AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program Evaluation

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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AVANCE seeks to understand if participation in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures (A-HBF) program is associated with improved outcomes among the target population of at-risk, homeless, and incarcerated youth. Additionally, the evaluation will examine how and why participant-level characteristics such as relationship status, life status, and demographics are associated with greater or lesser benefit from A-HBF program participation. This research will provide insights about the Survival Skills for Healthy Families curriculum and its effectiveness for the target population that can be used in the development of future programming efforts.

Detailed Description
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Trauma-informed services are needed to improve self-sufficiency, economic stability, and healthy relationships among at-risk, homeless, and incarcerated youth in Harris County, especially those living in areas with high numbers of single-family households, high poverty rates, low educational attainment, high teen pregnancy rates, high incidence of domestic violence, and high involvement with the (juvenile) justice system. AVANCE-Houston's Building Futures program (A-HBF) aims to facilitate successful transitions to adulthood for cohorts of at-risk and homeless youth by offering healthy relationship and marriage education through the Survival Skills for Healthy Families (SSHF) curriculum. Developed by Family Wellness Associates, SSHF is an evidence-based curriculum delivered through a series of workshops that focus on communication skills, conflict resolution, knowledge of the benefits of marriage, stress and anger management, parenting skills, financial literacy, job and career advancement, and relationship skills to improve family and economic stability. To maximize participation, attendance, and convenience for youth and their parents, AVANCE will offer two curriculum delivery models: weekly workshops for youth that take place in targeted high-need schools and an intensive weekend retreat model co-attended by youth and parents. AVANCE seeks to understand if participation in the A-HBF program is associated with improved outcomes among the target population of at-risk and homeless youth. Additionally, the evaluation will examine how and why participant-level characteristics such as relationship status, life status, and demographics are associated with greater or lesser benefit from A-HBF program participation. This research will provide insights about the SSHF curriculum and its effectiveness for the target population that can be used in the development of future programming efforts.

Official Title
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AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Program Evaluation

Conditions
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Youth

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Building Futures Program Primary Services


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Youth (aged 14-18) High-needs school districts enrolled in grades 9-12 Residing in juvenile detention center Exclusion Criteria: Adult (age 18 and older) Youth (age 14 and younger) Not enrolled in school (non-incarcerated youth)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 14 Years
Maximum Age: 18 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: Treatment
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Interventional Model Description: Primary Services Participants receive 14 hours of Survival Skills for Healthy Families curricula delivered over a series of 7 weekly workshops, or 16 hours of Survival Skills for Healthy Families curricula delivered over one weekend followed by 2 hours of a Reflections Workshop delivered two weeks later. Participants also receive support services delivered by Family Coaches and Career Coaches as needed.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Building Futures Program Primary Services<br>Youth enrolled in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program will receive primary services in either a 7 week workshop or one weekend delivery. | Other: Building Futures Program Primary Services<br>* Participants receive 14 hours of Survival Skills for Healthy Families curricula delivered over a series of 7 weekly workshops, or 16 hours of Survival Skills for Healthy Families curricula delivered over one weekend followed by 2 hours of a Reflections Workshop delivered two weeks later. Participants also receive support services delivered by Family Coaches and Career Coaches as needed.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Healthy partner relationship behavior measurement #1 | 1A) Will participants report healthier partner relationship behaviors after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program? Items measured include: 5 items - levels of reported skill with key relationship behaviors (categories; 4-point scale) Measured on the Healthy Parenting Behavior Scale #1 as: 1=I am extremely good at this, 2=I am good at this, 3=I am bad at this, 4=I am extremely bad at this The lower the rating, the better the score. | Change from baseline in partner relationship behavior from enrollment to 12-month follow-up | 
| Healthy partner relationship behavior measurement #2 | 1B) Will participants report healthier partner relationship behaviors after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program? Items measured include: 6 items - frequency of engagement in key relationship behaviors (categories; 5-point scale) Measured on the Healthy Parenting Behavior Scale #2 as: 1=none of the time, 2=some of the time, 3=half of the time, 4=most of the time, 5=all of the time The higher the rating, the better the score for 1 item. 5 items are reverse scored, with the lower the rating, the better the score. | Change from baseline in partner relationship behavior from enrollment to 12-month follow-up | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Healthy partner relationship attitudes measurement #1 | 2A) Will participants report healthier partner relationship attitudes after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program? Items measured include: 9 items - levels of agreement with relationship beliefs (categories; 4-point scale) Measured on the Healthy Relationship Attitudes Scale #1 as: 1=strongly agree, 2=agree, 3=disagree 4=strongly disagree The higher the rating, the better the score for 7 items. 2 items are reverse scored, with the lower the rating, the better the score. | Change from baseline in partner relationship attitudes from enrollment to 12-month follow-up | 
| Healthy partner relationship attitudes measurement #2 | 2B) Will participants report healthier partner relationship attitudes after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program? Items measured include: 3 items - likelihood of key relationship beliefs (categories; 5-point scale) Measured on the Healthy Relationship Attitudes Scale #2 as: 1=almost no chance, 2=some chance but probably not, 3=a 50-50 chance, 4=a good chance, 5=almost certain The higher the rating, the better the score for 1 item. 2 items are reverse scored, with the lower the rating, the better the score. | Change from baseline in partner relationship attitudes from enrollment to 12-month follow-up | 
| Healthy sexual attitudes measurement #1 | 3A) Will participants report healthier sexual attitudes after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program? Items measured include: 7 items - levels of agreement with key sexual attitudes (categories; 4-point scale) Measured on the Healthy Sexual Attitudes Scale #1 as: 1=strongly agree, 2=agree, 3=disagree 4=strongly disagree The higher the rating, the better the score for 3 items. 4 items are reverse scored, with the lower the rating, the better the score. | Change from baseline in sexual attitudes from enrollment to 12-month follow-up | 
| Healthy financial attitudes measurement #1 | 4A) Will participants report healthier financial attitudes after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program? Items measured include: 8 items - levels of agreement with key financial attitudes (categories; 5-point scale) Measured on the Healthy Financial Attitudes Scale #1 as: 1=strongly disagree, 2=disagree, 3=neither agree or disagree, 4=agree, 5=strongly agree | Change from baseline in financial attitudes from enrollment to 12-month follow-up | 
| Healthy employment attitudes measurement #1 | 5A) Will participants report healthier employment attitudes after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program? Items measured include: 8 items - levels of agreement with key employment attitudes (categories; 5-point scale) Measured on the Healthy Employment Attitudes Scale #1 as: 1=strongly disagree, 2=disagree, 3=neither agree or disagree, 4=agree, 5=strongly agree | Change from baseline in employment attitudes from enrollment to 12-month follow-up |