Community Resilience Program for Community Violence

Overseen By Christi Gomez

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh

Disqualifiers: Under 13, Outside neighborhoods

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: 18

4600 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a community-focused program can reduce violence by encouraging community members to thrive, lead, and organize for social change. Participants will either join the Community Resiliency Collective Efficacy Intervention (CRCEI), which includes nine sessions of community dialogue and leadership activities, or attend health education sessions for comparison. The study seeks individuals aged 13 and older who live in the selected neighborhoods and are interested in community improvement initiatives.

As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to actively contribute to community development and social change.

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 prior data suggests that this intervention is safe for community violence reduction?

Research has shown that the Community Resiliency Collective Efficacy Intervention (CRCEI) aims to strengthen communities and reduce violence. Although specific safety data for this program is not available, it is generally considered safe due to its focus on conversation and community involvement. The program does not involve medication or physical procedures, typically resulting in fewer safety concerns. Participants engage in discussions about leadership and social change, which are safe and non-invasive activities. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Community Resiliency Collective Efficacy Intervention (CRCEI) because it takes a unique approach to tackling community violence by actively engaging community members in conversations about thriving, leadership, and social change. Unlike standard interventions that might focus on immediate crisis response or law enforcement, CRCEI emphasizes building collective efficacy—essentially, the community's shared ability to achieve desired social outcomes. This method aims to empower communities from the ground up, fostering sustainable change by encouraging local leadership and organizing efforts. By focusing on these elements, CRCEI has the potential to create long-term resilience against violence, making it a promising alternative or complement to traditional approaches.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for reducing community violence?

Research shows that programs like the Community Resiliency Collective Efficacy Intervention (CRCEI), which participants in this trial may receive, can help reduce violence and improve community well-being. Studies have found that when community members talk and work together for change, violence decreases significantly. For example, one study reported fewer shootings in several areas using similar methods. These programs are not only effective but also affordable, making them a promising way to address community violence. By focusing on community strengths and leadership, CRCEI aims to help communities thrive while reducing violence. Meanwhile, another group in this trial will receive Health Education Sessions as a control intervention, providing a comparison to evaluate CRCEI's effectiveness. ^{5 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Elizabeth Miller, MD, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Pittsburgh

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for youth (13 years and older) and adults of all genders who live in specific neighborhoods chosen for the study. It's not open to anyone younger than 13 or those living outside these neighborhoods.

Inclusion Criteria

Reside in neighborhoods selected to participate in the study

I am 13 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

Individuals residing outside of participating neighborhoods

I am younger than 13 years old.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Community Resiliency Collective Efficacy Intervention (CRCEI) to engage community members in dialogue on thriving, community leadership, and organizing for social change

9 sessions

9 sessions (in-person)

Control

Comparison neighborhoods receive health education sessions as a control intervention

9 sessions

9 sessions (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in collective efficacy, neighborhood social norms, and community violence

12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Community Resiliency Collective Efficacy Intervention (CRCEI)
• Health Education Sessions

Trial Overview The study tests a community intervention called CRCEI aimed at increasing resilience and reducing violence, compared with standard health education sessions. Participants are grouped by neighborhood and randomly assigned to one of the interventions.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Community Resiliency Collective Efficacy Intervention (CRCEI) Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Community Resiliency Collective Efficacy Intervention (CRCEI) to engage community members in dialogue on thriving, community leadership, and organizing for social change (9 sessions).

Group II: Health Education Sessions Active Control 1 Intervention

Comparison neighborhoods will receive health education sessions as a control intervention. (9 sessions)

Community Resiliency Collective Efficacy Intervention (CRCEI) is already approved in United States for the following indications:

Approved in United States as CRCEI for:

• Community Violence Reduction

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pittsburgh

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Collaborator

Trials

902

Recruited

25,020,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Communities Advancing Resilience Toolkit (CART) is an evidence-based intervention designed to enhance community resilience by engaging stakeholders in a structured process of assessment, feedback, planning, and action.

CART focuses on four key domains—connection and caring, resources, transformative potential, and disaster management—promoting community participation and collaboration to effectively address local needs and improve adaptation to mass casualty incidents.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Communities Advancing Resilience Toolkit (CART): an intervention to build community resilience to disasters. Pfefferbaum, RL., Pfefferbaum, B., Van Horn, RL., et al.[2022]

Community resilience (CR) can be effectively developed through community-partnered participatory research, which helps stakeholders create action plans and toolkits that address local needs and vulnerabilities.

Stakeholders emphasized the importance of community engagement and policy support in implementing CR programs, identifying barriers like trust in government and strategies to enhance community preparedness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Applying community engagement to disaster planning: developing the vision and design for the Los Angeles County Community Disaster Resilience initiative. Wells, KB., Tang, J., Lizaola, E., et al.[2021]

The COPEWELL model effectively enhances understanding of community resilience by predicting disaster-specific functioning and engaging partners to identify strategies for strengthening resilience, as demonstrated through a collaborative work group in New York City.

Using COPEWELL, the work group was able to prioritize vulnerable neighborhoods and identify data gaps, leading to innovative interventions that align emergency preparedness with community development and public health initiatives.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Applying an Innovative Model of Disaster Resilience at the Neighborhood Level : The COPEWELL New York City Experience. Slemp, CC., Sisco, S., Jean, MC., et al.[2021]

A participatory action approach in five Canadian communities led to improved services for sexual assault survivors, addressing issues like staff shortages and negative responses to disclosure, which are common in rural areas.

