InCrisis Review

By:  Michaele Dunlap, PsyD
President, Mentor Research Institute
A charitable non-profit consumer protection information and
research institute 501(c)3

Dr. Michaele Dunlap is the President of Mentor Research Institute.  Mentor Research Institute is reviewing the web site and is providing consultation, assisting in the InCrisis research program, as well as providing professional oversight.

Understanding often begins with asking useful questions. InCrisis offers useful questions and analysis of the answers in a format that is both accessible and meaningful.  The reports generated to users can help families find and effectively follow through with getting the personalized services they seek.

The Board of Mentor Research Institute (MRI) is pleased to endorse InCrisis as a useful, valid and reliable tool that can support families and caregivers who want to understand and respond effectively to the emotional and behavioral needs of youth ages 11 to 17.

MRI recognizes that the developers of InCrisis work with extreme diligence to create a service that meets professional and ethical standards of care for Internet based services; identifying to the public the people and the organization responsible for the enterprise; carefully defining their service, terms of use and description of users’ rights.  InCrisis provides multiple avenues for contact and consumer feedback. InCrisis, uniquely, qualifies users and offers both informed consent for the use of its service and a money back guarantee, certainly the highest standards in “beneficence and nonmaleficence, fidelity and responsibility and integrity are operational” in this enterprise. (American Psychological Association, Ethical Principals of Psychologists and Code of Conduct, 2002.) 

It is unlikely that users will misunderstand the purpose of the InCrisis service, and users are not only fully informed but guaranteed that the service meet their expectation or their payment is refunded –a standard of consumer protection that exceeds any comparable instrument.

InCrisis has made and continues to make excellent use of professional oversight and review.  The InCrisis system uses the most advanced analytic technology for data handling while it protects users privacy with several layers of encryption and security. InCrisis uses appropriate procedures and current scientific and professional knowledge to inform its design, standardization, validation, reduction or elimination of bias and recommendations for use. 

There is a growing public demand for on-line services to meet the needs of those who struggle with various human problems. InCrisis is exemplary in providing a service that is both highly specific and useful to the general public.  Families facing problems with adolescent behavior need support in choosing where to turn for help.  InCrisis provides that support.

 MRI is pleased to participate with InCrisis in its research and services improvements program. MRI has appointed Dr. Christine Glenn as Director for Research Collaboration – InCrisis.  Dr Glenn has a background in applied research, was an instructor in research methods at the graduate level and has published on clinical topics. She practices psychology in Portland, OR.

When Mentor Research Institute formed in 1995, Dr. Michael Conner became a founding member of its Board of Directors. Dr. Conner has continued this service; leading MRI efforts in public education, consumer protection and websites development.  MRI’s endorsement and support of the InCrisis enterprise acknowledges Dr. Conner’s service on the MRI Board, and defines the boundary between MRI as a non-profit entity and InCrisis as a commercial public service enterprise.

Return to review by  experts.  Read More >>