Source: PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
SUPPORTING MILITARY FAMILIES THROUGH DISSEMINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
HATCH
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1009927
Grant No.
(N/A)
Cumulative Award Amt.
(N/A)
Proposal No.
(N/A)
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 5, 2016
Project End Date
Jun 30, 2021
Grant Year
(N/A)
Program Code
[(N/A)]- (N/A)
Recipient Organization
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
208 MUELLER LABORATORY
UNIVERSITY PARK,PA 16802
Performing Department
Agri Economics, Sociology & Education
Non Technical Summary
This project will work through the Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness and Better Kid Care to help bridge the gap between current social service delivery for Military families and evidence-based practices. The overall mission is to assist professionals who work with Military families identify, select, implement, and evaluate scientifically-based programs and practices to improve the health and well-being of Military personnel and their families. A central goal of the Clearinghouse is to stimulate the use of evidence-based programs and practices, improve awareness of and access to these approaches, decrease real and perceived barriers to their use, increase the use of evaluation as part of program implementation, and reduce the lag time between the creation of scientific knowledge in prevention/intervention and evaluation sciences and their translation to the field.The fields of applied developmental science, intervention/prevention and evaluation science, and dissemination and implementation science have guided Clearinghouse efforts. As a result, the Clearinghouse: (a) focuses on Military families, an under-studied group experiencing a high degree of burden; (b) houses a substantial number of systematically-vetted programs and practices; (c) provides proactive, solution-focused technical assistance focused on the implementation and evaluation of scientifically-based prevention and intervention programs; (d) is designed to support the efficient adoption and appropriate adaptation of evidence-based and evidence-informed prevention and intervention programs/practices; (e) applies innovative and practical evaluation methods to measure the effectiveness of programs and practices; and (f) involves a successful and growing partnership, bringing together two federal agencies (DoD and USDA) and a premier land-grant university (Penn State) to work in concert to improve uptake of evidence-based programming.
Animal Health Component
80%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
10%
Applied
80%
Developmental
10%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
8036020307060%
8036020308020%
8036020302020%
Knowledge Area
803 - Sociological and Technological Change Affecting Individuals, Families, and Communities;

Subject Of Investigation
6020 - The family and its members;

Field Of Science
3070 - Psychology; 3020 - Education; 3080 - Sociology;
Goals / Objectives
Sustain a program vetting process based on scientific rigor and objectivityConduct high-quality, innovative applied research and evaluation focused on the well-being of military familiesEngage in outreach and education focused on the well-being of military familiesIdentify and reduce barriers to the translation of research to evidence informed programs and practicesSupport military families through quality professional learning for early care and education and school-age professionalsTrain a new generation of researchers and practitioners specializing in support to military familiesProvide scientific evidence to inform public policy
Project Methods
Sustain a program vetting process based on scientific rigor and objectivityThe Clearinghouse's website currently contains a repository of information on more than 1000 programs. Military families face challenges that are common to civilians as well as challenges specific to the military lifestyle. Thus, the programs on the Clearinghouse website cover a wide range of health and well-being issues relevant to military families, specifically, but also to families in society as a whole. These include, but are not limited to, parenting practices, family communication, coping and resilience, child and youth behavior, obesity intervention, prevention of alcohol and substance use, and treatment of mental health issues (e.g., PTSD and depression). As with other web-based repositories, the Clearinghouse reviews and places programs along a continuum of evidence. Placements are based on peer-reviewed research and adhere to a systematized process and clearly articulated criteria. To ensure our reviews represent a specific program, evaluations of adaptations or previous versions of programs are not considered, as changes to program content or delivery method may affect the effectiveness. Adaptations, however, may be reviewed as separate programs. Programs are re-reviewed every three years to ensure information is current. Although considering all peer reviewed empirical evidence, Clearinghouse program reviews are unique in that they highlight programs that are designed for and tested with Service members and their families.Conduct high-quality, innovative applied research and evaluation focused on the well-being of military familiesWe employ systematic and innovative methods to conduct process and outcome evaluations of programs and services being used with military families. The range of scientific designs and methods offered includes: evaluability assessments, metrics identification and development, evaluation planning, and evaluation of programs and services. Clearinghouse scientists also assist with evidence-informed program development and with program manual refinement. Moreover, our scientists engage in applied research to address policy questions relevant to military children, youth, and families.Engage in outreach and education focused on the well-being of military familiesWe will develop learning products (e.g., instructor-led training, computer-based training, webinars, discussion boards, mlearning, elearning, pod casts, and blended learning) for Service members, family members, and