The Enhanced Emergency Sexual Assault Services (EESAS) education program significantly increased knowledge and collaboration among service providers, resulting in better service quality and privacy for clients, with positive changes sustained for at least 6 months.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Collaboration with Rural and Remote Communities to Improve Sexual Assault Services. Carter-Snell, C., Jakubec, S., Hagen, B.[2021]

A systematic review of 1880 records identified only 8 studies focused on community-based interventions that enhance resilience in adults after disasters, indicating a significant gap in research in this area.

The findings suggest that while information provision alone may not be effective, strategies that promote social interactions and community competence show promise in improving health outcomes after disasters.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resilience-rhetoric to reality: a systematic review of intervention studies after disasters. van Kessel, G., MacDougall, C., Gibbs, L.[2018]

The community-based learning collaborative (CBLC) model, developed as part of Project BEST, effectively promotes the implementation of trauma-focused practices among 1,190 participants across 13 collaborative groups, highlighting its potential for sustainable trauma-informed care.

Data from the third phase of Project BEST showed significant increases in the use of trauma-focused practices and positive feedback on the utility of the CBLC components, indicating that this model is both feasible and effective in enhancing trauma treatment delivery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Statewide implementation of child trauma-focused practices using the community-based learning collaborative model. Hanson, RF., Saunders, BE., Ralston, E., et al.[2020]

The Building Resilient Communities Workshop brought together 34 participants from various sectors to develop actionable strategies for enhancing community and disaster resilience planning.

Key strategies included creating an integrated national strategy, increasing community engagement through information sharing, and emphasizing that any involvement in disaster resilience planning can improve community resilience, rather than waiting for the perfect solution.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Building resilient communities: A facilitated discussion. Bowles, R., Anderson, GS., Vaughan, C.[2018]

This study is exploring a community-centered approach to reduce violence in a major US city using the ACE|R framework, which focuses on resilience and community organizing, aiming to improve both violence-related and health outcomes.

The research will assess the effectiveness of these interventions by collecting quantitative data on violence incidents and hospital visits, while also evaluating the implementation process through community engagement and training, highlighting the importance of community involvement in violence prevention strategies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Resilience-Informed Community Violence Prevention and Community Organizing Strategies for Implementation: Protocol for a Hybrid Type 1 Implementation-Effectiveness Trial. Blackburn, NA., Ramos, S., Dorsainvil, M., et al.[2023]

The research highlights the real safety challenges faced in a low-income African American neighborhood in Chicago while working on a project to improve Internet access for health information.

Key lessons learned include the importance of leveraging community strengths and recognizing personal biases to effectively address safety concerns during community interventions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Realities and myths of safety issues for community researchers working in a marginalized African American community. Suarez-Balcazar, Y., Kinney, L.[2022]

The study highlights a community-driven approach in Pottstown, PA, aimed at creating a trauma-informed environment to address adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) over a two-year period, involving 14 community sectors.

Initial results indicate that the community is on track to enhance inter-agency collaboration and support systems for trauma-informed practices, which could promote healing and resilience among affected individuals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Community's Response to Adverse Childhood Experiences: Building a Resilient, Trauma-Informed Community. Matlin, SL., Champine, RB., Strambler, MJ., et al.[2023]

The study developed a Community Resilience (CR) model that highlights how policies in housing, education, law enforcement, and criminal justice can negatively impact community health by perpetuating structural racism.

The CR model emphasizes that community resilience is influenced by demographic factors and historical patterns of discrimination, suggesting that addressing these inequities is crucial for improving population health outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Community Resilience: A Dynamic Model for Public Health 3.0. Ellis, W., Dietz, WH., Chen, KD.[2022]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10664006/

Resilience-Informed Community Violence Prevention and ... Interventions that center community and leverage community organizing show promise in decreasing violence and increasing the well-being of community members.

2. journals.uchicago.edu journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/738001

Lessons From a Collective Efficacy Violence Prevention ... This manuscript discusses the Community Resiliency Collective Efficacy Intervention, which engages youth and adult community members in preventing violence ...

3. cdc.gov cdc.gov/violence-prevention/media/pdf/resources-for-action/CV-Prevention-Resource-for-Action_508.pdf

Community Violence Prevention Resource for Action Throughout the document, we focus on improving the conditions that increase risk for violence.9. We also acknowledge that many communities survive and thrive ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12420962/

A Systematic Review on the Effectiveness of the Cure ... This rigorous study found statistically significant reductions in violence across all sites, with 3 locations reporting declines in shootings ...

5. policingequity.org policingequity.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/CPE-CVI-Report.pdf

Community Solutions to Prevent Gun Violence These outcomes demonstrate that community-based approaches to gun violence are effective and cost-efficient. While these findings are ...

6. socialwork.pitt.edu socialwork.pitt.edu/research/faculty-research-highlights

Faculty Research Highlights - Pitt School of Social Work Title: A community-centered collective efficacy intervention for prevention of community violence. Funders: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ...

7. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-collective-efficacy-2-2024-9c432

Community Resilience Program for Community Violence The available research does not provide specific safety data for the Community Resilience Program for Community Violence or its related interventions. However, ...

8. aging.networkofcare.org aging.networkofcare.org/sanmateo/CommunityResources/ClinicalTrials/Detail/NCT05768217?keyword=%22Violence%22

Community Resiliency Collective Efficacy Intervention ... community-centered intervention that promotes thriving and resiliency to reduce community violence. ... collective efficacy and reduce community violence.

9. trialstoday.org trialstoday.org/trial/NCT05768217

Community Resiliency Collective Efficacy Intervention ... intervention that promotes thriving and resiliency to reduce community violence, Community Resiliency Collective Efficacy Intervention (CRCEI).