This document discusses knowledge translation (KT) in child welfare. It defines KT as the exchange and application of research findings within interactions between researchers and knowledge users. The purpose of KT is to address the gap between research production and implementation in practice. It describes a researcher-on-call tool developed to facilitate KT between researchers and child welfare workers. The tool allows workers to submit questions about cases to researchers, who then search for and summarize relevant research to inform decision-making.

1. Knowledge Translation in ChildKnowledge Translation in Child
Welfare: Researcher-on-call toolWelfare: Researcher-on-call tool
Christine Wekerle, Ph.D.
The University of Western Ontario
cwekerle@uwo.ca
Presented to Practice and Research Together (PART) Ontario
June 2009
Visit the MAP Knowledge Translation Website directly
Go to: www2.oacas.org

2. Graham et al. (2006)Graham et al. (2006)

3. Knowledge Translation (KT)Knowledge Translation (KT)
- Definition of KT- Definition of KT
• Canadian Institute of Health ResearchCanadian Institute of Health Research
(CIHR, 2004):(CIHR, 2004):
• The exchange, synthesis andThe exchange, synthesis and ethically-soundethically-sound
application of research findings within a complexapplication of research findings within a complex
set of interactions among researchers andset of interactions among researchers and
knowledge usersknowledge users..
• transformation of knowledge for use in clinictransformation of knowledge for use in clinic
practice and policypractice and policy

4. Importance of KTImportance of KT
• Knowledge translation (KT) has
taken the center stage in health
(Bulletin of the World Health
Organization, 2006)
• Change in behaviour is the ultimate
goal in KT (Schryer-Roy, 2005)
What to change?

5. Purpose of KTPurpose of KT
 KT addresses the gap between the large volume ofKT addresses the gap between the large volume of
research production and its implementation intoresearch production and its implementation into
practice – on MAP KT “mental health” most searchedpractice – on MAP KT “mental health” most searched
on Google Scholar and Researcher-on-Callon Google Scholar and Researcher-on-Call
 Need for:Need for: (1) quality assurance re: research(1) quality assurance re: research
(2) integration of different research to(2) integration of different research to
common conclusions on positive (what to do) andcommon conclusions on positive (what to do) and
negative (what not to do) practicesnegative (what not to do) practices
(3) translation to case-level(3) translation to case-level
(4) quick turn-around to queries(4) quick turn-around to queries
(5) archiving and search prior queries(5) archiving and search prior queries

6. Problems with Research to KTProblems with Research to KT
 Moving from group-based data to single-case inMoving from group-based data to single-case in
serviceservice
 Lack of context: Population comparisons neededLack of context: Population comparisons needed
 Lack of consistent operational definitionsLack of consistent operational definitions
 Standardized measures not normed on child welfareStandardized measures not normed on child welfare
populationpopulation
 Gold-standard treatments not tested with childGold-standard treatments not tested with child
welfare (multi-problem) groups or take into accountwelfare (multi-problem) groups or take into account
maltreatment (trauma-context)maltreatment (trauma-context)
 Lack of translation to practical strategies, andLack of translation to practical strategies, and
conducting implementation researchconducting implementation research

7. Child Welfare Worker-Based
Themes of Investigation*
No. of Peer-
reviewed
Articles
(General
Youth Pop.)
-PsycInfo-
1998-2008
No. of Peer-
reviewed
Articles
(Child
Welfare)
-PsycInfo-
1998-2008
Mental Health and Substance Use
(Prevalence, screening, intervention,
treatment)
3012 126
Child Protection System Investigation --- 18
Pregnancy & Parenting, Recidivism 2765 36
Child Welfare System Characteristics
Stats.
--- 46
Foster Care --- 253
Custody, Legal Issues, Adpotion 3130 79
Youth Placement & Transition 1186 123
Child Protection Practices --- 5
Sexual Orientation, Aboriginal,
Homelessness
1735 48
Education 3864 69
Workers-theme Google Scholar Search vs. ChildWorkers-theme Google Scholar Search vs. Child
Welfare Research BaseWelfare Research Base
Child Welfare Researcher-Based
Themes of Investigation in the
MAP Research Project
No. of Peer-
reviewed
Articles
(General
Youth Pop.)
-PsycInfo-
1998-2008
No. of Peer-
reviewed
Articles
(Child
Welfare)
-PsycInfo-
1998-2008
Mental Health – Anxiety 2382 9
Mental Health – Depression 3977 19
Mental Health – PTSD 492 4
Self-harm / Suicide 1761 18
Self-esteem / Self-confidence 1634 10
Substance (Drug) Use 3228 25
Alcohol Use 3386 21
Dating Violence 167 2
Legal Issues 2468 43
Socioeconomic Status / Poverty 1269 9
Sexual Health / Sexual Behaviour 820 5
Physical / Medical Health 196 1
* CAS worker thems were derived by coding the worker-initiated searches on the MAP KT portal. All PsycInfo
searches included “youth” and “adolescent” as an additive search term