professionals. These products are based on research from various fields of education, psychology, and learning science and through the use of new technologies. The agile method of design is implemented to develop a quality learning intervention that is science-based, actionable, innovative, and measurable.Identify and reduce barriers to the translation of research to evidence informed programs and practicesAs part of this effort, we will provide education, consultation, and support to guide the professional successfully through the steps of effective, evidence-informed programming. We will work to ensure high-quality program delivery and sound implementation science that translates into the desired results - healthier military families! For continuous support, we will have a Technical Assistance staff can help the professional by: (1) developing a rapid literature and resource review; (2) suggesting the best research-informed program or practice for specific situations; (3) providing implementation assistance; and (4) developing a strategy for evaluation and sustainability.Support military families through quality professional learning for early care and education and school-age professionalsTo answer the increasing need for quality, tested, professional development for on-installation and military-supported off-installation child care and youth development professionals, research-informed professional development and resources will be provided to all DoD (75) Child Development Programs, Service Youth Programs on the 250 installations and in 4,500 Family Child Care Homes representing all Services and DLA world-wide. Additionally, DoD has identified 20 states with military-rich communities for targeted professional development efforts. The Child and Youth Training and Technical Assistance Program (CYTTAP) provides training and technical assistance to increase the knowledge and skills of child care providers and youth program staff. Military-connected children and youth receiving high quality care will be ready for school and demonstrate improved educational outcomes, resulting in the long-term outcome of military-ready soldiers who are confident that their children have access to quality, stable child care situations. Evaluations of self-directed online learning on knowledge gained and intent to change practice will be documented. Existing partnerships with and funding from the Department of Defense through NIFA will facilitate this.Train a new generation of researchers and practitioners specializing in support to military familiesImmersive educational experiences have been identified as one of the most important needs in engaged scholarship. We have only begun to scratch the surface of what is possible for collaborating with our military partners to develop high-quality, immersive, and engaging learning opportunities for students. To date, student experiences have been largely project specific. While these have provided excellent opportunities for students, greater community immersion is possible. We will explore several new avenues. For example, our military partners have expressed interest in developing semester- or summer-long engagement opportunities for Clearinghouse students and staff. These could include working on military installations across the globe in such areas as family advocacy and family violence prevention, implementing evidence-based programs on bases or in nearby communities, working with school-liaison officers to assist military school aged children and families make smooth relocations to new communities, and collaborating with public health commands to analyze existing data on military health and wellness issues. Our goal is to develop several new sustainable immersive learning opportunities for students in the next five years.Provide scientific evidence to inform public policyThere are three strategies to inform public policy. First, through the use of traditional scientific communication strategies (peer-review journal and scholarly presentations) will advance the lesson learn and new scientific knowledge. Second, we will continue to provide our partners (providers and policy analysts) with actionable practical information through briefs and reports. We will produce popular media products to promote the understanding of the unique challenges military families face as well as highlight their awesome resiliency.

Progress 07/05/16 to 06/30/21

Outputs
Target Audience: Families and Consumer Science and 4-H Extension educators who service military families (inclusive of National Guard and Reserves) in their communities. Providers in community and with DoD who work with military families and the Service members DoD policy analysts Implementation scientists Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Numerous training for providers and scientist at various national conferences an online platforms including: Military Familiy Learning Network; Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) Professional Development Event, National Council on Family Relations. The training on the referral tool for Problematic Sexual Behavior has been completed virtually has been delivered to 465 providers. We will continue to maintain a strong collaborative relationships with stakeholders of our various applied research projects to improve the quality and usability of products. Constant and consistent communication will occur to ensure strong feedback loops, including secure feedback from professionals, who serve military families, through quarterly scheduled, virtual feedback sessions that focus on input about new products being developed. This will help to ensure that the products being developed meet expected needs and will provide opportunities to make appropriate adjustments when necessary. