Creating Peace Program for Youth Violence Prevention

Overseen By Ivana Gazarik

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 12

Duration: 4-12 weeks

1800 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This cluster-randomized community-partnered study will examine the effectiveness of a trauma-sensitive, gender transformative youth violence prevention program called Creating Peace that integrates racism and discrimination prevention with youth ages 14-19.

Do I need to stop my current medications to join the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What data supports the effectiveness of the Creating Peace Program for Youth Violence Prevention treatment?

Research on similar violence prevention programs, like the Aban Aya Youth Project, shows that school-based social development curricula can help reduce violent behaviors in youth. Additionally, conflict resolution and peer mediation projects in schools have been found to improve attitudes towards violence and school discipline, suggesting that components of the Creating Peace Program may be effective in preventing youth violence. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

How is the Creating Peace Program treatment different from other youth violence prevention treatments?

The Creating Peace Program is unique because it is a 12-session curriculum-based program that focuses on promoting healthy conflict resolution skills among urban adolescents, balancing brevity and effectiveness to fit within school schedules. Unlike other programs, it specifically addresses the challenge of integrating violence prevention into the limited time available during the school day. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Research Team

Elizabeth Miller, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for English-speaking teens aged 14-19 who are interested in a program aimed at preventing youth violence and addressing issues related to racism and discrimination. It's not open to those outside this age range or who don't speak English.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 14 and 19 years old.

Participants must speak English

Exclusion Criteria

I am not between the ages of 14 and 19.

I do not speak English.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants engage in the Creating Peace program, which includes 12 sessions over a 4 to 12 week period focusing on trauma-sensitive, gender-transformative youth violence prevention.

4-12 weeks

12 sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in positive bystander behaviors and recent use of violence at 3 and 9 months after program conclusion.

9 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Creating Peace
• Job Readiness

Trial Overview The study tests 'Creating Peace,' a trauma-informed, gender-aware program designed to prevent youth violence while tackling racism and discrimination. The effectiveness of the program will be compared across different groups.

Participant Groups

Group I: Creating Peace Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Creating Peace uses a group discussion format with activities that explore race, gender, sexual identity, and social class. Creating Peace is a 12 session curriculum designed to support youth ages 14-19 in healing from experiences of trauma by restoring social connections, strengthening positive coping strategies that exclude all forms of violence, challenging gender norms that foster violence perpetration, and practicing positive bystander intervention skills to intervene safely with peers' disrespectful and harmful behaviors. Through 12 sessions (3 hours/session) over a 4 to 12 week period, Creating Peace offers gender transformative content combined with youth leadership development. Near program conclusion, youth will offer guidance to law enforcement on interacting with youth in a process of social restoration.

Group II: Job Readiness Training Active Control 1 Intervention

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.

Creating Peace is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as Creating Peace for:

• Youth violence prevention
• Racism prevention
• Discrimination prevention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pittsburgh

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Collaborator

Trials

2,896

Recruited

8,053,000+

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Collaborator

Trials

473

Recruited

1,374,000+

Findings from Research

Both the Violence Prevention Curriculum for Adolescents and the Conflict Resolution Curriculum significantly reduced self-reported violence among middle school students, with a sample size of 225 participants.

The Conflict Resolution Curriculum was particularly effective in decreasing the frequency of severe physical fights that required medical treatment, highlighting its importance in addressing serious violence among adolescents.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of two violence prevention curricula for middle school adolescents. DuRant, RH., Treiber, F., Getts, A., et al.[2015]

The Aban Aya Youth Project's social development classroom curriculum (SDC) effectively limited the growth of violent behaviors among students, regardless of their age, compared to a control group.

The school/family/community (SC) intervention only reduced violence growth in older participants, indicating that interventions may need to engage multiple social systems, especially for highly mobile youth who may not receive consistent exposure to the program.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of age and type of intervention on youth violent behaviors. Jagers, RJ., Morgan-Lopez, AA., Flay, BR.[2021]

Some conflict resolution and peer mediation (CR/PM) programs in U.S. schools show promise in changing students' attitudes towards violence, improving school discipline, and reducing absenteeism, based on a review of nine projects supported by state health departments.

