Bluebird Project: Providing Hope Through Virtual Reality

The National Alliance for Drug Endangered Children (National DEC), through the Bluebird Project, will develop a national strategy focusing on addressing substance use issues/disorders as they relate to and impact children and families. Bluebird Project will improve the quality of interactions, strengthen professionals’ responses to children and families, enhance collaboration, and improve responsiveness by building the knowledge and skill capacity of professionals through the development of an innovative in-person Advanced Drug Endangered Children Training and Technical Assistance Package that will include the following components: (1) an in-person advanced training curriculum focusing on a variety of in-depth topics surrounding drug endangered children’s issues; (2) videos, activities, discussions, and technical assistance opportunities to enhance and provide in-depth dialogue among professionals; and (3) three immersive, interactive, and emotional Virtual Reality (VR) scenarios for professionals to walk through to increase understanding of situations they have never been in and to practice skills.

Project objectives will include creating a diverse multidisciplinary advisory group to guide project content, development, and materials; developing Advanced DEC Training and Technical Assistance Package components; conducting pilot tests of Advanced DEC Training and Technical Assistance Package across the country to diverse groups; developing and disseminating project materials for national distribution; and working with an evaluator to assess project impact and effectiveness.

National DEC expects that the result of this project will be enhanced understanding and knowledge of how children and families are impacted by America’s drug crisis and therefore will increase identification, appropriate responses, and help to children and families across the nation.

National DEC plans to serve all communities nationwide, both Tribal and non-Tribal, including marginalized or underserved communities. National DEC will engage and provide particular focus on communities and professionals that are marginalized, underserved, and discriminated against.

Project partners will consist of a diverse volunteer multidisciplinary advisory group, Fox Valley Technical College (technology and development expert), Evaluator from Data Analytic Research Team (evaluation expert), and subject-matter experts from a variety of disciplines.
Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law. See Part 200 Uniform Requirements.