CHAD MCDONALD portrait
  • Director - Social Research Institute, College Of Social Work
  • Research Assistant Professor, College Of Social Work
801-581-6155

Research Statement

Current Research Efforts

I am currently preparing for my qualifying exam which focuses on three bodies of literature embedded in a foundation aimed toward better outcomes for families involved with child welfare systems. In an effort to deliver an effective “product” to at risk children and families, child welfare agencies develop many training segments that, combined, make up their practice model (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS], 2013). The intention to deliver effective services, however, does not guarantee effective service delivery. The federal Child & Family Services Review (CFSR) suggests states experience higher quality caseworker performance when a strong training component is present (Flower, McDonald, & Sumski, 2005). Yet, no state has passed either round of the CFSR to date. Child welfare training literature suggests Utah, like other states, is not paying sufficient attention to how training within the child welfare system is transferred to child welfare field work (Antle, Barbee, & Van Zyl, 2008). The importance of transferring knowledge and skill from training to the field is recognized by multiple disciplines, including medicine, industry, and social services (Fixsen et al., 2005). Increased understanding of the transfer of knowledge and skills from child welfare training to child welfare work may enhance service delivery and therefore improve outcomes for families served.

In 2008, the Children’s Bureau supported the implementation of the National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (NCWWI) with an aim to build child welfare workforce’s capacity to improve outcomes for the families served (NCWWI, 2010). The research on effective practices in child welfare is growing, yet the implementation of such evidence-based practices in child welfare is not keeping pace (Fixsen, Blasé, Metz, & Van Dyke, 2013). Training child welfare workers to learn and successfully implement desired practices is complex at best. Research on how to effectively improve service delivery is difficult due to these many complexities; from effective training, to sufficient resources, to effective supervisory support of the transfer of learning, to the organizational climate, and so on.

These identified dynamics are the core of my current research interests that focus on discovering the strongest associations among the factors of effective training practices, supervisory support, and relevant implementation science drivers. Central to my research efforts are a critical analysis of the theoretical underpinnings and empirical evidence of these three bodies of literature, including an analysis of research methods used for training, supervision, and implementation science within the child welfare context.

Future Research Goals

Outcomes and implications of my current research efforts may inform future research around the improvement of social work training curriculums, field practice, and policy making at all levels. By examining the relationship among transfer of learning, supervisory support, and implementation science, child welfare agencies across the nation could be more adept at enhancing their “product” in ways more families experience positive outcomes.

In order to help support and inform my developing research skills and future goals in the field of child welfare, I plan to continue my current memberships in the Council on Social Work

 

Education (CSWE), Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR), as well as my participation on the National Human Services Training Evaluation Symposium (NHSTES) steering committee, and the California Evidence-Based Clearinghouse (CEBC) Advisory Committee.  By attending these conferences and developing academic and other professional partnerships, I intend to support the College of Social Work at the University of Utah in becoming a more prominent leader in strengthening the capacity of Utah’s child welfare system, and being a model for the nation in furthering the work of effective child welfare practice. 

 

 

REFERENCES

 

Antle, B. F., Barbee, A. P., Van Zyl, M. A. (2008). A Comprehensive Model for Child Welfare Training Evaluation. Children and Youth Services Review, 30, 1063-1080.

Fixsen, D., Naoom, S. F., Blase, K. A., Friedman, R. M., & Wallace, F. (2005). Implementation research: A synthesis of the literature. Tampa, FL: University of South Florida, Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute, The National Implementation Research Network.

Fixsen, D., Blasé, K., Metz, A., Van Dyke, M. (2013). Statewide Implementation of Evidence-Based Programs. Exceptional Children, 79(2), 213-230.

National Child Welfare Workforce Institute (2010). Disseminating Child Welfare Workforce Knowledge and Information to the Field: A briefing paper. Albany, NY: Author

Flower, C., McDonald, J., Sumski, M. (2005). Review of Turnover in Milwaukee County Private Agency Child Welfare Ongoing Case Management Staff. Wisconsin: Authors.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [DHHS]. (2013). ACF Vision, Mission, & Values. http://www.acf.hh s.gov/about/acf-vision-mission-values as found on 01NOV13.

