CHEER Program for Community Health

(CHEER Trial)

Overseen By Jeff T Walker, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Disqualifiers: Not residing in specified neighborhoods, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to improve community health by boosting social connections and neighborhood environments. It will test two main treatments: Family Youth Intervention (FYI), which helps families strengthen their skills and relationships, and Environment: Social and Physical Intervention (ESPI), which improves neighborhood spaces to foster community ties. Residents of specific Birmingham neighborhoods with a child aged 11-16 might be a good fit. The goal is to determine if these interventions, part of the Community Health through Engagement and Environmental Renewal (CHEER) program, can enhance social cohesion and well-being for mothers and their children. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to community health improvements and potentially benefit from enhanced social connections.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

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

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research shows that the Family Youth Intervention (FYI) and the Environment: Social and Physical Intervention (ESPI) treatments are safe and manageable for participants. Studies have found that similar community projects reduce violence and improve social connections in neighborhoods without harming those involved.

For FYI, past programs with families in challenging situations have reported no major negative effects. These programs often use community health advisors to help families enhance their relationships and communication, which are generally safe activities.

ESPI activities typically involve improving community spaces, leading to better social interactions and increased neighborhood safety. Past projects have demonstrated positive outcomes, such as lower crime rates, without causing harm.

When combined, FYI and ESPI aim to boost community well-being while remaining safe for participants. Similar programs have reported no specific safety issues, suggesting these treatments are low-risk. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the CHEER Program for Community Health because it combines community-driven initiatives with peer support to tackle urban health challenges. Unlike traditional treatments that might focus solely on individual medical interventions, the CHEER program engages community health advisors (CHAs) who work directly with families to enhance family dynamics and emotional support. Additionally, the program includes a unique environmental aspect where community members actively participate in transforming neglected lots into vibrant spaces, boosting social cohesion and neighborhood pride. This holistic approach not only aims to improve individual health outcomes but also strengthens community bonds and promotes collective empowerment.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for improving community health?

Research has shown that family-based programs like the Family Youth Intervention (FYI), one of the interventions in this trial, can significantly enhance parent-child interactions and reduce risky behaviors in young people. One study found that these programs improved 21 different aspects of family and parenting, highlighting their potential for positive change. Similarly, the Environment: Social and Physical Intervention (ESPI), another intervention in this trial, has effectively increased social interaction and community bonding. These programs can make neighborhoods more connected and supportive, which may help reduce issues like depression. In this trial, some participants will receive both FYI and ESPI, and this combination is expected to lead to even greater improvements in both family relationships and neighborhood environments. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jeff T Walker, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

The CHEER trial is for residents of specific neighborhoods (North Titusville, South Titusville, Druid Hills, Fountain Heights) and parents with a child aged 11-16 in certain areas (including Rising-West Princeton, Belview Heights). It's aimed at those experiencing the stress of poverty and seeking community support.

Inclusion Criteria

I live in the specified area and have a child aged 11-16.

For ESPI, residents who live in the ESPI intervention neighborhoods (North Titusville, South Titusville, Druid Hills, and Fountain Heights)

Exclusion Criteria

For ESPI, not residing in one of the above neighborhoods and did not consent to participate.

For FYI, does not meet the above requirements and did not consent to participate.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Family Youth Intervention (FYI)

Participants engage in a family strengthening intervention with community health advisors to improve maternal, youth, and family functioning.

12 weeks

Weekly sessions

Environment: Social and Physical Intervention (ESPI)

Community members engage in neighborhood projects to improve social interaction, cohesion, and collective efficacy.

12 weeks

Community-led projects

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in psychosocial behaviors, social cohesion, and other outcomes.

18 months

6- and 18-month follow-up assessments

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Community Health through Engagement and Environmental Renewal (CHEER)

Trial Overview CHEER aims to improve family relations and reduce neighborhood blight. It tests two interventions: Family Youth Intervention (FYI) for parenting practices and youth behavior; Environment: Social & Physical Intervention (ESPI) to boost social cohesion.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Wait-List Control Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

The two communities will get ESPI, upon completion of the study.

Group II: Family Youth Intervention (FYI) Active Control 1 Intervention

The primary objective of FYI is to evaluate the effectiveness of a theory-based, peer-supported family strengthening intervention on the primary outcomes in a sample of 120 parent-child pairs living in resource-poor urban neighborhoods in Birmingham. For FYI, we will utilize community health advisors (CHAs) to implement the intervention. CHAs will be recruited from each FYI neighborhood and will be trained in research ethics. CHAs will assist and support FYI participants in mastering the sequential skills of the 12 modules designed to improve maternal, youth, and family functioning. Additionally, CHAs will provide emotional social support that is helpful, hopeful, and trustful.

Group III: FYI and ESPI Active Control 1 Intervention

Two of the eight neighborhoods will receive both FYI and ESPI intervention.

Group IV: ESPI Environment: Social and Physical Intervention (ESPI) Active Control 1 Intervention

ESPI will enroll 500 community members to examine the effect of blight elimination through lot recovery on primary outcomes of improved social interaction, social cohesion around common neighborhood norms, and collective efficacy to effect change in the neighborhoods . Neighborhood residents will select a cluster of lots (2-3) for lot recovery that are highly visible in the neighborhood (e.g. on a main thoroughfare). The community residents will lead the neighborhood projects. In some cases, neighborhood residents will personally undertake all or part of the greening projects.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,677

Recruited

2,458,000+

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Collaborator

Trials

902

Recruited

25,020,000+

Citations

1. trialstoday.org trialstoday.org/list/print/NCT04362475

Community Health Through Engagement and ... ESPI significantly will increase our primary outcomes of social interaction, social cohesion, collective efficacy, and shared norms compared to ...

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04362475?tab=history&a=4

Record History | ver. 4: 2021-02-17 | NCT04362475 ... ESPI Environment: Social and Physical Intervention (ESPI). Other: Wait-List Control. The two communities will get ESPI, upon completion of the study.

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-7-2021-dc19f

CHEER Program for Community Health · Info for Participants It tests two interventions: Family Youth Intervention (FYI) for parenting practices and youth behavior; Environment: Social & Physical Intervention (ESPI) to ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10078830/

Impact of environmental interventions based on social ... The 24 reviewed studies suggest innovative proposals for social programs that seek to increase PA and promote healthy lifestyles.

5. espi.or.at espi.or.at/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Future-of-European-Space-Exploration_final-version-7.pdf

content This report serves to introduce you to thinking about possible futures and provides a backdrop for contextualising European space exploration between 2040 and ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6902518/

The neighborhood social environment and physical activity Fifty-nine social environmental constructs were identified and grouped into 9 dimensions: Crime & Safety (n = 133 studies; included in 73% of ...

7. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31815626/

The neighborhood social environment and physical activity Results/findings: Fifty-nine social environmental constructs were identified and grouped into 9 dimensions: Crime & Safety (n = 133 studies; ...

8. odphp.health.gov odphp.health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/neighborhood-and-built-environment

Neighborhood and Built Environment - Healthy People 2030 Healthy People 2030 focuses on improving health and safety in the places where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age.

9. mdpi.com mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/8/5474

Neighborhood Physical and Social Environments ... Here, we define the physical environment as including natural and built features and resources such as urban design, walkability, greenspaces, public spaces and ...