The Infant CARE-Index – online training
Overview
The Infant CARE-Index (ICI, Crittenden, 1981) is the simplest and most versatile of the assessments tied to the Dynamic Maturational 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 from videos and depends upon 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.
Once the coder is trained, coding of an interaction takes about 15-20 minutes.
Mandatory Course Requirements
It is essential that trainees attend all of the teaching sessions.
Competency to code is assessed by a reliability test after the training. Course participants will be expected to practice coding during the training and in between the taught days. Not completing the practice is likely to seriously impede the level of reliability that can be achieved.
Family Relations Institute issues participants with a reliability certificate stating the percent agreement with the standard. This reliability can be reported. Evidence of reliability should be requested if the participant will code data for others.
Competency in administering the procedure is also assessed and therefore course participants are required to submit 3 videos (2 normative, 1 clinical) that reflect their intended applications and culture(s).
Course Timings
Training days run at different times to allow for attendance from students on different timezones. Please check a specific course to check timings.
There is practice coding to complete after each of the teaching days. As result, course participants should clear their diaries as much as possible for the duration of the teaching days.
Includes
All teaching, handouts, manual, feedback on practice and the reliability tests.