Presentations

  • West, K., McDonald, C., Benson, C., & Davis, M. (2023, October) • Online vs In-person Simulation: A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Learner-rated Outcomes. [Conference presentation]. National Staff Development and Training Association 2023 Annual Education Conference, Pittsburgh PA, United States . Presentation, Presented, 10/24/2023.
  • Parry, C. & McDonald, C. (2023, October) • Evaluating Workforce Development Interventions: How do you know it works? [Conference workshop]. National Staff Development and Training Association 2023 Annual Education Conference, Pittsburgh PA, United States. Other, Presented, 10/23/2023.
  • McDonald, C., Davis, M., & Benson, C. (2023, October) • Technologically Enhanced Learning Methods for Reaching Expert Performance in Human Services. [Conference presentation]. National Association for Welfare Research and Statistics, Salt Lake City Utah, United States. Presentation, Presented, 10/09/2023.
  • Patterson, B., Butt, A., McDonald, C., Davis, M., Benson, C., & Brooks, J. (2023, September) • Healthcare Innovation in Extended Reality. [Conference workshop]. 10th Annual Academy of Health Science Educators Symposium, University of Utah, Salt Lake City Utah, United States. Presentation, Presented, 09/18/2023.
  • West, K., McDonald, C., Davis, M., Benson, C. (2023, May) • Evaluating the Impact of Online vs. In-Person Simulation Training: How Technology-Driven Methods Can Increase Trainee Engagement. [Conference presentation]. Human Services Workforce Development and Evaluation Symposium, Los Angeles California, United States. Presentation, Presented, 05/03/2023.
  • Marks, E., McDonald, C., Benson, C. & Davis, M. (2023, April) • Increasing Training Effectiveness by Engaging Simulation Lab Observers through Real–Time, Structured Feedback and Coaching. [Presentation]. NSDTA Showcase Series . Presentation, Presented, 04/17/2023.
  • Davis, M., McDonald, C., Cajski, C., & Benson, C. (2023, April) • Using Implementation Science to Improve Adoption of Innovative Skills Training in Social Work Education: A case study of the Virtual Home Simulation (VHS) training. [Conference presentation]. Social Work Distance Education, Our Lady of the Lake University, Worden School of Social Service, United States. Virtual. Presentation, Presented, 04/14/2023.
  • McDonald, C., Benson, C., & Davis, M. (2023, March) • Implementing Technology Enhanced Learning Methods to Guide Expert Development. [Presentation]. Technologies Enhancing Social Work Practice, University of Southern California CA, United States. Virtual. Presentation, Presented, 03/21/2023.
  • Benson, C., Davis., M., Lundahl, B., McDonald, C., & Marks, E. (2023, January 13) · A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Virtual Motivational Interviewing (VMI) App for Learning Motivational Interviewing Skills, [Poster Presentation]. Society for Social Work and Research, Phoenix, AZ, United States. Poster, Presented, 01/13/2023.
  • Brittain, C., McDonald, C., Benson, C., & West, K. (2022) • Harnessing the Power of Competency Models. National Staff Development Training Association (NSDTA). Spokane, WA. Presentation, Presented, 10/18/2022.
  • McDonald, C., Davis, M. J., Benson, C., & Marks, E. (2022) • Comparing Perceived Simulation Training Effectiveness Pre-Covid-19 to Post-Covid-19 Outcomes. National Staff Development Training Association (NSDTA). Spokane, WA. Presentation, Presented, 10/17/2022.
  • Davis, M., Benson, C., & McDonald, C. (2022, May 20) ·       Using Evidence-based Learning Theories to Guide the Development of Virtual Simulations [Conference presentation]. Korean Council of Social Welfare Education, Seoul, South Korea. Virtual. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 05/20/2022.
  • McDonald, C., Davis, M., Benson, C., & Marks, E. (2022, January 14) Increasing the Impact of Simulation Training During Covid-19 Limitations: A Technology-Based System for Increasing Trainee Engagement and Providing Real-Time Feedback [Poster presentation]. Society for Social Work and Research, Washington D.C., United States. Poster, Presented, 01/14/2022.
  • Benson, C., Davis, M., McDonald, C., & Lundahl, B. (2022, January 13) Virtual Motivational Interviewing: Developing an App for the Deliberate Practice of Motivational Interviewing Skills [Poster presentation]. Society for Social Work and Research, Washington D.C., United States. Poster, Presented, 01/13/2022.
  • McDonald, C., West, K., Brittain, C., & Benson, C. (2021). Competency Models as the Road to Outcomes: A Model for Practice. National Staff Development Training Association (NSDTA). Virtual. Presentation, Presented, 10/04/2021.
  • McDonald, C. & Davis, M. J. (2020) • Using Expert Consensus in a Virtual Reality Training Environment to Provide Competency-based Feedback to Learners. National Staff Development Training Association (NSDTA). Virtual. Summary: Research on how humans learn has shown a valid learning environment is necessary to reliably acquire complex skills such as those needed for social work practice (Thalheimer, 2007; Ericsson, 2006). For example, valid learning environments focus on learning specific skills under the guidance of a teacher, with frequent feedback, and opportunities for frequent practice. This type of skills practice is not sufficiently a part of the training of social workers. Absent effective ways to practice skills, social workers often learn on the job, putting clients at risk. Presentation, Presented, 10/07/2020.
