YES-ERACE Curriculum for Reducing Youth Violence

(YES-IDEAS Trial)

Overseen By Katherine T Taelman, MAT, MPH

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Michigan

Disqualifiers: Non-students, Parental refusal

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

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 6

512 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if the YES-ERACE program can better empower middle school students and reduce violent behavior compared to regular after-school activities. The program encourages students to create projects that enhance their communities, aiming to boost positive behaviors and reduce violence. It targets 6th to 8th graders already enrolled in after-school programs in southeast Michigan. Students must agree to participate, and their parents must not object. As an unphased trial, this study provides students with a unique opportunity to actively contribute to community improvement while developing positive behaviors.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether participants need to stop taking their current medications.

What prior data suggests that the YES-IDEAS curriculum is safe for youth?

Research shows that the YES (Youth Empowerment Solutions) program is safe for young people. It has been implemented in various locations to boost youth confidence and decision-making. Studies also indicate it can reduce aggressive and troublesome behavior. No reports of negative effects have emerged from participation in the program.

The YES-IDEAS curriculum, a version of the YES program for middle school students, aims to reduce violence and empower them. By using proven YES methods, it is expected to be safe and well-received by young people. Overall, evidence suggests that participating in YES-IDEAS is unlikely to cause harm and may improve behavior and attitudes. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the YES-ERACE Curriculum for reducing youth violence because it offers a fresh approach compared to traditional methods like counseling or punitive measures. Unlike these standard approaches, YES-ERACE focuses on educational engagement through the YES IDEAS program, which aims to empower students with skills and knowledge to manage and prevent violence. This program is unique in its proactive and educational strategy, potentially leading to long-term behavioral change and fostering a safer environment for youth.

What evidence suggests that the YES-IDEAS curriculum is effective for reducing youth violence?

In this trial, the YES-IDEAS curriculum, an adaptation of the Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES) program, tests its effectiveness in reducing youth violence. Researchers found that participants in the original YES program often felt more empowered and involved in their communities. This program aims to reduce youth violence by engaging students in projects that encourage positive behavior and community improvement. Evidence shows that programs like YES can effectively lower violent behavior among young people. The adapted YES-IDEAS curriculum builds on these successes by focusing on middle school students from various backgrounds. Early signs are promising, indicating that community-based projects can enhance youth empowerment and reduce violence. Participants in this trial will either take part in the YES-IDEAS program or continue with regular after-school programming as part of the control group. ^{3 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for middle school students in grades 6-8 who are part of after-school programs at six schools within the Genesee County Intermediate School District. Participants must agree to join; those who don't or whose parents refuse cannot participate.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a student in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade.

Students enrolled in afterschool programs at six middle schools in Genesee County Intermediate School District

Students who assent

Exclusion Criteria

Non-students

Students who do not assent or whose parents notify us of their refusal

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Adaptation Phase

Adapting the YES curriculum to integrate modules from the Learning for Justice curriculum and piloting the revised curriculum

3 months

Testing Phase

Testing the effects of the YES IDEAS curriculum on youth empowerment, racism attitudes, and violent behavior in a group-randomized trial

9 months

Baseline, End of Program, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for sustainability of YES IDEAS effects on empowered outcomes and behavior changes

3 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• YES-ERACE

Trial Overview

The study tests YES-ERACE, an adapted curriculum aimed at empowering youth to tackle racism and reduce violence, against regular after-school activities. It measures how well it boosts empowerment, anti-racist behavior, and decreases violent acts among students.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: YES IDEAS Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Students participate in the YES IDEAS program.

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Students participate in the regular after-school programming.

YES-ERACE is already approved in European Union, United States for the following indications:

Approved in European Union as Lynparza for:

• Breast cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Fallopian tube cancer
• Peritoneal cancer
• Pancreatic cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Endometrial cancer

Approved in United States as Lynparza for:

• Ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer
• Breast cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Pancreatic cancer

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Michigan

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,891

Recruited

6,458,000+

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Collaborator

Trials

473

Recruited

1,374,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Youth Empowerment Strategies (YES!) project effectively promotes problem-solving skills and civic participation among underserved youth, aiming to reduce risky behaviors like substance use.

Successful social action in the YES! program is influenced by factors such as group dynamics, leadership, and the context of school-community interactions, highlighting the importance of project design in achieving positive outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Getting to social action: the Youth Empowerment Strategies (YES!) project. Wilson, N., Minkler, M., Dasho, S., et al.[2019]

A systematic review of three randomized trials found that Positive Youth Development (PYD) interventions did not significantly reduce violence among young people overall, with a very small effect size (d=0.021).

