Future Leaders Program: Testing a Youth Civic Leadership, Engagement, and Mindfulness Program

Launched by BOSTON UNIVERSITY CHARLES RIVER CAMPUS · Dec 12, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

The Future Leaders Program is a study designed to explore a new program called LEAP (Leadership, Engagement, and youth Activism Program with Mindfulness) that aims to help young people, especially those from communities of color, develop leadership skills and improve their mental health. This program focuses on providing meaningful opportunities for youth to engage in their communities while also practicing mindfulness, which means being aware of your thoughts and feelings in a positive way. The goal is to see if this program can help improve the overall wellbeing of young people and reduce health disparities in these communities.

To participate in this study, young people aged 14 and older who are in grades 9-12 at specific partner schools in Massachusetts or Chicago can sign up, but they need permission from a parent or guardian if they are under 18. Participants will be expected to attend all sessions of the program, where they will learn valuable skills and connect with others. It’s important to note that if someone has already been part of the program’s pilot phase or cannot commit to attending all sessions, they will not be eligible to participate. This study is currently recruiting, and it offers a great chance for youth to make a positive impact while also taking care of their mental health.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Adolescents ages 14 and older in grades 9-12 during the Fall/Winter or in grades 9-11 during the Spring
• • Enrolled in a partner site in MA or Chicago, Il
• • Adolescents are only included with parent consent and youth assent if they are under the age of 18. Adolescents at least 18 years old can provide consent.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • They participated in the pilot phase (UG3)
• • They cannot commit to participation in the full study (e.g., attendance at all intervention sessions)
• • They are not in grades 9-12 at a partner site
• • Parent/guardian has a preferred consent language other than English or Spanish.