  • Landry-Bourne, T., Thompson, L., Figueroa, A., McDonald, C., Carmichael, D. (2020) • Let's Talk: Sustaining Training in a Virtual Environment (Virtual Platforms and Facilitated Activities). National Staff Development Training Association (NSDTA). Virtual. Summary: This two-part presentation first explored the use of "person-driven" simulations (e.g., simulation labs or homes) as a training method in human services, including how organizations have transitioned these simulations to remote or online learning as a result of COVID-19. Drawing on the experiences of workshop participants, attendees will leave with a shared understanding about simulations as a teaching/training method, gain tips/strategies for implementing simulations in human services training, and identify a network of other professionals interested in designing and implementing effective simulations. The second part will explore simulations designed as "virtual" or technology-driven simulations. In these simulations, known by various names to include virtual reality and computer-based simulations, the emersion experience is delivered through some form of technology. Drawing on the experiences of workshop participants, attendees will leave with increased awareness of the different types of technology-driven simulations, gain tips/strategies for implementing these types of simulations in human services training, and identify a network of other professionals interested in this form of simulation training. Presentation, Presented, 10/06/2020.
    https://www.nsdtaconference.com/program-agenda
  • McDonald, C., Davis, M. J., Cajski, C., Benson, C. (2020) • Developing child welfare skills using in-person and virtual reality (VR)-based simulations. Grand Challenge to Harness Technology webinar series: University of Maryland School of Social Work. Virtual. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 09/17/2020.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkREwwU-RU0&featur...
  • McDonald, C. & Davis, M. J. (2019, October). Using virtual reality training to create a valid learning environment for learning child welfare skills: An overview and development of competency-based feedback. Presentation at the Annual Meeting of the Council on Social Work Education, Denver, CO. Presentation, Presented, 10/25/2019.
  • Davis, M. J., McDonald, C., Whitaker, D. J., Sage, M. & Miller, J. (2019, August). Evaluation and IT in child welfare: What is on the horizon and what are the implications for agencies, children and families. Panel presentation at Child Welfare Evaluation Summit of the Children’s Bureau, Washington, D.C. Presentation, Presented, 08/21/2019.
  • McDonald, C. & Davis, M.J. (08/2019). Virtual Reality Training and Defining Competency – A Central Problem. Child Welfare Evaluation Summit. Washington D.C. Presentation, Presented, 08/20/2019.
  • NASW Local Chapter Presented on paper/study regarding Client Voices: What Families are Saying About Their Caseworkers and What You Can Do About It! Utah Child Welfare Institute 2018. Provo, UT. Lundahl B., McDonald, C., & Vanderloo, M. (2018) Service users’ perspectives of child welfare services: a systematic review using the practice model as a guide, Journal of Public Child Welfare, DOI: 10.1080/15548732.2018.1548406 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15548732.2018.1548406 . Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 10/2018. Invited Talk/Keynote, Presented, 02/08/2019.
  • Davis, M.J. & McDonald, C. (01/2019). Using Virtual Reality to Gain Competence in Identifying Threats to Safety and Protective Factors During Home Visitation in Child Welfare: Feasibility, Usability, and Acceptability Results. Society for Social Work & Research. San Francisco, CA. Presentation, Presented, 01/2019.
  • McDonald, C. (2018, October). Client Voices: What Families are Saying About Their Caseworkers and What You Can Do About It! Utah Child Welfare Institute 2018. Provo, UT. Lundahl B., McDonald, C., & Vanderloo, M. (2018) Service users’ perspectives of child welfare services: a systematic review using the practice model as a guide, Journal of Public Child Welfare, DOI: 10.1080/15548732.2018.1548406 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15548732.2018.1548406 . Conference Paper, Refereed, Presented, 10/2018.
  • Davis, M. J., & McDonald, C. (2018, September). Virtual Reality Training for Creating Expert Child Welfare Workers. International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect XXII International Congress on Child Abuse and Neglect. Prague, Czechia. Presentation, Presented, 09/2018.
  • McDonald, C. & Davis, M.J. (2018, July). Virtual Reality Training: The Utah approach. The Capacity Center for States’ Child Welfare Virtual Expo. https://capacity.childwelfare.gov/virtualexpo/. Presentation, Presented, 07/2018.
  • McDonald, C., Davis, M.J. & Vanderloo, M.J. (2018, May). Evaluating the use of virtual reality in child welfare skills training. 21st Annual National Human Services Training Evaluation Symposium (NHSTES). Berkeley, CA. Presentation, Presented, 05/2018.
  • McDonald, C. & Davis, M.J. (2018, April). Considerations in Using Virtual Reality for Complex Skills Development Among Child Welfare Trainees. Annual Social Work Distance Education Conference. San Antonio, TX. Presentation, Presented, 04/2018.

