Violence in AdolescenceFHFNCT05743478
Forging Hopeful Futures to Reduce Youth Violence
A study testing Forging Hopeful Futures and Wellness Check-ins in people with Violence in Adolescence and Racism, run by University of Pittsburgh at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
This cluster-randomized community-partnered study will examine the effectiveness of a racial-, gender-, and economic-justice focused youth violence prevention program called Forging Hopeful Futures with youth ages 13-19. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 13 to 19 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Violence in Adolescence, Racism, Adolescent Behavior
- What is being tested?
- Forging Hopeful Futures and Wellness Check-ins
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 542 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 10 Jul 2023to 2 Aug 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 13 to 19 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Participants must be ages 13-19 (inclusive)
- Participants must speak English
- Participants must live in the participating neighborhoods, attend schools in the participating neighborhoods, or use participating facilities
- Participants must be able to provide follow up contact information
Who cannot join
- Not ages 13 -19 (inclusive)
- Do not speak English
- Do not live in the participating neighborhoods, attend schools in the participating neighborhoods, or use participating facilities
- Unable to provide follow up contact information
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
United States2 sites
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213
Population Council
Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20008
About this study
Official title: Forging Hopeful Futures: A Racial and Gender-Justice Program to Reduce Youth Violence
This cluster-randomized community-partnered study will examine the effectiveness of a racial-, gender-, and economic-justice focused youth violence prevention program called Forging Hopeful Futures with youth ages 13-19.
Read the detailed description
This community-partnered cluster randomized trial in 16 neighborhoods impacted by structural inequities and high levels of community violence in Pittsburgh, PA and urban Washington D.C. and Maryland metro areas will evaluate effectiveness of Forging Hopeful Futures with youth ages 13-19. Forging Hopeful Futures combines economic justice content from job readiness training, racial and gender justice content from gender-transformative programming, and leadership building as a novel multi-level violence prevention intervention.
- Conditions
- Violence in Adolescence, Racism, Adolescent Behavior, Coping Skills, Communication, Social, Communication, Personal
- Being tested
- Forging Hopeful Futures, Wellness Check-ins
- Medical subject headings
- Racism, Adolescent Behavior, Communication, Coitus
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Forging Hopeful FuturesBehavioural
Forging Hopeful Futures is a 12 session curriculum for youth ages 13-19 that uses strengths-based and healing-centered approaches to critically examine structural forces that perpetuate racial and gender injustice, develop leadership skills in promoting gender equitable relationship norms, non-violent practices, and upstander skills, and enhance economic justice through job skills and employment opportunities. Through 12 sessions (3 hours/session) over a 6 to 12 week period, Forging Hopeful Futures combines racial, gender, and economic justice content with leadership development and workforce development opportunities.
Wellness Check-insBehavioural
Individual wellness checks will occur through a strengths-based telephone conversation focused on wellness resources. Youth will be provided with tailored resources based on needs identified during the call. Youth will be offered the option for additional phone check-ins to coordinate access to community resources and connection to individualized behavioral health supports if desired.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Forging Hopeful Futures | Experimental | Forging Hopeful Futures uses a group discussion format with activities that explore race, gender, class, identity, relationships, and multiple forms of violence. Forging Hopeful Futures is a 12 session curriculum for youth ages 13-19 that uses strengths-based and healing-centered approaches to critically examine structural forces that perpetuate racial and gender injustice, develop leadership skills in promoting gender equitable relationship norms, non-violent practices, and upstander skills, and enhance economic justice through job skills and employment opportunities. Through 12 sessions (3 hours/session) over a 6 to 12 week period, Forging Hopeful Futures combines racial, gender, and economic justice content with leadership development and workforce development opportunities. Receives: Behavioral: Forging Hopeful Futures |
| Wellness Check-ins | Active comparator | Youth in neighborhoods randomized to the control group will receive individual wellness checks. This will occur through a strengths-based telephone conversation focused on wellness resources. Youth will be provided with tailored resources based on needs identified during the call. Youth will be offered the option for additional phone check-ins to coordinate access to community resources and connection to individualized behavioral health supports if desired. Receives: Behavioral: Wellness Check-ins |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in recent violence perpetration at 3 months