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated through a dynamic website, internal research reports to funders and primary stakeholders, peer-review journal publications, and research conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Dr. Perkins addressed each one of these goals. Dr. Bayly addressed goal five. These goals are being accomplished through funding from (Department of Defense (DoD), Army, Air Force, and Private Foundations. The largest of these fund grants is Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness which has been located at the Pennsylvania State University (Clearinghouse) for the last 10 years. The Clearinghouse will continue emphasizing the use of evidence-based programs (EBP)s and practices, improving awareness of and access to these approaches, decreasing real and perceived barriers to their use, increasing the use of evaluation as part of program implementation, and reducing the lag time between the creation of scientific knowledge in prevention/intervention and evaluation sciences and their translation to the field. Goals 1, 2, and 5: A total of 108 programs were vetted by research scientists, and these programs have been placed on the Continuum of Evidence. Moreover, 110 programs were re-vetted as five year re-review. Goals 3, 4, and 5: Technical Assistance (TA) requests have grown significantly and steadily each year. The average number of requests per month has increased from 29 requests in 2014 to 43 requests in 2019. From September 2019 through June 2020, TA addressed 373 requests (e.g., gathering information on EBPs, identifying data and research findings for evidence-based prevention, help in selecting the most suitable program, assisting with program implementation). In addition, as part of formal requests, the TA team completed eight rapid literature reviews. Goal 5: All of Dr. Bayly efforts were to support this goal. He had two relevant peer-reviewed manuscripts accepted for publication, wrote two research-to-practice articles with meaningful applications to the project, and collaborated on two online modules with implications for school age professionals Goal 6: We produced manuscripts and technical policy reports we have provided to funders that have emanated from partnership projects. This has advanced the fields of prevention, dissemination, and implementation science and has assisted our young scientists into independent scholars. Goal 7: In collaboration with our partners, this project has established a solid foundation of rigorous applied research and outreach that is being disseminated on numerous fronts to both military and civilian stakeholders. This research is impacting how social services and healthcare are provided to service members, veterans, and their families. As a land grant university devoted to the translation of research to practice, our military partnership is an exemplar for engagement and motivates us to further serve our citizenry.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Aronson, K. R., Perkins, D. F., Morgan, N. R., Bleser, J. A., Vogt, D., Copeland, L., ... & Gilman, C. (2019). Post-9/11 Veteran Transitions to Civilian Life: Predictors of the Use of Employment Programs. Journal of Veterans Studies, 5(1), 14-22. http://doi.org/10.21061/jvs.v5i1.127
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Vogt, D. S., Tyrell, F. A., Bramande, E. A., Nillni, Y. I., Taverna, E. C., Finley, E. P., Perkins, D. F., & Copeland, L.A (2020). U.S. Military Veterans Health and Well-Being in the First Year after Service. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 58, 352-360
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Morgan, N. R., Aronson, K. R., Bleser, J. A., Davenport, K. E., Perkins, D. F., Vogt, D., Copeland, L. A., Finley, E. P., & Gilman, C. L. (2020). Reducing barriers to veterans use of programs and services as they transition to civilian life. BMC Health Service Research, 5(25), 520. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05320-4
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Miyamoto, S., Thiede, E., Dorn, L., Perkins, D.F., Bittner, C., & Scanlon, D. (2020). The Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Telehealth (SAFE-T) Center: A Comprehensive, Nurse-led Telehealth Model to Address Disparities in Sexual Assault Care. The Journal of Rural Health, ???, 1-11. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12474
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: McCarthy, K. J., Perkins, D. F., Roberts, M., Potter, S., Guin, A. H., Carroll, J. B., Deringer, N. C., Ballard, J. E., & Borden, L. M. (2020). Evaluation of coach-based technical assistance: An evolving focus on coachability and goal setting. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 8, 28-50
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kaye, M.P., Saathoff-Wells, T., Ferrara, A. M., Morgan, N. R., & Perkins, D. F (2019). Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Analysis and Validity of the Family Needs Screener. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519888517
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Aronson, K. R., Perkins, D. F., Morgan, N. R., Bleser, J. A., Vogt, D., Copeland, L. A., Finley, E. P., & Gilman, C. L. (2020). The impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and combat exposure on mental health conditions among New Post-9/11 Veterans. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000614
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Aronson, K. R., Perkins, D. F., Morgan, N. R., Bleser, J. A., Vogt, D., Copeland, L. A., Finley, E. P., & Gilman, C. L. (2020). Predictors of health services/programs among new post-9/11 veterans with mental health conditions. Psychiatric Services. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201900326
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2021 Citation: Materia, F., Chesnut, R., Czymoniewicz-Klippel, M., DiNallo, J. & Perkins, D. F. (in press, 2021). Examining Implementation Feasibility of a Multicomponent Parenting and Health Promotion Program for Military Families. Military Behavioral Health.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Bayly, B.L, Dizon, E.R., Shrestha, G., Smith, C.L., Tekle, S., & Cooper, B.R. (2020). Optimizing the power of positive relationships: Which preschool teachers benefit most from a professional development intervention? Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2021 Citation: Bayly, B.L., Bierman, K.L. (in press). Profiles of dysregulation moderate the impact of preschool teacher-student relationships on elementary school functioning. Early Education and Development.


Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience: Families and Consumer Science and 4-H extension educators who service military families (inclusive of National Guard and Reserves) in their communities Providers in community and with DoD (Department of Defense) who work with military families and the Service members DoD policy analysts Implementation scientists Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Numerous training for providers and scientists at various national conferences and online platforms including: Military Familiy Learning Network; CYFAR (Children, Youth, and Families at Risk) Professional Development Event, National Council on Family Relations. The training on the referral tool for Problematic Sexual Behavior has been completed virtually and has been delivered to 465 providers. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated through a dynamic website, internal research reports to funders and primary stakeholders, peer-review journal publications, and research conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to maintain strong collaborative relationships with stakeholders of our various applied research projects to improve the quality and usability of products. Constant and consistent communication will occur to ensure strong feedback loops, including secure feedback from professionals, who serve military families, through quarterly scheduled, virtual feedback sessions that focus on input about new products being developed. This will help to ensure that the products being developed meet expected needs and will provide opportunities to make appropriate adjustments when necessary.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? These goals are being accomplished through funding from DoD (Department of Defense), Army, Air Force, and Private Foundations. The largest of these fund grants is Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness which has been located at the Pennsylvania State University (Clearinghouse) for the last tenyears. The Clearinghouse will continue emphasizing the use of EBPs (evidence-based programs) and practices, improving awareness of and access to these approaches, decreasing real and perceived barriers to their use, increasing the use of evaluation as part of program implementation, and reducing the lag time between the creation of scientific knowledge in prevention/intervention and evaluation sciences and their translation to the field. Goals 1, 2, and 5: A total of 108 programs were vetted by research scientists, and these programs have been placed on the Continuum of Evidence. Moreover, 110 programs were re-vetted as part of a five year re-review. (Perkins - 1, 2,5; Bayly - 5) Goals 3, 4, and 5: Technical Assistance (TA) requests have grown significantly and steadily each year. The average number of requests per month has increased from 29 requests in 2014 to 43 requests in 2019. From September 2019 through June 2020, TA addressed 373 requests (e.g., gathering information on EBPs, identifying data and research findings for evidence-based prevention, help in selecting the most suitable program, assisting with program implementation). In addition, as part of formal requests, the TA team completed eight rapid literature reviews. (Perkins - 3, 4, 5; Bayly - 5) In support of Goal 5, Dr. Bayly is working on two research-to-practice articles with meaningful applications to the goal and two online modules. Goal 6: We produced manuscripts and technical policy reportsprovided to funders that have emanated from partnership projects. This has advanced the fields of prevention, dissemination, and implementation science and has assisted our young scientists in becoming independent scholars. (Perkins) Goal 7: In collaboration with our partners, this project has established a solid foundation of rigorous applied research and outreach that is being disseminated on numerous fronts to both military and civilian stakeholders. This research is impacting how social services and healthcare are provided to service members, veterans, and their families. As a land grant university devoted to the translation of research to practice, our military partnership is an exemplar for engagement and motivates us to further serve our citizenry. (Perkins)

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Kaye, M.P., Saathoff-Wells, T., Ferrara, A. M., Morgan, N. R., & Perkins, D. F (2019). Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling Analysis and Validity of the Family Needs Screener. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, https://doi.org/10.1177/0886260519888517
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Aronson, K. R., Perkins, D. F., Morgan, N. R., Bleser, J. A., Vogt, D., Copeland, L., ... & Gilman, C. (2019). Post-9/11 Veteran Transitions to Civilian Life: Predictors of the Use of Employment Programs. Journal of Veterans Studies, 5(1), 14-22. http://doi.org/10.21061/jvs.v5i1.127
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Vogt, D. S., Tyrell, F. A., Bramande, E. A., Nillni, Y. I., Taverna, E. C., Finley, E. P., Perkins, D. F., & Copeland, L.A (2020). U.S. Military Veterans Health and Well-Being in the First Year after Service. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 58, 352-360
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Morgan, N. R., Aronson, K. R., Bleser, J. A., Davenport, K. E., Perkins, D. F., Vogt, D., Copeland, L. A., Finley, E. P., & Gilman, C. L. (2020). Reducing barriers to veterans use of programs and services as they transition to civilian life. BMC Health Service Research, 5(25), 520. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-020-05320-4
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Miyamoto, S., Thiede, E., Dorn, L., Perkins, D.F., Bittner, C., & Scanlon, D. (2020). The Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Telehealth (SAFE-T) Center: A Comprehensive, Nurse-led Telehealth Model to Address Disparities in Sexual Assault Care. The Journal of Rural Health, 1-11. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12474 (Early View; Online Version of Record before inclusion in an issue)
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Aronson, K. R., Perkins, D. F., Morgan, N. R., Bleser, J. A., Vogt, D., Copeland, L. A., Finley, E. P., & Gilman, C. L. (2020). The impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and combat exposure on mental health conditions among New Post-9/11 Veterans. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, and Practice. https://doi.org/10.1037/tra0000614
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Aronson, K. R., Perkins, D. F., Morgan, N. R., Bleser, J. A., Vogt, D., Copeland, L. A., Finley, E. P., & Gilman, C. L. (2020). Predictors of health services/programs among new post-9/11 veterans with mental health conditions. Psychiatric Services. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.201900326
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2020 Citation: Materia, F., Chesnut, R., Czymoniewicz-Klippel, M., DiNallo, J. & Perkins, D. F. (in press). Examining Implementation Feasibility of a Multicomponent Parenting and Health Promotion Program for Military Families. Military Behavioral Health.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: McCarthy, K. J., Perkins, D. F., Roberts, M., Potter, S., Guin, A. H., Carroll, J. B., Deringer, N. C., Ballard, J. E., & Borden, L. M. (2020). Evaluation of coach-based technical assistance: An evolving focus on coachability and goal setting. Journal of Human Sciences and Extension, 8, 28-50.


Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience: Family and Consumer Science and 4-H Extension educators who service military families (inclusive of National Guard and Reserves) in their communities Providers in community and with DoD who work with military families and the Service members DoD policy analysts Implementation scientists Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?I have hosted numerous training fro providers and scientist at various national conferences an online platforms including: Military Familiy Learning Network; CYFAR Professional Development Event, National Council on Family Relations How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results have been disseminated through internal research reports to funders and primary stakeholders, peer-review journal publications, and research conferences. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to maintain a strong collaborative relationships with hstakeholders of our various applied research projects to improve the quality and usability of products. Constant and consistent communication will occur to ensure strong feedback loops, including secure feedback from professionals, who serve military families, through quarterly scheduled, virtual feedback sessions that focus on input about new products being developed. This will help to ensure that the products being developed meet expected needs and will provide opportunities to make appropriate adjustments when necessary.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? These goals are being accomplished through funding from DoD, Army, Air Force, and Private Foundations. The largest of these fund grants is Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness which has been located at the Pennsylvania State University (Clearinghouse) for the last 9 years. The Clearinghouse will continue emphasizing the use of evidence-based programs (EBP)s and practices, improving awareness of and access to these approaches, decreasing real and perceived barriers to their use, increasing the use of evaluation as part of program implementation, and reducing the lag time between the creation of scientific knowledge in prevention/intervention and evaluation sciences and their translation to the field. Goals 1, 2, and 5: A total of 115 programs were vetted by research scientists, and these programs have been placed on the Continuum of Evidence. Goals 3, 4, and 5: Technical Assistance (TA) requests have grown significantly and steadily each year. The average number of requests per month has increased from 29 requests in 2014 to 33 requests in 2019. From September 2018 through June 2019, TA addressed 313 requests (e.g., gathering information on EBPs, identifying data and research findings for evidence-based prevention, help in selecting the most suitable program, assisting with program implementation). In addition, as part of formal requests, the TA team completed eight rapid literature reviews. Goal 6: We produced manuscripts and technical policy reports we have provided to funders that have emanated from partnership projects. This has been particularly valuable for our young scientists who are spreading their academic wings and becoming increasingly independent scholars. Goal 7: Our partners have collaborated with us to develop a growing body of applied research and outreach that is being disseminated on numerous fronts to both military and civilian stakeholders. This research is beginning to change how social services and healthcare are provided to military families. As a land grant university devoted to the translation of research to practice, our military partnership is an exemplar for engagement and motivates us to further serve our citizenry.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Richardson, C. B., Chesnut, R. P., Morgan, N. R., Bleser, J. A., Perkins, D. F., Vogt, D., ... Finley, E. (2019). Examining the factor structure of the moral injury events scale in a veteran sample. Military Medicine, https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usz129
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Aronson, K. R., Perkins, D. F., Morgan, N., Bleser, J., Davenport, K., Vogt, D., Copeland, L A., Finley, E. P., & Gilman, C. (2019). Going It Alone: Post-9/11 Veteran Non-Use of Healthcare and Social Service Programs During Their Early Transition to Civilian Life. Journal of Social Service. DOI: 10.1080/01488376.2018.1493410
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Aronson, K. R., Welsh, J. A., Fedotova, A., Morgan, N. R., Perkins, D. F., & Travis, W. (In press). Treating PTSD in active duty service members using cognitive processing therapy or prolonged exposure therapy: Examining everyday practice at a military outpatient clinic. Military Psychology.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Czymoniewicz-Klippel, M. T., Chesnut, R. P., DiNallo, J. M., & Perkins, D. F. (In press). Evidence-informed program development: Using a Common Components Analysis approach to develop universal parenting programs for the U.S. military. Children & Youth Services Review.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2019 Citation: Welsh, J. A., Olson, J., & Perkins, D. F. (In press). Gender Differences in post deployment adjustment of Air Force personnel: The role of wartime experiences, unit cohesion and self-efficacy. Military Medicine
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Vogt, D., Taverna, E., Nillni, Y.I., Booth, B., Perkins, D. F., Copeland, L A., Finley, E. P., Tyrell, F. A., & Gilman, C. (in press). Development and Validation of a Tool to Assess Military Veterans Status, Functioning, and Satisfaction with Key Aspects of their Lives. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Perkins, D. F., Aronson, K. R., Morgan, N., Bleser, J., Vogt, D., Copeland, L A., Finley, E. P., & Gilman, C. (2019). Veterans Use of Programs and Services as They Transition to Civilian Life: Baseline Assessment for the Veteran Metrics Initiative. Journal of Social Service Research, DOI: 10.1080/01488376.2018.1546259
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Richardson, C. B., Morgan, N. R., Bleser, J. A., Aronson, K. R., & Perkins, D. F. (2019). A novel approach for evaluating programs designed to serve military veterans: Using an adapted common components analysis. Evaluation and Program Planning, 72, 145-151.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Czymoniewicz-Klippel, M. T., Chesnut, R. P., DiNallo, J. M., & Perkins, D. F. (2018). Evidence-informed program development: Using a Common Components Analysis approach to develop universal parenting programs for U.S. military and civilian families. Children & Youth Services Review, 90, 166-177.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Kaye, M. P., Faber, A., Davenport, K., & Perkins, D. F. (2018). Common components of evidence-informed home visitation programs for the prevention of child maltreatment. Children and Youth Services Review, 90, 94-105.


Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:This is the umbrella effort for the work under the Celaringhouse for Military Family Readiness. The Clearinghouse has three central partnerships - each contribute to evidence-based practice with military families. Social service providers (e.g., social workers, counselors) implement evidence-based programs and practices. They engage with the Clearinghouse to obtain information, receive coaching, and access professional training. Program directors and managers are responsible for the care of a significant number of service members and their families. DoD Policy Analysts are responsibile for setting policy in support of service members. Our partnerships with all of them drive large projects to improve evidence-based practice. Our partners provided critical insights, including a deep understanding of military culture, military medical perspectives, and political considerations. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have conducted several trainings with providers across the country. The Clearinghouse has also responded to more than 1000 requests for coaching and technical assistance. In the last year, these requests grew by more than 46%. Coaching has covered a wide range of topics. Here are several examples of unsolicited feedback from our partners on impacts: "Wow. Thank you so much for taking the time to share this valuable information. I will review and create a plan of action for work toward providing stress management in the Northern VA region. Thank you for your help." - Licensed Professional Counselor "Thank you so much! This is perfect, exactly what I was looking for. Next week my colleague and I will share a best practice at our regional workshop, we plan to close our presentation with an evidence based self-care theme and you have provided just that. Thank you for your support." - Marine Corps School Liaison Officer "Thanks so much for all your help, Jill! I appreciate all of your digging and plugging me into these resources for suicide prevention. Most of these are new to me (w/ more resources to access), so thanks to you and the team for all the help!" - Air Force Captain How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Our partners have collaborated with us todevelop a growing body of applied research and outreachthat is being disseminated on numerous fronts to both military and civilian stakeholders. This research is beginning to change how social services and healthcare are provided to military families. As a land grant university devoted to the translation of research to practice, our military partnership is an exemplar for engagement and motivates us to further serve our citizenry.All reports are shared with our three levels of stakeholders: providers, program managers, and policy analysts. In addition, we have published numerous papers and reports What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?One key objective for us is to codify specific and testable strategies that can assist universities and the military engage more effectively. In a recent literature review, we found no published articles on university-military engaged scholarship. As described above, we have learned important lessons about applied research and outreach from our partnerships with the DoD, the Services, and the National Guard and Reserve components of the military. We want to connect these experiences to theory (e.g., ecological theory) and prior research on university-community engagement. Toward this end, we engaged in a highly active interdisciplinary working group developing a testable action-oriented framework for community engagement with the military.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Goal 1.As part of the work on the website, the Clearinghouse comprehensively reviews prevention and treatment programs (1,165 reviewed). Clearinghouse research and evaluation scientists conduct reviews to examine the evidence base of the programs. In addition, fact sheets are developed in order to provide a snapshot of the program and include information on target audience, components, previous use, training requirements, implementation cost and time, and program contact information. Programs are placed on the Clearinghouse's Continuum of Evidence (Continuum) and described in fact sheets to help professionals, service program managers and directors, and Department of Defense (DoD) policy analysts make informed decisions regarding how best to serve military families. Goal 2.There are seven major applied research areas that comprise the portfolio (see https://militaryfamilies.psu.edu/projects/current-projects/) and 23 sub-projects within those areas. A total of 36 research reports have been provided to sponsors. In addition, 11 peer-review articles were published in 2018. Goal 3. Of the 23 sub-projects, 10 of those projects has a major training component to it. Thus, we have conducted more than 75 trainings with approximately 6,000 professionals serving service members and their families. For instance, we trained 4,500 Air Force mental health providers on the use of a valid suicide screener. Goal 4.As part of technical assistance, via telephone and rapid literature reviews, we have provided support to more than 200 professional on the identification and selection of evidence-based programs. Moreover, we have developed an implementation toolkit to support the implementation of evidence-based programs (https://militaryfamilies.psu.edu/resources/program-implementation-toolkit/). Goal 5.Through the Clearinghouse's collaboration with Better Kid Care we have provided more than 10,000 early child care professionals in military-connected communities trainings on practical evidence-informed strategies. Goal 6.This past year we supported eight graduate students through assistantships. These students are actively contributing to six different applied research projects. Three of those students have co-author a peer review publication. Goal 7.The applied nature of this work means there are direct policy implications. For instance, the Air Force wide rollout of Prolonged Exposure in Primary Care protocol. This roll out due to the success of the beta test or feasibility study conducted by the Clearinghouse at two Air Force installations. In addition, peer-review publications are contributing to various fields in terms of advancing understanding related to implementation science and offering new methods (common components analysis) for identify core components of programs and services.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Karre, J. K., Perkins, D. F., & Aronson, K. R. (2018). Research on fathers in the military context: Current status and future directions. Journal of Family Theory & Review, 10, 641-656. doi: 10.1111/jftr.12274