Languages

  • Russian, fluent.

Geographical Regions of Interest

  • Russian Federation
    Improving child welfare in Russia and other Russian speaking countries.

Publications

  • McDonald, C., West, K., Benson, C., & Brittain, C. (2022). A national review of child welfare competency models. Children and Youth Services Review, 142, 106631. Published, 08/13/2022.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2022.106631
  • McDonald, C., Campbell, K. A., Benson, C., Davis, M. J., & Frost, C. J. (2021). Workforce Development and Multiagency Collaborations: A Presentation of Two Case Studies in Child Welfare. Sustainability, 13(18). Published, 09/04/2021.
    https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810190
  • McDonald, C., Davis, M., & Benson, C. (2021). Leveraging Real-Time Data Dashboards: Maximize Learning and Feedback Effectiveness During Child Welfare Simulation Training. APHSA: Policy and Practice, Aug2021. Accepted, 08/2021.
  • Davis, M. J., Raines, J. A., Benson, C. L., McDonald, C., & Altizer, R. A. (2021). Toward a framework for developing virtual reality skills training in human services. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 39(3), 295-313. Published, 05/19/2021.
    https://doi.org/10.1080/15228835.2021.1915928
  • Benson, C. L., McDonald, C., Davis, M. J., & Raines, J. A. (2021). Design and Implementation Considerations for Virtual Reality in Human Services. Journal of Technology in Human Services, 39(3), 215-218. Published, 05/08/2021.
    https://doi.org/10.1080/15228835.2021.1915929
  • McDonald, C., Davis, M., & Benson, C. (2021). Using Evidence-Based Learning Theories to Guide the Development of Virtual Simulations. Clinical Social Work Journal, 49, 197-206. Published, 05/03/2021.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-021-00809-9
  • Brad Lundahl, Chad McDonald & Mindy Vanderloo (2018) Service users’ perspectives of child welfare services: a systematic review using the practice model as a guide, Journal of Public Child Welfare, DOI: 10.1080/15548732.2018.1548406. Published, 11/26/2018.
    https://doi.org/10.1080/15548732.2018.1548406