Mentoring Program for At-Risk Teens

(FHF-T Trial)

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Denver

Disqualifiers: Severe violent behavior, Sexual perpetration, Incarceration, Developmental delay, Parenting, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 9 months

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a mentoring program called FHF-T, designed to assist teens who have experienced maltreatment and are involved in the child welfare system. The goal is to determine if mentoring can enhance their social and emotional skills, ultimately preventing negative outcomes like delinquency and school failure. Graduate student mentors will work with the teens for nine months, focusing on relationships, education, and health. Teens entering 8th or 9th grade, with open child welfare cases, and living near the University of Denver might be a good fit. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for teens to benefit from personalized mentoring while contributing to important research.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

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

What prior data suggests that this mentoring program is safe for at-risk teens?

Research has shown that the Fostering Healthy Futures for Teens (FHF-T) program, which includes mentoring and skills training, has been studied for its effects on young people. Past studies found that similar programs reduced court charges and self-reported bad behavior among participants 25-28 months after joining. This suggests the program can improve behavior and reduce negative outcomes.

In the mentoring part of the program, graduate student mentors work one-on-one with teenagers for 30 weeks. These mentors receive training and follow a positive youth development approach, focusing on building skills like managing emotions and solving problems.

The program has been used with younger children in foster care, and no safety concerns were reported in those cases. Since this trial uses a similar method adapted for teens, evidence suggests it is a safe and well-tolerated program. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the FHF-T intervention for at-risk teens because it offers a unique blend of personalized support and educational advocacy. Unlike standard care options that might focus primarily on counseling or therapy, FHF-T involves one-on-one mentoring by graduate students, providing tailored guidance and support over a significant period of 9 months. This approach not only builds a strong mentor-mentee relationship but also includes workshops and educational advocacy, directly addressing the academic challenges faced by these teens. By integrating mentoring with educational support, FHF-T aims to create a more holistic and impactful intervention for at-risk youth.

What evidence suggests that the FHF-T program is effective for at-risk teens?

Research has shown that the Fostering Healthy Futures for Teens (FHF-T) program, which includes personal mentoring and skills training, may improve the lives of teens who have experienced maltreatment. In this trial, participants in the FHF-T Intervention Group will receive nine months of one-on-one mentoring from graduate-student mentors, along with workshops and educational advocacy. The program aims to help teenagers build social and emotional skills, which can prevent issues like drug use and criminal behavior. Past studies of similar mentoring programs have demonstrated improvements in relationships, school performance, and overall well-being for participants. The FHF-T program specifically targets five key areas: Relationships, Education, Activities, Career, and Health (REACH), which are essential for positive youth development. While this specific program hasn't been extensively studied yet, it is based on successful strategies from earlier programs for younger children in foster care. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Kimberly Bender, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Denver

Heather Taussig, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Denver

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for 8th or 9th graders with open child welfare cases due to maltreatment, living within a 35-minute radius of the University of Denver. It's not for those with moderate/severe developmental delays or physical disabilities, current or expecting parents, incarcerated youth, or those deemed unsafe for community-based programs.

Inclusion Criteria

Live within 35 minutes of the University of Denver (for mentoring feasibility)

Starting 8th or 9th grade

I am a teen in foster care, kinship care, or living at home with an open child welfare case.

Exclusion Criteria

Incarcerated at baseline

You are a young person who is currently a parent or will become a parent during the prevention program.

I have a significant developmental delay or physical disability.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Graduate student mentors deliver 9 months of prevention programming in teenagers' homes and communities, focusing on the REACH domains.

9 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment, with data collection immediately post-program and 15 months post-program.

15 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• FHF-T

Trial Overview The Fostering Healthy Futures for Teens (FHF-T) program is being tested. This mentoring and skills training aims to improve adolescents' relationships, education, activities, career prospects, and health over nine months.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: FHF-T Intervention Group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

9 months of 1:1 youth mentoring by graduate-student mentors; workshops; educational advocacy

Group II: Control group Active Control 1 Intervention

Services as usual

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Denver

Lead Sponsor

Trials

25

Recruited

10,600+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The Fostering Healthy Futures (FHF) program, which involved 50 mentors working with preadolescent youth in foster care, was reported as very helpful in training mentors to support high-risk children and families effectively.

Mentors highlighted the program's effectiveness in preparing them to engage with diverse communities and collaborate with various professionals, indicating a positive impact on their mentoring skills.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Mentoring Children in Foster Care: Impact on Graduate Student Mentors. Taussig, HN., Culhane, SE., Raviv, T., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4803110/

Fostering Healthy Futures for Teens: Adaptation of an ... FHF-T is an adaptation of FHF for teens in early high school with out-of-home care history, designed to extend the reach of the original program.

2. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03707366

Study Details | Fostering Healthy Futures for Teens: An RCT This study will implement and evaluate a mentoring program designed to promote positive youth development and reduce adverse outcomes among maltreated ...

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-substance-related-disorders-5-2015-418b9

Mentoring Program for At-Risk Teens (FHF-T Trial) This study will implement and evaluate a mentoring program designed to promote positive youth development and reduce adverse outcomes among maltreated ...

4. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2613856/

Fostering Healthy Futures: An Innovative Preventive ... The FHF program is a voluntary intervention for 9-11 year olds in out-of-home care, including skills groups and mentoring, with half the youth randomly ...

5. evidencebasedmentoring.org evidencebasedmentoring.org/fostering-healthy-futures-for-teens-permanency-outcomes-of-a-mentoring-intervention-for-teens-with-child-welfare-involvement/

Fostering Healthy Futures for Teens: Permanency ... This study reports preliminary permanency findings of the Fostering Healthy Futures for Teens program, a 30-week mentoring intervention for maltreated ...

6. arnoldventures.org arnoldventures.org/stories/randomized-controlled-trial-of-fostering-healthy-futures-for-teens-fht-f-mentoring-program-for-youth-with-child-welfare-involvement

Randomized Controlled Trial of Fostering Healthy… This well-conducted RCT found reductions in court charges and self-reported delinquency 25-28 months after study enrollment that are ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3382920/

Placement and Permanency Outcomes for Foster Youth The mentoring component of the FHF program provided 30 weeks of one-on-one mentoring for each child. Mentors were graduate students in social work who received ...

8. fosteringhealthyfutures.org fosteringhealthyfutures.org/programs/teen

Teen Program at Fostering Healthy Futures A 30-week mentoring program for 8th and 9th graders with current or previous child welfare involvement due to one or more adverse childhood experiences.