Youth Empowered Advocating for Health for Community Violence

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Tiffaney Renfro

Age: < 18

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Emory University

Disqualifiers: Non-English speakers

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 11

360 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a program called Youth Empowered Advocating for Health (YEAH) to determine if it can help young people enhance positive behaviors and reduce aggression. The program includes activities such as creating a photovoice project and performing a theater piece about community violence. The trial aims to understand whether changes in how youth perceive their racial identity and future can influence these outcomes. It is well-suited for Black or African American youth who speak English and are involved with organizations like Boys and Girls Clubs. As an unphased trial, it provides a unique opportunity for participants to contribute to innovative research that could positively impact their communities.

Do I need to stop taking 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 the YEAH intervention is safe for youth?

Research shows that the Youth Empowered Advocating for Health (YEAH) program is a behavioral initiative designed to help young people by improving social skills and reducing aggressive behavior. The program includes activities such as group projects and community events. Since YEAH focuses on behavior rather than medication or physical treatments, it typically presents fewer safety concerns.

Studies on similar programs have found them to be generally well-received. Participants often feel more involved and empowered without experiencing major negative effects. The emphasis on community and personal growth fosters a safe environment for everyone involved.

This trial is labeled "Not Applicable" in terms of clinical phases, indicating that the program is not new or risky like an untested drug. This suggests that YEAH is likely safe for participants, as it relies on well-known methods. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the Youth Empowered Advocating for Health (YEAH) trial because it takes a unique approach to addressing community violence through youth participation. Unlike traditional intervention methods that focus on external enforcement or therapy, YEAH empowers young people to explore and express their perspectives on the root causes of violence using creative tools like photovoice projects and theater performances. This method not only raises awareness but actively involves youth in crafting solutions, making it a potentially transformative way to drive community change and engage the next generation in advocacy.

What evidence suggests that the YEAH intervention is effective for improving youth behavior?

Research has shown that the Youth Empowered Advocating for Health (YEAH) program might help reduce violence in communities. In this trial, participants in the YEAH group: Immediate Intervention will engage in activities such as photovoice projects, where youth express their views on community issues, and theater performances to share these insights. Early results suggest that YEAH can encourage young people to act in ways that help others and decrease aggressive behavior. The program aims to tackle the root causes of violence, helping participants feel more in control and develop a positive sense of self. Meanwhile, those in the YEAH group: Delayed will receive the intervention after data collection is complete with the immediate intervention group. ^{2 3 5 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Briana Wood-Jaeger, PhD

Principal Investigator

Emory University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for English-speaking Black or African American youth who can understand the project and consent to participate. They must have a parent or guardian's consent and be members of Boys and Girls Clubs or similar organizations.

Inclusion Criteria

Identify their race or ethnicity as Black or African American

Have a parent or guardian provide consent for them to participate

Member of Boys and Girls Clubs or other Youth Serving Organization (YEAH immediate intervention and delayed intervention groups)

Exclusion Criteria

Non-English speakers

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Immediate Intervention

Participants engage in the YEAH intervention, including a photovoice project and theater performance to address community violence

8 weeks

Baseline, Week 8

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in prosocial and aggressive behavior, community violence exposure, racial identity, and future orientation

3 months

Month 3

Delayed Intervention

Participants in the waitlist control group receive the YEAH intervention after data collection with the immediate intervention group

8 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• YEAH: Youth Empowered Advocating for Health

Trial Overview The study tests 'Youth Empowered Advocating for Health (YEAH),' focusing on increasing prosocial behavior, reducing aggression, and examining how racial identity and future orientation may influence these behaviors.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: YEAH group: Immediate Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

YEAH is a YPAR intervention that involves conducting a photovoice project to explore youth perspectives on the structural determinants of community violence and developing a theater performance to share the key themes and action priorities generated from photovoice with youth and adults in their community. The team will conduct individual-level surveys at baseline, 8 weeks, and 3 months to assess individual-level impacts of YEAH on youth participants

Group II: YEAH group: Delayed Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Youth who are randomized to waitlist control will be offered the 8-session YEAH intervention after data collection is complete with the YEAH immediate intervention group

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Emory University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,735

Recruited

2,605,000+

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Collaborator

Trials

902

Recruited

25,020,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

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]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06886204

Youth Participatory Action Research to Prevent Community ... This study will evaluate YEAH's effectiveness in reducing community violence in Metro Atlanta, emphasizing community healing and empowerment as ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/youth-empowered-advocating-for-health-for-community-violence-654c8

Youth Empowered Advocating for Health for Community ... This suggests that the YEAH treatment, which also focuses on youth empowerment, may be effective in addressing community violence. Show more ...

3. ctv.veeva.com ctv.veeva.com/study/youth-participatory-action-research-to-prevent-community-violence-among-black-youth

Youth Participatory Action Research to Prevent Community ... This study will evaluate YEAH's effectiveness in reducing community violence in Metro Atlanta, emphasizing community healing and empowerment ...

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

Community Violence Prevention Resource for Action of violence such as child abuse and neglect, teen dating violence, sexual ... Social and structural determinants of health and youth violence: Shifting the.

5. publichealth.jhu.edu publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/solutions/community-violence-intervention

Community Violence Intervention | Center for Gun Violence ... Community violence intervention programs are designed to reduce gun violence in the most impacted neighborhoods through outreach by credible messengers.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9607836/

Youth Empowered Advocating for Health (YEAH): Facilitating ... Systematic review: Exposure to community violence and physical health outcomes in youth. Journal of Pediatric Psychology,42, 364–378 ...

7. researchgate.net researchgate.net/publication/364755595_Youth_Empowered_Advocating_for_Health_YEAH_Facilitating_Partnerships_Between_Prevention_Scientists_and_Black_Youth_to_Promote_Health_Equity

(PDF) Youth Empowered Advocating for Health (YEAH) We outline the development, implementation, and expansion of YEAH as a tool for promoting optimal health among Black communities. Lastly, we discuss lessons ...