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Kaye, M. P., Faber, A., Davenport, K., & Perkins, D. F. (2018). Common components of evidence-informed home visitation programs for the prevention of child maltreatment. Children and Youth Services Review, 90, 94-105.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2018 Citation: Breeden, N. C., Welsh, J. A., Olson, J. R., & Perkins, D. F. (2018). The womens experience: a look at risk and protective factors for deployed female Air Force personnel. Journal f Womens Health, 1-7. DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2017.6835
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Czymoniewicz-Klippel, M. T., Chesnut, R. P., DiNallo, J. M., & Perkins, D. F. (2018). Evidence-informed program development: Using a Common Components Analysis approach to develop universal parenting programs for U.S. military and civilian families. Children & Youth Services Review, 90, 166-177.


Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience included professional serving families including all the following fields: psychologist, social work, social services, education and childcare. Changes/Problems:Due to system limitation can't actually enter FTE's for this project - the SY is 0.04. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?We have host 20 online facilitator trainings for the GROW! program. We have hosted a webinar for the resource center for obesity prevention. For Air Force we have trained more than 2000 MTF staff on the Columbia Suicide Screener and more than 200 MH staff on the Columbia Sucide Assessment. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have publications in per review journal articles. Partners recieve internal reports for every sing project. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will continue to employ a proactive technical assistance model. Morever, we will be vetting another 100 programs, The THRIVE Program will take GROW! to an online format.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? The Clearinghouse comprehensively reviews prevention and treatment programs to examine the evidence base of the programs. Fact sheets provide a snapshot of the program and include information on target audience, components, previous use, training requirements, implementation cost and time, and program contact information. Programs are placed on the Clearinghouse's Continuum of Evidence (Continuum) and fact sheets help professionals, service program managers and directors, and Department of Defense (DoD) policy analysts make informed decisions how best to serve military families. We have completed re-vetting of 150 programs and vetting of 100 new programs. Website activity related to the program reviews has consistently increased as visibility on referring websites, social media, and search engines grows. We have completed several applied research and evaluation projects related to ACS Cost Benefit Analyses. In partnership with the Office of Army Chief of Staff of Installation Management (OACSIM), the Clearinghouse has conducted two full or partial Cost Benefit/Cost effectiveness evaluations of select Army Community Services programs (ACS). The Clearinghouse's conducted an initial cost analysis of ACS; conducted evaluability assessments including site visits for 11 ACS programs; created a CB analysis or evaluation plan for technical assistance for three selected programs; and completed two of those CB analyses (e.g. Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) program, an economic assessment of the ACS Family Advocacy Program. The final work is on a partial CB/CE analysis of the Army Volunteer Corp Coordinator (AVCC) program. The Military Spouse Transition Program (MySTeP) is a DoD funded initiative with a suite of other military spouse-focused initiatives under the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities (SECO) program. The Clearinghouse has developed MySTeP to align with the transition experience as a lifecycle with three different phases: Stepping In (spouse for 0 to 4 years), Stepping Through (spouse for 5+ years to approaching transition), and Stepping Beyond (service member nearing transition or retirement). Each phase has tailored programs, resources, and information to help with commonly experienced transition-related opportunities and challenges encountered by spouses. All the material for the Stepping In phase has been developed and is currently rolling out to installations. The Clearinghouse assists professionals by providing technical assistance support through interactive communication to help professionals adopt evidence-based programs and practices to enhance family readiness. Technical assistance requests have grown significantly and steadily. The average number of requests per month has increased from 9 in 2012 to 34 in 2017. Email is the most popular method of obtaining technical assistance, followed by phone and the live chat feature. To date, Clearinghouse implementation specialists have fielded over 1300 requests from professionals working with military families. Requests have included gathering information on programs, data and research findings for prevention, help in selecting the right program, assisting with program implementation, assisting with developing an evaluation plan, explaining services offered by the Clearinghouse, and fielding questions regarding the Continuum. Clearinghouse Implementation Specialists conduct searches, provide lists of programs that fit their criteria, and discuss the evidence base of the programs. DoD is committed to increasing the quality of care for military-connected children both on and off installations. Better Kid Care (BKC) develops and delivers online training resources for child care providers serving these families across the United States and abroad. During the 2016-2017 fiscal year, more than 10,000 childcare workers serving the military completed online training modules through BKC. BKC