Training of Study Recruiters Begins 

 

Recruiter training for the Texas SDC study was held on February 5th and 6th at the North Texas Behavioral Health Authority in Richardson, TX. Training was conducted by Drs Judith Cook and Jane Burke-Miller, along with Malinda Hicks, the study's Local Coordinator. Click here to learn more about the research.

Ten aspiring recruiters from the NorthSTAR area completed 8 hours of training including lectures, role plays, mocks ups of an on-line human subjects course, and group discussion. Seven of the trainees are themselves people in recovery from mental illness. Training topics covered included protection of confidentiality, evidence-based mental health practice, basics of the SDC model, research design, and study logistics.

Everyone agreed that the most challenging part of the training involved role plays, during which trainees administered the study's recruitment script while being observed and evaluated by the study's investigators. Another challenge will be the 16-part on-line course on human subjects protections that all study recruiters must complete successfully prior to being hired.

Beginning in March, recruiters will be visiting local mental health centers in the NorthSTAR area to meet individually with clients who are eligible for the study.