged perpetrator, family, community, and maltreatment characteristics were related to sibling removal following a child maltreatment fatality. Results: Logistic regression analyses indicated that younger sibling age, more previous family reports to child welfare, and type of maltreatment (i.e., abuse rather than neglect) predicted greater likelihood of sibling removal. Conclusions: The sibling and family factors found to be related to sibling removal are consistent with literature indicating that these variables are associated with death from child maltreatment. Few caregiver and family variables were predictive of sibling removal, despite evidence that such variables are related to child maltreatment fatalities. Further research that investigates siblings' return to their homes and subsequent CPS referrals would help to clarify whether decisions about sibling removal were useful in protecting siblings from future maltreatment. Practice implications: It may be important for child welfare workers to consider more caregiver and family factors when making removal decisions after a child maltreatment fatality.
Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 2015
ABSTRACT Many research studies address child trauma experiences that take place before foster car... more ABSTRACT Many research studies address child trauma experiences that take place before foster care placement. However, few studies focus on the types and patterns of trauma experiences that reportedly take place during and after foster care placement; that is, after entry into adult living. This study examined the testimony of 43 foster care youth who spoke to a listening panel comprised of state legislators, child welfare professionals, and university educators. Qualitative analyses of transcribed text data revealed 3 main themes. First, the youth reported experiencing trauma before, during, and after placement. Second, the youth described trauma events and situations that were chronic (i.e., intense, composite, or cumulative). Third, youth offered suggestions for reducing traumatic experiences for foster care youth. They recommended earlier family interventions, access to people who listen and care, improved parenting skills for foster parents, continuity of relationships, and opportunities for leadership for foster youth. Foster youth voices offer important suggestions for building, strengthening, and evaluating trauma-informed systems of care.
Journal of interpersonal violence, Jan 26, 2014
More than 1,500 children died in the United States in 2011 due to child maltreatment. A substanti... more More than 1,500 children died in the United States in 2011 due to child maltreatment. A substantial portion of these deaths were due to neglect. Previous research has found that a large percentage of child neglect cases involve supervisory neglect; however, the role of inadequate caregiver supervision (ICS) in child maltreatment deaths is unknown. The present study reviewed files from the Child Death Review Board in the state of Oklahoma for the years 2000 to 2003 to examine (a) how many deaths were due to inadequate caregiver supervision and (b) which child, caregiver, family, alleged perpetrator, and incident characteristics predicted risk for death related to ICS. Results indicated that almost half of the child maltreatment deaths were related to ICS. Older children and those living in homes with greater numbers of children were more likely to die from causes related to ICS. In addition, the alleged perpetrators of deaths related to ICS were more likely to be biological parents t...
Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 2014
Unintentional injury is the leading killer of children in the United States. Children under the a... more Unintentional injury is the leading killer of children in the United States. Children under the age of 5 are at particularly high risk for death from injury. The evidence base for prevention programs in the area of unintentional injury is limited by a lack of rigorous research, inclusion of low-risk participants, and interventions that do not include behavioral skills training. The article presented here will discuss promising injury prevention programs for children below age 5 and will highlight program strengths and weaknesses. Interventions that prevent the leading causes of death among young children will be discussed, including car seat use, safe infant sleep, home hazard reduction, and caregiver supervision.
Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention, 2015
Much of the research on child injury risk has focused on trait-like factors (eg, hyperactivity, c... more Much of the research on child injury risk has focused on trait-like factors (eg, hyperactivity, child gender) that influence injury risk rather than state-like factors (eg, environmental circumstances, child behaviour). Additional research is needed to better identify the proximal risk factors for children's risk for unintentional injury. The present study examined the antecedents to minor unintentional injury events and whether unusual circumstances and child behaviour predicted injury risk. The study used archival data that were collected via biweekly in-person interviews with 170 mothers of toddlers (15-36 months) for 6 months. A case crossover design was used to predict children's risk for injury from proximal risk factors. Children were at a higher risk for injury when circumstances were unusual and when they were engaging in an unusual behaviour. When a child was engaging in an unusual behaviour, higher levels of maternal supervision predicted lower injury risk. Childr...
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2009
Objective The present study used a case-crossover design to investigate the association of caregi... more Objective The present study used a case-crossover design to investigate the association of caregiver alcohol consumption and supervision to children's injury occurrence and severity. Method A community sample of 170 mothers of toddlers was interviewed biweekly about their children's daily injuries for a period of 6 months. Results Proximal caregiver-reported alcohol use predicted higher likelihood of injury occurrence and higher injury severity, whereas caregiver-reported supervision predicted lower likelihood of injury occurrence and lower injury severity. Conclusion Even at low levels, proximal caregiver alcohol use may contribute to higher risk for childhood injuries and more severe injuries. The combined effect of supervision and drinking on injury likelihood warrants further exploration.
Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 2013
Research indicates that mothers' supervision protects children from injuries. However, little res... more Research indicates that mothers' supervision protects children from injuries. However, little research has examined the role of fathers' supervision in children's injuries. Objectives This study compared the role of maternal and paternal supervision in children's injury risk and severity using maternal reports. Methods Mothers (n ¼ 170) of toddlers were interviewed for 6 months about their children's unintentional injuries. Results Children were more likely to engage in high activity levels and were at higher risk for injury when being cared for by their fathers. Although higher supervision predicted lower injury risk for both mothers and fathers, fathers' close supervision (as reported by mothers) was a stronger predictor of injury risk than mothers' supervision. Conclusion Children's higher levels of activities may have accounted for their higher risk of injury when in their fathers' care. These findings indicate the need to include fathers in injury prevention efforts.
Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 2002
Unintentional injury is the leading killer of children in the United States. Although many may co... more Unintentional injury is the leading killer of children in the United States. Although many may consider such injuries to be accidents, the majority of unintentional injuries are preventable. This article reviews research on programs intended to prevent injuries in young children. The article examines levels of intervention (e.g., national, community, family, and individual), methods of intervention (e.g., legislation, education, and behavioral training), types of intervention (e.g., passive and active), and targets of intervention (e.g., families, caregivers, and children). The paper also suggests a means of categorizing types of interventions along a numerical continuum from most passive to most active.
Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2011
Child maltreatment is a serious threat to children's physical and psychological well-being; there... more Child maltreatment is a serious threat to children's physical and psychological well-being; therefore, it is critically important to develop high-quality educational programs to train psychologists in effectively addressing child abuse and neglect. Various health care disciplines and areas within the field of psychology have established competencies as a guide for student training curricula; however, none have been established for the area of child maltreatment. The present article presents training competencies for the field of child maltreatment that have been developed from a program designed to train psychology graduate students to practice and conduct research in child maltreatment. The competencies have been divided into eight core areas including assessment, treatment, multidisciplinary collaboration, advocacy, ethics, research, research ethics, and professional development.
Injury Prevention, 2001
Objectives-To examine recent trends in baby walker and exersaucer use, and to assess maternal mot... more Objectives-To examine recent trends in baby walker and exersaucer use, and to assess maternal motivations for choosing to use or not use these devices with children. Setting-Small, Midwestern city in the United States. Methods-Retrospective telephone survey with a sample of 329 mothers who provided information about their use of walkers and exersaucers with 463 children born in Columbia, Missouri between January 1994 and April 1999. Results-Baby walker use in the sample declined fairly steadily from 1994 to 1999, whereas exersaucer use increased during the same period. Altogether 88% of mothers were aware of the injury risks associated with walkers, and this knowledge was the most commonly reported reason for abstaining from walker use. Remarkably, 38% of participants with knowledge of walker risks nevertheless used these devices. Participants reported many reasons for using walkers and exersaucers, including child entertainment, perceived developmental benefit, easy availability, and improved safety of exersaucers. Conclusions-Public knowledge of the hazards of walkers seems to be high, and this awareness is a likely factor in many caregivers' decisions not to use them. Future interventions should focus particular attention on those caregivers who continue to use walkers despite knowledge of the associated risks. In addition to persuasive interventions, alternatives to walkers should be encouraged. Exersaucers represent one viable alternative, and should be promoted as such by the media, pediatricians, and other child care professionals.
Child Maltreatment, 2011
High rates of program attrition in home-based family support and child maltreatment prevention se... more High rates of program attrition in home-based family support and child maltreatment prevention services are common. Researchexamining factors related to family engagement (i.e., enrollment and completion rates) may help program developers increase theimpact of child abuse prevention services by reducing attrition. The present study examined the relative influence of provider,program, and individual factors from the Integrated Theory of Parent Involvement (ITPI) as well as maternal and family demo-graphic and risk variables in predicting service enrollment and completion in a home-based child maltreatment prevention service(SafeCareþ) and a standard community care program (Services as Usual [SAU]). Participants were 398 female caregivers ofchildren ages 5 and below. Support was found for the primary role of program and provider factors in client enrollment andcompletion of services. Specifically, participants in SafeCareþ were 4 times more likely to enroll in services and 8.5 times morelikely to complete services than those in SAU. Family risk variables including intimate partner psychological aggression, substanceabuse, and depression were also significant predictors. Recommended next steps include integration of risk-related factors in theITPI framework and disentangling specific provider and program factors related to service engagement.
Child Maltreatment, 2003
This article reviews research on the parenting characteristics of female survivors of childhood s... more This article reviews research on the parenting characteristics of female survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Various aspects of parenting are considered, including (a) childbearing patterns, (b) the intergenerational transmission of CSA, (c) maternal reactions to child CSA disclosure, (d) parenting skills and behaviors, (e) parental violence toward children, (f) attitudes toward parenting, and (g) adjustment of survivors' children. Overall patterns suggest CSA survivors may experience diffi culties with some aspects of parenting. Among the more consistent trends are fi ndings that survivors may have diffi culties establishing clear generational boundaries with their children, may be more permissive as parents, and may be more likely to use harsh physical discipline. Despite associations between CSA and parenting diffi culties, the limited research addressing specifi c aspects of parenting, and limitations in study design, preclude causal inferences and make conclusions tentative at the present time. The clinical implications of this work and directions for future research are discussed.