Evaluation of Violence Prevention Strategies to Prevent and Reduce Community Levels of Youth Violence

Launched by VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · Dec 18, 2023

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study in Richmond, Virginia is testing a community-wide plan to prevent youth violence. It combines three strategies—PAR-SEED Method (a youth-adult planning approach), PAR-Youth Voices (a youth-focused PAR for high school students), and Emerging Leaders (a hospital-based program with home and community supports). Two communities start the interventions in a staggered, randomized order, while a third community serves as a no-intervention comparison and receives training after the study. The goal is to see if these strategies, together or separately, can lower youth violence and improve related skills and attitudes.

Who can join? The study looks for people living in the intervention communities who fall into these groups: youths aged 12-17 and their parents for the PAR-Seed program; high-risk youths aged 14-24 for the Emerging Leaders track; and high school students (grades 9-12) for the PAR-Youth Voices track. Exclusions include those with limited English and people living outside the study areas. Participants will complete surveys at the start and again after several months (about 6 months for most outcomes; about 17 weeks for measures of community engagement and leadership). The trial is currently enrolling and is expected to wrap up around 2026, with results measured through crime and violence data as well as changes in youth attitudes and community involvement.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• PAR-SEED Method:
• Inclusion criteria:
• • Community residents, youth aged 12-17 and parents, living in one of the intervention communities (Community A and Community B)
• • Stakeholders who reside or work in one of the intervention communities (Community A and Community B) or who contribute other expertise
• • Be able to consent/assent
• Exlcusion criteria:
• • Those who do not meet the inclusion criteria
• • Those with limited English proficiency
• Emerging Leaders:
• Inclusion criteria:
• • Violently injured or high-risk youth that have either received or are receiving treatment or had a family member or relative receive treatment at VCU Health, or who live in one of the intervention communities, or have been referred by a community partner.
• • Aged 14 through 24
• • Reside in one of the two intervention communities (Community A and Community B) or in the control community (Community C)
• • Be able to consent/assent
• Exclusion criteria:
• • Youth younger than 14 and older than 24 will be excluded.
• • Prisoners will be excluded.
• • Those living outside our community boundaries will be excluded.
• PAR/Youth Voices:
• Inclusion criteria:
• • Youth in grades 9 through 12
• • Reside in one of the intervention communities (Community A and Community B) and attend the designated high school(s) serving that community (Community A or Community B)
• • Be able to consent/assent
• Exclusion criteria:
• • Youth in grades below 9th
• • Youth who have graduated from high school
• • Youth recruited for School A, cannot reside in the catchment areas for Communities B or C. Youth recruited for School B, cannot reside in the catchment areas for Communities A or C. Youth recruited for School C, cannot reside in the catchment areas for Communities A or B.