Building Futures Program for Young People

Overseen By Jennifer M Leveille, MPH

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Midwest Evaluation & Research

Disqualifiers: Adults, Non-incarcerated youth, others

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 7

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if the Building Futures Program can improve life outcomes for at-risk, homeless, and incarcerated youth. The program includes 14 hours of workshops on Survival Skills for Healthy Families, supported by Family and Career Coaches. The trial examines how factors such as relationships and life status influence the program's benefits. Young people aged 14-18 living in juvenile detention and attending high-needs high schools may be suitable candidates for this trial. As an unphased trial, it offers participants a unique opportunity to gain valuable skills and support that could positively impact their future.

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 Building Futures Program is safe for participants?

The Building Futures Program helps young people learn important life skills. As it is not a medical treatment, it lacks the usual safety concerns associated with medications or surgeries. Instead, it provides workshops and support from family and career coaches.

Programs like this are generally safe and well-received. Participants engage in activities to improve their skills and well-being without physical health risks. Specific safety data is unavailable because this is an educational and support program, not a medical treatment.

Prospective participants can feel confident that the program focuses on personal growth and support, with no known risks. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

The Building Futures Program is unique because it combines educational workshops with personalized support, targeting the overall well-being of young people and their families. Unlike traditional therapy or counseling options, which often focus solely on the individual, this program includes 14 hours of "Survival Skills for Healthy Families" curricula delivered across seven weekly workshops. Researchers are excited about its holistic approach, which integrates the guidance of Family Coaches and Career Coaches, offering tailored support that adapts to the specific needs of participants. This comprehensive method aims to empower young people by building critical life skills and strengthening family dynamics, potentially leading to more sustainable positive outcomes.

What evidence suggests that the Building Futures Program is effective for at-risk, homeless, and incarcerated youth?

Research has shown that programs like Building Futures, including YouthBuild, positively impact young people's employment, earnings, and education. A study on YouthBuild found it helped those without high school diplomas by providing a supportive environment that improved these areas. Additionally, evidence suggests that Positive Youth Development (PYD) programs can prevent risky behaviors and enhance social and emotional skills. These findings indicate that the Building Futures Program, which participants in this trial will receive, could assist at-risk youth by enhancing their life skills and future opportunities. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Matt D Shepherd, PhD

Principal Investigator

Midwest Evaluation & Research

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for young people aged 14-18 who are in high-needs school districts, enrolled in grades 9-12, and currently residing in a juvenile detention center. It's not open to adults over 18 or youth under 14, nor to those who aren't enrolled in school if they're not incarcerated.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a high school student in grades 9-12 in a high-needs district.

Residing in juvenile detention center

Exclusion Criteria

I am 14 years old or younger.

Not enrolled in school (non-incarcerated youth)

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Primary Services

Participants receive 14 hours of Survival Skills for Healthy Families curricula delivered over a series of 7 weekly workshops. Participants also receive support services delivered by Family Coaches and Career Coaches as needed.

7 weeks

7 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in partner relationship attitudes, financial attitudes, and employment attitudes after program completion

12 months

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Building Futures Program

Trial Overview The AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program aims to see if it helps at-risk, homeless, and incarcerated youth improve their lives. The study will look into how different factors like relationship status and demographics might affect the benefits of the program.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Building Futures Program Primary Services Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Primary Services Participants receive 14 hours of Survival Skills for Healthy Families curricula delivered over a series of 7 weekly workshops. Participants also receive support services delivered by Family Coaches and Career Coaches as needed.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Midwest Evaluation & Research

Lead Sponsor

Trials

11

Recruited

11,700+

AVANCE-Houston

Collaborator

Trials

2

Recruited

2,400+

Avance Clinical Pty Ltd.

Industry Sponsor

Trials

23

Recruited

3,700+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The day-treatment program aims to prevent severely disturbed older adolescents from becoming chronically ill young adults, focusing on improving their educational and social outcomes.

Clinical vignettes demonstrate the program's effectiveness in helping patients with histories of hospitalization and substance abuse achieve better educational achievements and enhanced social functioning.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A bridge over troubled waters: an innovative day-treatment program for older adolescents. Byalin, K., Smith, A., Chatkin, M., et al.[2015]

Citations

1. youthfuturesfoundation.org youthfuturesfoundation.org/what-we-do/flagship-programmes/building-futures/

Building Futures: testing mentoring support Building Futures draws upon our Youth Employment Toolkit, which summarises current global evidence on the impact, cost and effectiveness of common interventions ...

2. clear.dol.gov clear.dol.gov/Study/Laying-foundation-Four-year-results-national-YouthBuild-evaluation-Miller-2018

Four-year results from the national YouthBuild evaluation ... The study's objective was to examine the impact of YouthBuild on employment, earnings, and education outcomes. The study was a randomized controlled trial ...

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-youths-3-2021-75dc9

Building Futures Program for Young People What data supports the effectiveness of the Building Futures Program treatment for young people? Research shows that residential treatment programs for ...

4. youth.gov youth.gov/youth-topics/positive-youth-development/effectiveness

Effectiveness of Positive Youth Development Programs The available evidence suggests that PYD programs can prevent a variety of risk behaviors among young people and improve social and emotional outcomes. For ...

5. mdrc.org mdrc.org/sites/default/files/YouthBuild_Final_508%20compliant.pdf

Four-year Results from the National YouthBuild Evaluation YouthBuild distinguishes itself from other programs serving young people without high school diplomas through a program environment that emphasizes youth ...

6. dol.gov dol.gov/newsroom/releases/osha/osha20240213-0

Building futures: US Department of Labor promotes safety ... Building futures: US Department of Labor promotes safety to newest generation of construction workers in Southeast's largest student career ...

7. linkedin.com linkedin.com/pulse/building-safe-futures-us-construction-safety-employment-textc

U.S. Construction Safety Employment Trends to 2033 Below we examine how many safety professionals are working in construction as of 2023 and how demand is expected to grow through 2033, using ...

8. vectorsolutions.com vectorsolutions.com/resources/blogs/safety-program-for-construction-workers/

How to Create a Safety Program for Construction Workers A construction safety program is a comprehensive framework designed to proactively identify, assess, and mitigate potential hazards and risks on the job site.

9. freshfamilyco.com freshfamilyco.com/buildingfutures/

Building Futures Projects – Fresh Family LLC The Building Futures Program equips individuals with the skills, certifications, and experience needed to thrive in the construction and environmental cleanup ...

10. cpwr.com cpwr.com/wp-content/uploads/TK-Your_Construction_Safety_Program.pdf

YOUR CONSTRUCTION SAFETY PROGRAM: Providing effective safety and health preparation to students in CTE construction programs is critical to protecting future workers and ensuring they return.