There is significant variation in how these programs are implemented, particularly regarding the involvement of trained consultants and the extent of training for teachers and students, highlighting the need for better evaluation methods to determine the most effective practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A review of selected school-based conflict resolution and peer mediation projects. Powell, KE., Muir-McClain, L., Halasyamani, L.[2019]

Hospital-based violence intervention programs, like Healing Hurt People, are effective in reducing recurrent violence and future criminal justice involvement among youth, particularly those aged 8 to 30.

The Healing Hurt People program specifically addresses trauma-related symptoms in injured patients, aiming to break the cycle of violence by focusing on healing and connection in the aftermath of violent injury.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Developing a trauma-informed, emergency department-based intervention for victims of urban violence. Corbin, TJ., Rich, JA., Bloom, SL., et al.[2022]

A youth violence prevention curriculum was developed for healthcare providers at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital through a collaborative effort with community practitioners, highlighting the importance of community engagement in healthcare.

The curriculum was evaluated by 49 participants, showing a strong interest in skill development and knowledge improvement, demonstrating how healthcare professionals can effectively address community issues like youth violence.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Youth violence prevention curriculum evaluation: outcomes of a Cook County, Illinois community based partnership. Zanoni, J., Avila, S., Murray, LR., et al.[2011]

The Violence Prevention Project (VPP) was effective in promoting healthy conflict resolution skills among urban adolescents, as shown by a study involving 1112 9th- and 10th-grade students across 13 New York City public high schools.

Participation in the VPP was associated with improved academic self-concept, indicating that such violence prevention programs can be beneficial not only for conflict resolution but also for students' overall academic confidence.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Optimizing violence prevention programs: an examination of program effectiveness among urban high school students. Thompkins, AC., Chauveron, LM., Harel, O., et al.[2014]

The Richmond Youth Against Violence Project, a 16-session program for middle school students, aims to reduce violence by teaching conflict resolution and promoting positive behaviors, particularly in high-risk communities.

Initial findings indicate that a significant number of students, especially boys, have been exposed to community violence and engaged in risk behaviors, highlighting the need for effective violence prevention strategies in these environments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Richmond youth against violence: a school-based program for urban adolescents. Farrell, AD., Meyer, AL., Dahlberg, LL.[2022]

The PeaceBuilders program, aimed at preventing violence in elementary schools, integrates positive behavior practices into daily school interactions, involving students, teachers, and staff, which is crucial for early intervention.

A formal evaluation is being conducted across eight schools with a diverse sample of 2,736 children, highlighting the prevalence of violent behaviors among students, which underscores the need for effective prevention programs like PeaceBuilders.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Peacebuilders: a theoretically driven, school-based model for early violence prevention. Embry, DD., Flannery, DJ., Vazsonyi, AT., et al.[2015]

The UNITY Initiative highlights that violence in the US is preventable and is influenced by unequal safety distribution across communities, particularly affecting young people of color.

Comprehensive strategies that improve community environments, such as multi-sector collaboration and policy influence, can effectively reduce violence and promote health equity.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Communities are not all created equal: Strategies to prevent violence affecting youth in the United States. Cohen, L., Davis, R., Realini, A.[2019]

Youth violence remains a significant issue in the U.S., impacting children and families, despite ongoing prevention efforts.

Effective prevention strategies should be implemented early in development and within the context of schools, families, and communities, focusing on both risk and protective factors to reduce violence among urban youth.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Burgeoning directions for the prevention of youth violence. Introduction. Boyce, CA., Robinson, WL., Richards, MH.[2022]

References

1. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Comparison of two violence prevention curricula for middle school adolescents. [2015]

2. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The impact of age and type of intervention on youth violent behaviors. [2021]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A review of selected school-based conflict resolution and peer mediation projects. [2019]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Developing a trauma-informed, emergency department-based intervention for victims of urban violence. [2022]

5. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Youth violence prevention curriculum evaluation: outcomes of a Cook County, Illinois community based partnership. [2011]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Optimizing violence prevention programs: an examination of program effectiveness among urban high school students. [2014]

7. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Richmond youth against violence: a school-based program for urban adolescents. [2022]

8. Netherlands pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Peacebuilders: a theoretically driven, school-based model for early violence prevention. [2015]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Communities are not all created equal: Strategies to prevent violence affecting youth in the United States. [2019]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Burgeoning directions for the prevention of youth violence. Introduction. [2022]