IVROP ReadyforLIFE Program Evaluation

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The purpose of the Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program (IVROP) ReadyforLIFE program evaluation is to determine whether primary (i.e., behaviors) and secondary (i.e., attitudes) outcomes improve for youth participants after completing the ReadyforLIFE program. Understanding the ways in which the IVROP ReadyforLIFE program supports healthy partner relationships and economic stability is important for those providing services to at-risk youth populations.

Detailed Description
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After being informed about the study and giving consent, participants will enroll in a program that collects data at enrollment, at the end of the program, and 12 months following program enrollment. The length of the program ranges from four weeks up to one year, depending on teh setting and the number of optional workshops students opt to receive. Research questions in this study are framed by a descriptive evaluation design to assess whether outcomes improve for at-risk youth who participate in the IVROP ReadyforLIFE program. Primary and secondary outcomes are assessed before and after participants complete core curricula - Relationships Smart Plus, Mind Matters, and Money Habitudes (pre to post). Primary outcome measures will indicate whether behavior improved for healthy partner relationships and financial stability. Secondary outcome measures will indicate whether improvements were made in the attitudes and expectations that facilitate and reflect behavior for healthy partner relationships and financial stability.

Official Title
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Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program (IVROP) ReadyforLIFE Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Program Evaluation

Conditions
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Youth

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Primary Services


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: At-risk youth (foster/justice involved, immigrant household, undocumented, LGBTQ) High school age Residing in the Imperial Valley, CA Exclusion Criteria: Individuals who are 18 and above and out of high school Individuals who reside outside of Imperial Valley, CA

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: Arms Primary services: Participants receive 12 hours of Relationships Smarts Plus, 3 hours of Mind Matters and 1 hour of Money Habitudes workshops over the course of 10 weeks. Participants also receive life coaching and ongoing job readiness support. Assigned Interventions Primary services: Participants receive 12 hours of Relationships Smarts Plus, 3 hours of Mind Matters and 1 hour of Money Habitudes workshops over the course of 10 weeks. Participants also receive life coaching and ongoing job readiness support.
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Primary Services<br>Primary services: Participants receive 12 hours of Relationships Smarts Plus, 3 hours of Mind Matters and 1 hour of Money Habitudes workshops over the course of 10 | Other: Primary Services<br>* Primary services: Participants receive 12 hours of Relationships Smarts Plus, 3 hours of Mind Matters and 1 hour of Money Habitudes workshops over the course of 10 weeks. Participants also receive life coaching and ongoing job readiness support.<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 | Will participants report significantly healthier relationship behaviors after completing the IVROP Ready for Life program's primary educational services? Items measured include: 5 items: levels of reported skill with key relationship behaviors (categories, 4-point scale); measured on the Healthy Relationship 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 Lower scores indicate a higher perceived skill in healthy relationship behaviors, so the lower the rating, the better the score. | Change from baseline in behavior in relationship behavior (interaction with romantic partner at 12 months from enrollment | 
| Healthy Partner Relationship Behavior Measurement #2 | Will participants report significantly healthier relationship behaviors after completing the IVROP Ready for Life program's primary educational services? Items measured include: 6 items: frequency of engaging in key relationship behaviors (categories, 5-point scale); measured on the Healthy Relationship 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 Higher scores indicate a higher perceived frequency of engaging in unhealthy relationship behaviors, so the higher the rating, the worse the score. | change from baseline in behavior to 12-months after program completion | 
| Money Management Scale (Financial Behavior Measurement #1) | Will participants report significantly healthier financial behavior after completing the IVROP Ready for Life program's primary educational services? Items measured include: 4 items: frequency of engaging in healthy money management behaviors (categories, 5-point scale); measured on the Money Management Scale #1 as: 1 = Never 2 = Rarely 3 = Sometimes 4 = Often 5 = Always Higher scores indicate a greater frequency of engaging in healthy money management behaviors, so the higher the rating, the better the score. | change from baseline in behavior to 12-months after program completion | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Healthy Partner Relationship Attitudes Measurement #1 | Will participants report significantly healthier partner relationship attitudes after completing the IVROP Ready for Life program's primary educational services? Items measured include: 9 items: levels of agreement with relationship beliefs (categories, 4-point); measured on the Healthy Relationship Attitudes #1 Scale as: 1 = Strongly Agree 2 = Agree 3 = Disagree 4 = Strongly Disagree Lower scores indicate a higher agreement with healthy relationship attitudes, so the lower the rating, the better the score. | change from baseline in behavior to 12-months after program completion | 
| Healthy Partner Relationship Attitudes Measurement #2 | Will participants report significantly healthier partner relationship attitudes after completing the IVROP Ready for Life program's primary educational services? Items measured include: 3 items: future-oriented self-reported beliefs in key relationship events likely to occur (categories, 5-point scale); measured on the Healthy Partner Relationship Attitudes Measurement #2 as: 1 = Almost no chance 2 = Some chance but probably not 3 = A 50-50 chance 4 = A good chance 5 = Almost certain Higher scores indicate a greater perceived likelihood of key relationship events to occur in the future. For 1 item, a higher rating is a better score. The other two items are reverse-coded, so a higher rating is a worse score. | change from baseline in behavior to 12-months after program completion | 
| Financial Attitudes Measurement #1 | Do participants report significantly healthier financial attitudes after completing the IVROP Ready for Life program's primary educational services? Items measured include: 8 items: levels of agreement with key financial attitudes (categories, 5-point scale); measured on the Financial Attitudes Scale as: 1 = Strongly Disagree 2 = Disagree 3 = Neither Agree nor Disagree 4 = Agree 5 = Strongly Agree Higher scores indicate a higher positive attitude towards healthy financial management, so the higher the rating, the better the score. | change from baseline in behavior to 12-months after program completion |