However, there was a statistically significant short-term effect of PYD interventions on violence outcomes (d=0.076), indicating that while the overall impact may be minimal, there could be some immediate benefits that warrant further investigation.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Systematic review and meta-analysis of effects of community-delivered positive youth development interventions on violence outcomes. Melendez-Torres, GJ., Dickson, K., Fletcher, A., et al.[2019]

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]

Youth violence is a major cause of death among children and adolescents, prompting the establishment of the Academic Centers of Excellence on Youth Violence Prevention (ACE YVP) by the CDC to tackle this issue.

Three ACE YVPs developed multidisciplinary curricula for healthcare professionals, focusing on youth violence prevention, with different approaches: separate courses for students at UC San Diego and the University of Puerto Rico, and integrated teaching at the University of Hawaii.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Training healthcare professionals in youth violence prevention: an overview. Sidelinger, DE., Guerrero, AP., Rodríguez-Frau, M., et al.[2007]

Youth violence prevention programs that engage and empower young people, like the Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES) for Peaceful Communities program, show promise in reducing violence and improving community outcomes.

The YES program, which includes a character development curriculum and community projects, demonstrated positive effects on both community-level outcomes (such as reduced violent crime) and individual-level outcomes (like conflict avoidance) based on outcome evaluation results.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Youth empowerment solutions for violence prevention. Reischl, TM., Zimmerman, MA., Morrel-Samuels, S., et al.[2019]

The Introduction to Violence Prevention in Children and Youth course was developed to equip nursing and allied health students with essential skills for preventing violence among children and youth, implemented during the 2003-2004 academic year.

The curriculum aims to enhance the involvement of future health professionals in violence prevention efforts, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary training in addressing public health issues.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Youth violence prevention curriculum for undergraduate nursing and allied health students. Rodríguez-Frau, MV., Mirabal-Colón, B.[2021]

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 National Centers of Excellence in Youth Violence Prevention (YVPCs) focus on implementing evidence-based programs (EBPs) to reduce community violence, emphasizing the importance of quality in these implementations.

YVPCs utilize a variety of established and innovative measurement strategies to assess how well these programs are implemented, which helps them improve the programs and understand their impact on reducing youth violence.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Implementation Measurement for Evidence-Based Violence Prevention Programs in Communities. Massetti, GM., Holland, KM., Gorman-Smith, D.[2023]

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6612902/

Trends and Correlates of Youth Violence Prevention Program ...

Youth participation in violence prevention programs significantly decreased from 16.7% in 2002 to 11.7% in 2016, a 29% relative decrease in participation.

2.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5831140/

A systematic meta-review of evaluations of youth violence ...

The current study reviews the meta-analyses and systematic reviews published prior to 2009 that synthesize evaluations of youth violence prevention programs.

3.

tacoma.gov

tacoma.gov/government/departments/neighborhood-and-community-services/violence-reduction-community-support-programs/

Violence Reduction & Community Support

This evidenced-based framework is a set of five core strategies that guide the coordination and community collaboration to reduce youth violence. The City ...

4.

yvpc.sph.umich.edu

yvpc.sph.umich.edu/new-study-examines-implementation-yes-program-real-world-settings/

New study examines implementation of YES program in real ...

A new study, published in the journal, Health Promotion Practice, presents methods to document and assess implementation of the Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES) ...

5.

urban.org

urban.org/sites/default/files/2022-03/implementing-youth-violence-reduction-strategies_0.pdf

Implementing Youth Violence Reduction Strategies

In addition, though research has shown that effective programs engage in activities such as case management, service provision, enhanced.

6.

prc.sph.umich.edu

prc.sph.umich.edu/2017/10/new-yes-study-sheds-light-factors-related-implementing-programs-real-world-settings/

New YES study sheds light on factors related to implementing ...

A new study, published in the journal, Health Promotion Practice, presents methods to document and assess implementation of the Youth Empowerment Solutions (YES) ...

7.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5961732/

Implementation Measurement for Evidence-Based ...

The work of the YVPCs highlights the need to use data to understand the relationship between implementation of EBPs and youth violence outcomes. Keywords: ...

8.

ospi.k12.wa.us

ospi.k12.wa.us/student-success/health-safety/sexual-violence-prevention/youth-centered-environmental-shift-program

Youth-Centered Environmental Shift Program

Youth-centered and community-oriented strategies to prevent sexual violence among adolescents, based on recent research and lessons learned from the YES! pilot ...

9.

firearminjury.umich.edu

firearminjury.umich.edu/yes/

Youth Empowerment Solutions

The YES program has been shown to increase psychological empowerment and responsible decision making, and decrease aggressive and delinquent behavior. Overview.