The Infant CARE-Index – online training -January – March 2027
The Infant CARE-Index – online training -January – March 2027
The Infant CARE-Index (ICI, Crittenden, 1981) is the simplest and most versatile of the assessments tied to the DynamicMaturational Model of Attachment and Adaptation (DMM). It assesses parent-infant interaction from birth to about 15 months of age based on a 3-minute video-recorded play interaction. It does not assess attachment and captures the best of dyad’s functioning (rather than capturing the dyad’s response to stress, i.e. attachment).
The ICI has extensive published validating evidence and is a useful, portable tool for a wide range of Health and Social Care professionals whose work involves assessing and mounting interventions to improve parent-infant interaction. It can be used with families form all backgrounds and cultures, including those with infants with developmental problems.
The Scales
- Are highly correlated with the infant Strange Situation assessment patterns of attachment
- Differentiate abusing from neglecting, abusing and neglecting, marginally maltreating, and adequate dyads
- Can be used during intervention, and
- Can be used to assess the effectiveness of intervention.
The course is taught in English online via Zoom in 12 teaching sessions spread over several months.
The course is taught by video and depends on observations of both adult and infant behaviour. Non-verbal behaviour, interpersonal strategies, and developmental processes are emphasised.
Adult patterns consist of sensitivity, controlling and unresponsivity; the infant patterns are cooperative, difficult, compulsive and passive. The information derived from the CARE-Index can be used as quasi-continuous or categorical data by researchers. In addition, however, the procedure is easily applied to “live” observations made by nurses, infant teachers, clinicians, and social workers. Needless to say, such observations cannot be treated as reliable when video is not used, but the method is effective in the same way that other guided observations or interviews are. Furthermore, specific training of what to look for sharpens both one’s observation and one’s ability to tell others exactly what the dyad did and why it should be interpreted in a particular manner.
Hourly Schedule
Monday 25th, Tuesday 26th, Wednesday 27th & Thursday 28th of January 2027
- 10am - 2pm
Monday 22nd, Tuesday 23rd, Wednesday 24th, Thursday 25th of February 2026
- 10am - 2pm
Monday 22nd, Tuesday 23rd, Wednesday 24th and Thursday 25th of March 2026
- 10am - 2pm