8. Leung et al. (in press) KT paperLeung et al. (in press) KT paper
 A significant association in the contingencyA significant association in the contingency
between 1) workers’ judgment on the presencebetween 1) workers’ judgment on the presence
of mental health difficulty and youth self-reportof mental health difficulty and youth self-report
on scoring above clinical cut-off on the BSI theon scoring above clinical cut-off on the BSI the
past 7 days at initial MAP testing and 2) thepast 7 days at initial MAP testing and 2) the
decrease in incidence of scoring above clinicaldecrease in incidence of scoring above clinical
cut-off on the BSI from initial to 6-monthcut-off on the BSI from initial to 6-month
follow-up testingsfollow-up testings

9. Current KT websitesCurrent KT websites
Links to Various Institutes or Organizations Active in the Field
- World Health Organization http://www.who.int/kms/en/
- Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR) http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/
-Centres of Excellence for Children’s Well-being (CECW)
http://www.cecw-cepb.ca/
- Child Welfare Information Gateway http://www.childwelfare.gov/
- Canadian Health Services Research Foundation
http://www.chsrf.ca/home_e.php
- Research in Practice in United Kingdom (R.I.P.) http://www.rip.org.uk/
- Knowledge Translation Program, Faculty of Medicine - University of Toronto
http://www.ktp.utoronto.ca/

10. MAP KT PortalMAP KT Portal

11. Researcher-on-callResearcher-on-call

12. 10
13
8
13
5
15
5
Article Request
Assessment Tool
EducationOutcome/PolicyRelated
Case Management
Parenting
TreatmentOutcome
YouthJustice/Legal Issues
Researcher-on-callResearcher-on-call
(Requests)(Requests)
# requests filed: 60 # of total questions asked: 73
# single-time requesters: 26 # of repeat requesters: 9

13. ReferencesReferences
 Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR). 2004.Canadian Institute of Health Research (CIHR). 2004. The CIHR KnowledgeThe CIHR Knowledge
Translation Strategy 2004-2009: Innovation in Action.Translation Strategy 2004-2009: Innovation in Action. Ottawa, ON: CanadianOttawa, ON: Canadian
Institutes of Health Research.Institutes of Health Research.
 Lomas, J. (2000).Lomas, J. (2000). Knowledge Translation: Basic Theories, Approaches andKnowledge Translation: Basic Theories, Approaches and
Applications.Applications. Retrieved August 28, 2008, from: http://www.idrc.ca/research-Retrieved August 28, 2008, from: http://www.idrc.ca/research-
matters/ev-90105-201-1-DO_TOPIC.htmlmatters/ev-90105-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html
 National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research. (2008).National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research. (2008). What isWhat is
knowledge translation?.knowledge translation?. (Technical Brief. No. 10). Retrieved August 28, 2008, from:(Technical Brief. No. 10). Retrieved August 28, 2008, from:
http://www.ncddr.org/kt/products/focus/focus10/http://www.ncddr.org/kt/products/focus/focus10/
 Schryer-Roy, A.-M., (2005).Schryer-Roy, A.-M., (2005). Knowledge translation: Basic theories, approaches andKnowledge translation: Basic theories, approaches and
applications.applications. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Retrieved AugustOttawa, ON: Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Retrieved August
28, 2008, from: http://www.chsrf.ca/kte_docs/Knowledge_Translation_-28, 2008, from: http://www.chsrf.ca/kte_docs/Knowledge_Translation_-
_Basic_Theories,_Approaches_and_Applications_-_May_2006.pdf_Basic_Theories,_Approaches_and_Applications_-_May_2006.pdf
 World Health Organization. (2006).World Health Organization. (2006). Bridging the “know-do” gap: Meeting onBridging the “know-do” gap: Meeting on
knowledge translation in global health.knowledge translation in global health. Retrieved December 3, 2007, from:Retrieved December 3, 2007, from:
http://www.who.int/kms/WHO_EIP_KMS_2006_2.pdfhttp://www.who.int/kms/WHO_EIP_KMS_2006_2.pdf