Community Intervention for Adolescent Violence

(SOAR Trial)

Overseen By Phillip N Smith, PhD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of South Alabama

Disqualifiers: Unable to give assent, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to test a community-level program designed to reduce violence and improve well-being among African American youth. The program, called the Integrated Community-Level Intervention, combines culturally responsive practices with schoolwide behavioral support to promote fairness and safety in schools. It specifically targets students facing challenges related to violence or at risk for mental health issues like suicidality. Youth attending a participating school who understand English are eligible to join. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to innovative solutions that could enhance community safety and youth well-being.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

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 African American youth?

Research has shown that the Strengthening Opportunities for Achievement and Resilience (SOAR) program helps reduce violence and suicidal thoughts among middle school students. SOAR focuses on building positive relationships and support within schools. As a community-level program, it aims to improve students' environments and experiences without medication. Programs like this typically have a low risk of harm because they emphasize education and behavior change.

Studies of similar programs have reported no serious side effects, suggesting that SOAR is likely safe for participants. The program uses culturally-responsive practices, considering the specific needs and backgrounds of the students. This approach increases the likelihood that participants will find the program both helpful and safe. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Integrated Community-Level Intervention called Strengthening Opportunities for Achievement and Resilience (SOAR) because it offers a fresh approach to addressing adolescent violence. Unlike typical interventions that might focus solely on punitive measures or individual therapy, SOAR combines Culturally-Responsive Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (C-SWPBS) with Culturally Responsive Practices (CRP) to create a holistic, school-level solution. This year-long program is designed to not only reduce violence but also foster an environment that supports students' overall achievement and resilience, making it a comprehensive strategy that could transform school communities.

What evidence suggests that this intervention is effective for reducing violence among African American youth?

Research has shown that community programs can help reduce violence and suicidal thoughts in teenagers. This trial tests the SOAR program as an intervention to achieve these outcomes by encouraging positive relationships and using culturally aware methods in schools. Past projects, such as the Aban Aya Youth Project, demonstrated that school involvement can reduce violence among young people. This suggests that the SOAR program, which uses similar methods, could help African American youth by reducing violence and improving their quality of life. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for African American youth attending participating schools, school personnel employed at these schools, and police from participating precincts. Participants must understand English and be able to give assent or consent.

Inclusion Criteria

Able to understand spoken or written English

School personnel currently employed at a participating school

I am able to understand and agree to participate.

Exclusion Criteria

I am unable to understand or agree to the study on my own.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Implementation of the Strengthening Opportunities for Achievement and Resilience (SOAR) program, including Culturally-Responsive Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports and Culturally Responsive Practices

12 months

Ongoing school-based activities

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in violence-related behaviors, perceptions of police, and other outcomes through surveys and archival data

5 years

Data collection every three months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Integrated Community-Level Intervention

Trial Overview The study tests a multisystemic prevention program aimed at reducing violence and suicide among African American youth by promoting equity in education and law enforcement systems.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Strengthening Opportunities for Achievement and Resilience Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Strengthening Opportunities for Achievement and Resilience (SOAR) is an intervention condition consisting of both Culturally-Responsive Schoolwide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (C-SWPBS) and Culturally Responsive Practices (CRP). It is a year-long, school-level intervention.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of South Alabama

Lead Sponsor

Trials

44

Recruited

15,800+

National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)

Collaborator

Trials

473

Recruited

1,374,000+

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Collaborator

Trials

2,896

Recruited

8,053,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

Citations

1. southalabama.edu southalabama.edu/specialprojects/soar/

SOAR (Strengthening Opportunities for Achievement and ... The goal of SOAR is to reduce violence and suicidality in middle school students. How will SOAR do that? SOAR is working to build positive relationships ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11321925/

Challenges in Evaluating a Community-Level Intervention to ... We propose a multiple baseline experimental design to evaluate the impact of a community-level youth violence and suicidality prevention strategy.

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-violence-in-adolescence-9-2022-f1f52

Community Intervention for Adolescent Violence (SOAR Trial) Research shows that community-based interventions, like the Aban Aya Youth Project, can help reduce violent behaviors in adolescents by involving schools, ...

4. icjia.illinois.gov icjia.illinois.gov/researchhub/articles/community-violence-prevention-intervention-and-suppression

Community Violence Prevention, Intervention, and ... This article uses this framework to provide examples of evidence-based practices and programs that strengthen youth resilience and build social capital and work ...

5. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/380518045_Challenges_in_Evaluating_a_Community-Level_Intervention_to_Address_Root_Causes_of_Youth_Violence

Challenges in Evaluating a Community-Level Intervention ... We propose a multiple baseline experimental design to evaluate the impact of a community-level youth violence and suicidality prevention strategy. A multiple ...

6. southserves.southalabama.edu southserves.southalabama.edu/agency/detail/?agency_id=164144

SOAR (Strengthening Opportunities for Achievement and ... SOAR is a multi-system intervention and research program that aims to reduce youth violence and suicidality. We work with school personnel at four middle ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5815838/

Connecting the Dots: State Health Department Approaches ... This includes integrating data sources on violence outcomes (eg, child abuse and neglect, suicide) as well as risk and protective factors (eg, affordable ...

8. rstreet.org rstreet.org/research/intervention-over-incarceration-a-limited-government-approach-to-youth-violence/

Intervention over Incarceration: A Limited Government ... Nonfatal violence is even more widespread, with the rate of violent victimization for persons ages 12 to 17 more than doubling from 2021 to 2022 ...