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Development and evaluation of suicide prevention for child welfare involved youth: an asynchronous online curriculum for prospective child welfare workers

Author

Listed:
  • Magness, Christina S.
  • Engelhardt, Jayden
  • Lee, Shawna
  • Persky, Seth
  • Funk, Courtney
  • DeCamp, Lindsay
  • Foster, Cynthia Ewell

Abstract

Youth involved in the child welfare system are at elevated risk for suicide, yet there is a lack of suicide prevention education and training for social work students and child welfare professionals. This pilot study describes the iterative development and preliminary evaluation of a free, asynchronous online course called Suicide Prevention for Child Welfare Involved Youth. Participants included 29 adult college/university students and child welfare staff (89.7% female, Mage = 30.7, SD = 11.5). Using self-report pre- and post-test surveys, this study investigates the online course’s feasibility and acceptability, learners’ knowledge uptake, and the preliminary impact of the course on key mechanisms of action that health behavior change theories indicate are important to suicide prevention. Of the 29 participants who completed the pre-test and all five modules, 27 (93.1%) completed the post-test. Findings from this preliminary evaluation demonstrate that the course is feasible, acceptable, and associated with high levels of learner knowledge uptake and positive changes in learners’ self-reported beliefs about suicide prevention, preparedness, self-efficacy, and behavioral intentions to engage in suicide prevention behaviors.

Suggested Citation

  • Magness, Christina S. & Engelhardt, Jayden & Lee, Shawna & Persky, Seth & Funk, Courtney & DeCamp, Lindsay & Foster, Cynthia Ewell, 2026. "Development and evaluation of suicide prevention for child welfare involved youth: an asynchronous online curriculum for prospective child welfare workers," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:cysrev:v:187:y:2026:i:c:s0190740926002355
    DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2026.108982
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