The primary outcome will be past 3-month youth violence perpetration. This will be measured by self-report on 3 items adapted from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, using a past-3 month reporting interval: 1) physical fighting ("How many times were you in a physical fight?"), 2) threatening someone with a weapon ("How many times have you threatened someone with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club?"), and 3) injuring someone with a weapon ("How many times have you injured someone with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club?"). Each item will be assessed with 8 frequency response categories from 0 times to 12 or more times. A summary score will capture the past 3-month incidence of all 3 behaviors (possible range: 0- 21;lower score indicates better outcome)
Measured: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Secondary outcomes (9)
Change in recent violence perpetration at 6 months
This will be measured using the same 3 items outlined in the primary outcome, but assessed as a change from baseline to 6 months after program conclusion. This includes self-report on 3 items adapted from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, using a past-3 month reporting interval: 1) physical fighting ("How many times were you in a physical fight?"), 2) threatening someone with a weapon ("How many times have you threatened someone with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club?"), and 3) injuring someone with a weapon ("How many times have you injured someone with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club?"). Each item will be assessed with 8 frequency response categories from 0 times to 12 or more times. A summary score will capture the past 3-month incidence of all 3 behaviors (possible range: 0- 21;lower score indicates better outcome)
Measured: At baseline and six months after program conclusion
Change in relationship abuse at 3 months
10 abusive behavior items, modified from Conflict Tactics Scale-2, assess for perpetration against dating partners or towards peers. Summary score of any recent use of violence in the past 3 months (physical, sexual and emotional relationship abuse) calculated as one point for each behavior then summed (possible range: 0-10; lower score indicates better outcome).
Measured: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Change in sexual violence perpetration at 3 months
4 sexual violence perpetration items assess recent sexual violence perpetration (any/none). Summary score of any recent sexual violence perpetration in the past 3 months, calculated as one point for each behavior then summed (possible range: 0-4; lower score indicates better outcome).
Measured: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Change in cyber dating abuse and peer abuse
8 items assess using technology to perpetrate abuse against a dating partner or peers. Summary score of any recent use of technology to perpetrate abuse against a dating partner or peers in the past 3 months, calculated as one point for each behavior then summed (possible range: 0-8; lower score indicates better outcome).
Measured: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Change in bullying perpetration
6 items to indicate frequency of bullying perpetration on 4-point frequency scale. Mean score of any recent bullying perpetration in the past 3 months, calculated as a mean score across the 6 items (possible range: 0-3; lower score indicates better outcome).
Measured: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Change in cyberbullying perpetration
4-item scale adapted from a cyberbullying perpetration scale, assessing perpetration frequency on a 4-point frequency scale. Mean score of recent cyberbullying perpetration in the past 3 months, calculated as a mean across the 4 items (possible range:0-3; lower score indicated better outcome).
Measured: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Change in weapon carrying
1 item adapted from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey asking about frequency of carrying a weapon in the past 30 days (measured on a 5-point frequency scale from 0 days to 6 or more days; possible range: 0-4; lower score indicates better outcome).
Measured: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Change in homophobic teasing
5-item scale with participants reporting how often they have perpetrated listed behaviors in the past 3 months (each item measured on a 6-point frequency scale from 0 times to 7 or more times). Mean score of recent homophobic teasing, calculated as a mean across the 5 items (possible range: 0-5; lower score indicates better outcome).
Measured: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Change in sexual harassment
5 items assess frequency of perpetrating sexual harassing behaviors in the past 3 months, assessing perpetration frequency on a 5-point frequency scale. Mean score of recent sexual harassment perpetration in the past 3 months, calculated as a mean across the 5 items (possible range:0-4; lower score indicated better outcome).
Measured: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Feb 2023
- Study start10 Jul 2023
- Primary completion2 Aug 2026
- Study completion2 Aug 2026
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Violence in AdolescenceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of PittsburghThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Model description
- This community-partnered cluster-randomized study will examine the effectiveness of a racial, gender, and economic justice focused youth violence prevention program called Forging Hopeful Futures among youth ages 13-19.The study will be located in 16 neighborhoods with concentrated disadvantage ('clusters') across Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and urban Washington D.C. and Maryland metro areas randomized either to receive the "Forging Hopeful Futures" program (i.e., intervention neighborhood, n=8) or wellness check-ins (i.e. control neighborhood, n=8).
