Strengthening Adolescent-Adult Networks to Reduce Youth Violence

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This pilot community-partnered cluster-randomized trial will examine the feasibility and acceptability of a social network-based youth violence prevention program called Strengthening Connections for Change for youth ages 13-17 and their key adult supports.

Detailed Description
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This pilot community-partnered cluster-randomized trial will examine the feasibility and acceptability of a social network-based youth violence prevention program called Strengthening Connections for Change for youth ages 13-17 and their key adult supports. Set in four lower resource Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania neighborhoods, this study brings together youth ages 13-17 and their self-identified key adult supports to focus on leadership, strengthening intergenerational networks, community engagement, and violence prevention.

Official Title
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Strengthening Adolescent-Adult Networks to Reduce Youth Violence

Conditions
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Violence in Adolescence, Social Interaction, Coping Skills, Adolescent Behavior

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Strengthening Connections for Change
* Behavioral: Job Readiness Training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Youth: Participants must be ages 13-17 (inclusive) Participants must speak English Adults Participants must be ages 18 or older Participants must speak English Exclusion Criteria: Youth: Not ages 13-17 (inclusive) Do not speak English Adults Less than 18 years of age Do not speak English

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 13 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Interventional Model Description: This pilot community-partnered cluster-randomized trial will examine the feasibility and acceptability of a social network-based youth violence prevention program called Strengthening Connections for Change for youth ages 13-17 and their key adult supports. The study will be located in four lower resource Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania neighborhoods ('clusters') randomized to receive either the Strengthening Connections for Change program (i.e. intervention neighborhoods, n=2) or to a job skills training program (i.e. control neighborhoods, n=2).
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Strengthening Connections for Change<br>Strengthening Connections for Change uses a group discussion format with activities that explore identity, adolescent-adult relationships, social networks, and community engagement. Youth invite their self-identified key adult supports to jointly participate in programming and curriculum includes youth-focused, adult-focused and jointly focused activities designed to build leadership skills, enhance intergenerational networks, challenge attitudes towards violence and retaliation, and reduce violence involvement. Through 12 sessions (2 hours/session) delivered weekly, Strengthening Connections offers leadership development coupled with strengths-based youth violence prevention programming. | Behavioral: Strengthening Connections for Change<br>* Strengthening Connections for Change is a 12-session curriculum designed to strengthen adolescent-adult support networks, build leadership skills, foster community engagement, and challenge attitudes and behaviors that foster violence involvement. During the program, youth ages 13-17 years invite their self-identified key adult supports to jointly participate in programming including youth-focused, adult-focused and jointly focused activities. Towards the end of programming participants design and carry out a community project to strengthen intergenerational connections and promote community engagement.<br>|
| Active Comparator: Job Readiness Training<br>Job Readiness Training uses a group discussion format to learn specific skills to prepare for employment including developing goals, seeking jobs, preparing for interviews, and so forth. Participants receive a 12 session job readiness training with linkages to businesses and employment opportunities. Discussions include a wide range of topics related to career exploration and job readiness. | Behavioral: Job Readiness Training<br>* Job Readiness Training uses a group discussion format to learn specific skills to prepare for employment including developing goals, seeking jobs, preparing for interviews, and so forth.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Participant Attendance | Attendance recorded at beginning and end of each session. Calculated as a proportion of total number of sessions attended (possible session attended #: 0-12 for youth participants and 0-9 for adult participants; possible proportion attended range: 0-1). | through intervention completion, 12 weeks | 
| Participant Overall Satisfaction with Curriculum Content and Format assessed by researcher-generated Likert-scale items | At the end of the program, participants will be asked about how satisfied they were overall with the topics discussed and format of the program using 5-point Likert scale items. Means score will be calculated across the items (possible range: 1-5; higher score means higher satisfaction). | end of program (12 weeks) | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Participant Satisfaction With Weekly Session Content assessed by researcher-generated Likert-scale items | At the end of each weekly session, participants will be asked about how satisfied they were with the topics discussed for that session using 5-point Likert scale items. Means score will be calculated (possible range: 1-5; higher score means higher satisfaction). | weekly for 12 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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social networks, social support, violence prevention