Youth Participatory Action Research to Prevent Community Violence Among Black Youth

Emory University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Community Violence

Treatments: Behavioral: YEAH: Youth Empowered Advocating for Health

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other; Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT06886204

R01CE003580 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)

STUDY00006694

Details and patient eligibility

About

This behavioral intervention study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Youth Empowered Advocating for Health (YEAH) on youth prosocial behavior and aggressive behavior and assess racial identity and future orientation as mediators of prevention effects.

Full description

Structural determinants of violence such as residential segregation, concentrated poverty, and limited access to education and employment, disproportionately affect Black youth. This group subsequently faces the highest rates of violence exposure and related injuries, with homicide being a leading cause of death. In addition, the consequences of violence exposure include academic decline, psychological issues, and chronic health conditions.

It is important to address the long-lasting effects of structural violence among Black youth including emotional distress and eroding family and community ties. Current violence prevention methods often overlook the impact of structural violence.

The proposed solution is a Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) intervention, called Youth Empowered Advocating for Health (YEAH), which aims to empower Black youth and improve their outcomes. The YEAH program, developed over ten years in partnership with youth, focuses on empowering youth to explore topics of concern in their community and generate solutions. This study will evaluate YEAH's effectiveness in reducing community violence in Metro Atlanta, emphasizing community healing and empowerment as well as narrative change as vital strategies for prevention.

Enrollment: 360 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 12 to 17 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Identify their race or ethnicity as Black or African American
• Speak English
• Able to understand the project and give full consent to participate if eligible
• 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

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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360 participants in 2 patient groups

YEAH group: Immediate Intervention

Other group

Description:

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

Treatment:

Behavioral: YEAH: Youth Empowered Advocating for Health

YEAH group: Delayed

Other group

Description:

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

Treatment:

Behavioral: YEAH: Youth Empowered Advocating for Health