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 542 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Pittsburgh
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Population Council, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Alison Culyba, University of Pittsburgh
- Investigators
- Alison Culyba, MD PhD MPH, Principal investigator, University of Pittsburgh
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05743478
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY22080150
- Other IDs
- R01CE003502
- Acronym
- FHF
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 13 Feb 2023
- Last updated
- 3 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: IDP data will be made available only to selected researchers who apply for access. The application must document a legitimate public health use or research question for the data, and the applicant must sign a pledge to keep all data private and to make no attempt to identify individual subjects. Access can be requested for all of the individual participant data collected during the trial, after deidentification. We will use data standards that ensure all released data have appropriate documentation that describes the method of collection, what the data represent, and potential limitations for use. Along with restricted use of the IDP, we will make available a comprehensive data dictionary that details all data elements included in the dataset, and sources of validated instruments. This use of the data is consistent with the planned language of the voluntary consent for participation agreed and in accordance with IRB policy.
Publications
Culyba AJ, Pulerwitz J, Ajith A, Barrett S, Blankenship K, Chin A, Hanner CD, Henry C, Klotz S, Koranteng-Yorke N, Minter K, Mixson R, Mumin D, Sabia A, Sierra E, Saur N, Wilson T, Gottert A. Forging Hopeful Futures Community-Partnered Violence Prevention Intervention: Protocol for a Comparative Effectiveness Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2026 Apr 29;15:e90689. doi: 10.2196/90689.
PubMed 42054701
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 3 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Forging Hopeful Futures: A Racial and Gender-Justice Program to Reduce Youth Violence
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05743478
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FHF / STUDY22080150
- Conditions
- Violence in Adolescence, Racism, Adolescent Behavior, Coping Skills, Communication, Social, Communication, Personal
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 542 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PittsburghUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Population Council, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Study start
- 10 Jul 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 2 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Study completion
- 2 Aug 2026 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Feb 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This cluster-randomized community-partnered study will examine the effectiveness of a racial-, gender-, and economic-justice focused youth violence prevention program called Forging Hopeful Futures with youth ages 13-19.
Detailed description
This community-partnered cluster randomized trial in 16 neighborhoods impacted by structural inequities and high levels of community violence in Pittsburgh, PA and urban Washington D.C. and Maryland metro areas will evaluate effectiveness of Forging Hopeful Futures with youth ages 13-19. Forging Hopeful Futures combines economic justice content from job readiness training, racial and gender justice content from gender-transformative programming, and leadership building as a novel multi-level violence prevention intervention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Prevention
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
- Model description
- This community-partnered cluster-randomized study will examine the effectiveness of a racial, gender, and economic justice focused youth violence prevention program called Forging Hopeful Futures among youth ages 13-19.The study will be located in 16 neighborhoods with concentrated disadvantage ('clusters') across Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and urban Washington D.C. and Maryland metro areas randomized either to receive the "Forging Hopeful Futures" program (i.e., intervention neighborhood, n=8) or wellness check-ins (i.e. control neighborhood, n=8).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Forging Hopeful Futures | Experimental | Behavioral: Forging Hopeful FuturesForging Hopeful Futures uses a group discussion format with activities that explore race, gender, class, identity, relationships, and multiple forms of violence. Forging Hopeful Futures is a 12 session curriculum for youth ages 13-19 that uses strengths-based and healing-centered approaches to critically examine structural forces that perpetuate racial and gender injustice, develop leadership skills in promoting gender equitable relationship norms, non-violent practices, and upstander skills, and enhance economic justice through job skills and employment opportunities. Through 12 sessions (3 hours/session) over a 6 to 12 week period, Forging Hopeful Futures combines racial, gender, and economic justice content with leadership development and workforce development opportunities. |
| Wellness Check-ins | Active comparator | Behavioral: Wellness Check-insYouth in neighborhoods randomized to the control group will receive individual wellness checks. This will occur through a strengths-based telephone conversation focused on wellness resources. Youth will be provided with tailored resources based on needs identified during the call. Youth will be offered the option for additional phone check-ins to coordinate access to community resources and connection to individualized behavioral health supports if desired. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 13 to 19 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Participants must be ages 13-19 (inclusive)
