The following column was written by Betsy Goulet and Amy Wheeler. It was published by The State Journal-Register on Nov. 17.
"A child protection investigator and detective approach the front door of a small house with limited information on the situation they are about to face. This multidisciplinary team is responding to a report that a young child is at risk of harm. However, on this particular occasion, the family members that the team will encounter are actors and the small house is actually the University of Illinois Springfield’s Residential Simulation Lab.
The UIS Alliance for Experiential Problem-Based Learning developed the curriculum for this training through a federal grant from the Administration for Children and Families. More than seven years of simulation training and research on the UIS model were used to create multidisciplinary team training, building skills that emphasize collaboration, communication, and critical thinking."