Addressing Root Causes for Gun Violence Prevention (ARC-GVP)

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The goal of this study is to help build the evidence base for a locally-relevant youth firearm violence prevention program in Washington D.C., a city experiencing disparities in youth firearm violence outcomes. The main question it aims to answer is: How is youth participation in the summer youth employment program, the True Reasons I Grabbed the Gun Evolved from Risk (The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project), which is designed to address root causes of gun violence, associated with individual youth behavioral outcomes, including pro-social involvement, aggression, and firearm-related attitudes and behaviors?

Detailed Description
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The goal of this study is to help build the evidence base for a locally-relevant youth firearm violence prevention program in a city experiencing disparities in youth firearm violence outcomes. The main question it aims to answer is: How is youth participation in a summer youth employment program that is designed to address root causes of gun violence (The T.R.I.G.G.E.R project), associated with individual youth behavioral outcomes, including pro-social involvement, retaliatory attitudes, aggression, and firearm behaviors? To examine this question, participants will be invited to complete four surveys over the course of one year to assess attitudinal and behavioral change: A pre-test at the start of the program A first post-test 2-4 weeks following the conclusion of the program A second post-test 6 months following the conclusion of the program A third and final post-test 12 months following the conclusion of the program

Official Title
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Addressing Root Causes for Gun Violence Prevention (ARC-GVP) Outcomes Study

Conditions
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Violence, Adolescent, Firearm Injury, Aggression

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Youth in Washington D.C. who are participating in The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project, a grassroots youth firearm violence prevention program Exclusion Criteria: Emancipated minors

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 14 Years
Maximum Age: 24 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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Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Wave 1<br>Youth participants who are enrolled in The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project's summer youth employment program in 2022 | Behavioral: The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project<br>* The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project includes the following core components to address root causes of gun violence: Summer Employment Social and Emotional Learning Future Orientation Adult and Peer Support Critical Consciousness Civic Efficacy and Engagement<br>|
| Wave 2<br>Youth participants who are enrolled in The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project's summer youth employment program in 2023 | Behavioral: The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project<br>* The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project includes the following core components to address root causes of gun violence: Summer Employment Social and Emotional Learning Future Orientation Adult and Peer Support Critical Consciousness Civic Efficacy and Engagement<br>|
| Wave 3<br>Youth participants who are enrolled in The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project's summer youth employment program in 2024 | Behavioral: The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project<br>* The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project includes the following core components to address root causes of gun violence: Summer Employment Social and Emotional Learning Future Orientation Adult and Peer Support Critical Consciousness Civic Efficacy and Engagement<br>|
| Wave 4<br>Youth participants who are enrolled in The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project's summer youth employment program in 2025 | Behavioral: The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project<br>* The T.R.I.G.G.E.R Project includes the following core components to address root causes of gun violence: Summer Employment Social and Emotional Learning Future Orientation Adult and Peer Support Critical Consciousness Civic Efficacy and Engagement<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Civic Efficacy | The investigators will assess change in civic efficacy (i.e., youth participants' sense of belief that they can create positive change in their communities) over time using the 3-item Civic Efficacy scale; the unit(s) of measurement are the Mean and Standard Deviation of scale scores; Minimum Value: 1 Maximum Value: 5, higher scores indicate a better outcome | Outcomes will be measured at 4 time points over 1 year: at the start of the summer programs, 2-4 weeks post, 6-months post, and 1-year post participation | 
| Change in Pro-Social Involvement | The investigators will assess change in pro-social involvement (i.e., youth participants' involvement in pro-social community organizations and activities) over time using an 8-item adapted Participation in Groups and Voluntary Organizations scale; the units of measurement are the Mean and Standard Deviation of scale scores; Minimum Value: 0 Maximum Value: 8; higher scores indicate a better outcome | Outcomes will be measured at 4 time points over 1 year: at the start of the summer programs, 2-4 weeks post, 6-months post, and 1-year post participation | 
| Change in Attitudes towards Violence and Retaliation | The investigators will assess change in youth participants' attitudes toward violence and retaliation over time using a 3-item Retaliatory Attitudes scale; the units of measurement are the Mean and Standard Deviation of scale scores; Minimum Value: 1 Maximum Value: 5; lower scores indicate a better outcome | Outcomes will be measured at 4 time points over 1 year: at the start of the summer programs, 2-4 weeks post, 6-months post, and 1-year post participation | 
| Change in Aggressive Behavior | The investigators will assess change in non-firearm related aggressive behavior (i.e., fighting, non-firearm weapon carriage) over time using a 3-item Aggressive Behaviors scale; the unit(s) of measurement are the Mean and Standard Deviation of scale scores; Minimum: 0, Maximum: 15, lower scores indicate a better outcome | Outcomes will be measured at 4 time points over 1 year: at the start of the summer programs, 2-4 weeks post, 6-months post, and 1-year post participation | 
| Change in Firearm Carriage Frequency | The investigators will assess change in the frequency of firearm carriage (for any reason besides hunting, target shooting, competitive shooting, or recreation) over time using 1-item; the unit(s) of measurement are the Mean and Standard Deviation of scale scores; Minimum: 1 Maximum: 7, lower scores indicate a better outcome | Outcomes will be measured at 4 time points over 1 year: at the start of the summer programs, 2-4 weeks post, 6-months post, and 1-year post participation | 
| Change in Firearm Use | The investigators will assess change in youth participants' firearm use (i.e., handling a gun, firing a gun, holding a gun in a selfie) over time, using a three-item Firearm Use scale; the unit(s) of measurement are the Means and Standard Deviations of scale scores, Minimum: 0 Maximum: 18, lower scores indicate a better outcome | Outcomes will be measured at 4 time points over 1 year: at the start of the summer programs, 2-4 weeks post, 6-months post, and 1-year post participation | 
| Change in Firearm Aggression | The investigators will assess change in youth participants' firearm aggression (i.e., threatening someone with a gun, firing at or around someone), using a two-item scale adapted from the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale; the unit(s) of measurement are the Means and Standard Deviations of scale scores, Minimum: 0 Maximum: 10, lower scores indicate a better outcome | Outcomes will be measured at 4 time points over 1 year: at the start of the summer programs, 2-4 weeks post, 6-months post, and 1-year post participation | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Youth Violence Prevention, Gun Violence Prevention, Positive Youth Development