is approved through state child care licensing in 47 states to provide approved training. Better Kid Care also developed a 120-hour online Child Development Associate (CDA) credential course that is being used by several military installations to support the career pathways of their childcare staff. Eighteen modules were developed and added to the existing portfolio of more than 200 courses available to military and non-military child care providers. Our applied research projects provide us with engagement opportunities for graduate students. We have 12 different applied research and outreach projects within the Air Force. These include professional training for drug/alcohol counselors, developing a suicide prevention program, and a new program to engage deployed fathers in childrearing. We have involved graduate students from diverse disciplines, including human development, psychology, and cooperative extension. The Air Force is working with the Clearinghouse to implement the Zero Suicide Systems Approach (ZSSA) at five installations. One critical element of ZSSA is the accurate identification of patients at risk for suicide, allowing them to be placed on an appropriate pathway to care. Patients need to be frequently screened for suicidality, because suicide is an infrequent occurrence and there is limited reliability in predicting any single individual who will attempt or die by suicide. Those individuals who do screen positive for suicidality then receive a comprehensive suicide risk assessment. Moreover, there is also significant evidence that screening for suicide is itself a preventive intervention, as it invariably catches at-risk individuals who would have been missed otherwise. As a first step in implementing ZSSA, the Clearinghouse worked to identify a screening and an assessment instrument each with strong empirical evidence for their accuracy in identify those at risk for suicide. After significant review of the relevant literature and consultation with experts in the field, the Columbia Suicide Screen (CS) and the Columbia Suicide Assessment (CA) were selected at the pilot bases. The second step in implementing ZSSA was training Air Force employees in the use of these two instruments. Training on the CS and CA took place at four of the five installations between April and May 2017. More than 2500 providers were trained in CS training sessions. Mental health clinic-specific CS and CA trainings were also completed with more than 150 providers.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Davis, K. D., Mineo, C., Richardson, C., Karre, J., Aronson, K. R., & Perkins, D. F. (In Press). Engaging military families in research. Journal of Human Sciences & Extension.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2017 Citation: Karre, J., Perkins, D. F., Aronson, K., DiNallo, J., Kyler, S., & Olson, J. R. (In Press). The evolution of a continuum of evidence on evidence-based programs: A new resource for use in military social service delivery. Evaluation Review.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2016 Citation: Saathoff-Wells, T., Karre, J., Davenport, K., & Perkins, D. F. (In Press). Flexicution in program evaluation: Developing a two-tier plan to address diverse priorities across the four services intensive home visitation programming. Journal of Family Social Work.
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Michalopoulou, L. E., Welsh, J. A., Perkins, D. F., & Ormsby, L. (2017). Stigma and mental health service utilization in military personnel: A review of the literature.�Military Behavioral Health, 12-25. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/21635781.2016.1200504
  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Materia, F., Miller, E., Runion, M., Chesnut, R., Irvin, J., Richardson, C., & Perkins, D. (2016). Lets get technical: Enhancing program evaluation through the use and integration of internet and mobile technologies. Evaluation and Program Planning. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2016.03.004


Progress 07/05/16 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience included professional serving families including all the following fields: psychologist, social work, social services, education, and childcare. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Clearinghouse participated in 216 technical assistance requests via Phone, Emails, and Live Chats. Some requests include the following: Clinical Psychologist for U.S. Army Family Programs, was interested in rates, demographics, and research on volunteerism in military families. We provided Mr. Daniels with statistics on volunteerism from the general population, which also included military families. The data were gathered by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics and were sorted by demographics. Further research of volunteerism and military families was unavailable. Program Analyst for the Navy Family Advocacy Program, was interested in new research conducted on the Green Dot program that may not be included on the Clearinghouse fact sheet. Mr. Harris also wanted the Clearinghouse to search for research conducted on the It's On Us program. We identified an additional study on the Green Dot program and provided Mr. Harris with a summary of the study. We did not identify any research on the It's On US program but informed Mr. Harris that we would add this program to our vetting list and would include the additional study on the Green Dot program re-vet. We also identified 35 Intimate Partner Violence programs placed on the Continuum of Evidence and provided Mr. Harris with links to each of the fact sheets. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have hosted two webinars and attended more than two dozen meetings to disseminate and discuss results from applied research. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Continue to engage with partners on products and tasks outlined in the continuation proposal.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Placed 315 programs on the Continuum of Evidence since January 4, 2016 78 of the programs are new programs 238 programs placed in 2013 and have been re-vetted as part of our Continuum review process Currently completed three evaluations of programs serving military families Developed three evaluation plans for CDC, FCC, School Age Childcare.

Publications