- Participants must speak English
- Participants must live in the participating neighborhoods, attend schools in the participating neighborhoods, or use participating facilities
- Participants must be able to provide follow up contact information
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Not ages 13 -19 (inclusive)
- Do not speak English
- Do not live in the participating neighborhoods, attend schools in the participating neighborhoods, or use participating facilities
- Unable to provide follow up contact information
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Forging Hopeful FuturesForging Hopeful Futures is a 12 session curriculum for youth ages 13-19 that uses strengths-based and healing-centered approaches to critically examine structural forces that perpetuate racial and gender injustice, develop leadership skills in promoting gender equitable relationship norms, non-violent practices, and upstander skills, and enhance economic justice through job skills and employment opportunities. Through 12 sessions (3 hours/session) over a 6 to 12 week period, Forging Hopeful Futures combines racial, gender, and economic justice content with leadership development and workforce development opportunities. | Behavioural | Forging Hopeful Futures |
| Wellness Check-insIndividual wellness checks will occur through a strengths-based telephone conversation focused on wellness resources. Youth will be provided with tailored resources based on needs identified during the call. Youth will be offered the option for additional phone check-ins to coordinate access to community resources and connection to individualized behavioral health supports if desired. | Behavioural | Wellness Check-ins |
Primary outcome
Change in recent violence perpetration at 3 months
Time frame: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
The primary outcome will be past 3-month youth violence perpetration. This will be measured by self-report on 3 items adapted from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, using a past-3 month reporting interval: 1) physical fighting ("How many times were you in a physical fight?"), 2) threatening someone with a weapon ("How many times have you threatened someone with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club?"), and 3) injuring someone with a weapon ("How many times have you injured someone with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club?"). Each item will be assessed with 8 frequency response categories from 0 times to 12 or more times. A summary score will capture the past 3-month incidence of all 3 behaviors (possible range: 0- 21;lower score indicates better outcome)
9 secondary outcomes
Change in recent violence perpetration at 6 months
Time frame: At baseline and six months after program conclusion
Change in relationship abuse at 3 months
Time frame: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Change in sexual violence perpetration at 3 months
Time frame: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Change in cyber dating abuse and peer abuse
Time frame: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Change in bullying perpetration
Time frame: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Change in cyberbullying perpetration
Time frame: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Change in weapon carrying
Time frame: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Change in homophobic teasing
Time frame: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Change in sexual harassment
Time frame: At baseline and three months after program conclusion
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 3 Sep 2026.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42054701Culyba AJ, Pulerwitz J, Ajith A, Barrett S, Blankenship K, Chin A, Hanner CD, Henry C, Klotz S, Koranteng-Yorke N, Minter K, Mixson R, Mumin D, Sabia A, Sierra E, Saur N, Wilson T, Gottert A. Forging Hopeful Futures Community-Partnered Violence Prevention Intervention: Protocol for a Comparative Effectiveness Trial. JMIR Res Protoc. 2026 Apr 29;15:e90689. doi: 10.2196/90689.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. IDP data will be made available only to selected researchers who apply for access. The application must document a legitimate public health use or research question for the data, and the applicant must sign a pledge to keep all data private and to make no attempt to identify individual subjects. Access can be requested for all of the individual participant data collected during the trial, after deidentification. We will use data standards that ensure all released data have appropriate documentation that describes the method of collection, what the data represent, and potential limitations for use. Along with restricted use of the IDP, we will make available a comprehensive data dictionary that details all data elements included in the dataset, and sources of validated instruments. This use of the data is consistent with the planned language of the voluntary consent for participation agreed and in accordance with IRB policy.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Alison Culyba, MD PhD MPH principal investigator
University of Pittsburgh
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Forging Hopeful Futures and Wellness Check-ins in people with Violence in Adolescence and Racism, run by University of Pittsburgh at 2 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 3 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in recent violence perpetration at 3 months (time frame: At baseline and three months after program conclusion). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT05743478, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 3 Sep 2026.