Translating a Home-Based Behavioral Parenting Program to the Internet with Interactive Video-Based Instruction and Coaching: Demonstration of Infant-Net

Early interventions that promote infant mental health are more promising and cost-effective than later efforts to treat entrenched child mental health problems. Promoting parent responsiveness and reducing parent insensitivity are crucial aims and outcomes of parenting interventions designed to foster the behavioral foundations of infant mental health (e.g., infant social-emotional competencies comprised of emotional regulation skills of self-soothing, emotional expression through clear signaling, and behavioral organizational skills of sustaining and shifting visual attention).

There are home-visiting programs that are research-based but have high costs, including staff travel time and scheduling that are major barriers to implementation and dissemination.  The primary benefit of the Internet as a mode of information and support delivery is that it reduces barriers to access. The Internet can provide 24‑hour access, at relatively low cost, to many kinds of information -- including state‑of‑the‑art treatment options and short‑ or long‑term support groups. Interactive Internet interventions in the home overcome common obstacles for parent participation, such as lack of transportation, harsh weather, long distances or schedule conflicts. The Internet has the capacity to provide menus of choices efficiently, tailor information to subject characteristics and interests, manage interactive programming, and provide support to professionals and peers.  With the new advances in multimedia on the Internet (e.g. youtube.com and vine.co), video-based communication is a user-friendly method

Infant-Net is an Internet adaptation of the Play and Learning Series (PALS) program, which has been found in NIH research studies to increase positive parent-baby interactions. Mothers receiving PALS (versus comparison mothers) demonstrated significant increases in multiple responsiveness behaviors that facilitate infants’ growth in social, emotional, communication, and cognitive competence.  This research project provided parents of infants 3.5 to 7 months (at enrollment) with a computer, "eyeball" computer camera, Internet connection, and technical training/support for 6 months to evaluate the digital translation. This system enabled Parent Coaches to make treatment decisions with objective data, as well as provide outcomes assessment from remote research sites.  

The developers will demonstrate the on-line components of the program, including program content, educational videos, mother-created videos in the home, and clinical notes.