Community ViolenceNCT06886204
Youth Participatory Action Research to Prevent Community Violence Among Black Youth
A study testing YEAH: Youth Empowered Advocating for Health in people with Community Violence, run by Emory University at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
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. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 12 to 17 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Community Violence
- What is being tested?
- YEAH: Youth Empowered Advocating for Health
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 360 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 27 Feb 2025to May 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 12 to 17 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child
Who may be able to join
- 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)
Who cannot join
- Non-English speakers
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Tiffaney Renfro contact
United States2 sites, 2 recruiting
- Recruiting
Emory University
Atlanta, Georgia, 30322
Briana Woods-Jaeger, PhD, 404-727-8295, bwoodsjaeger@emory.edu
- Recruiting
Boys & Girls Club of Metro Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia, 30329
Briana Woods-Jaeger, PhD, bwoodsjaeger@emory.edu
Tiffaney LaShawn Renfro, twilli7@emory.edu
About this study
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.
Read the detailed 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.
- Conditions
- Community Violence
- Being tested
- YEAH: Youth Empowered Advocating for Health
- Keywords
- Youth Participatory Action Research, Youth Empowered Advocating for Health, Community violence
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
YEAH: Youth Empowered Advocating for HealthBehavioural
Also called YEAH
The Youth Empowered Advocating for Health (YEAH) program is a Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) intervention aimed at addressing community violence by fostering youth and community healing. It combines photovoice and theater arts performances.
In photovoice sessions, Black youth explore structural determinants of community violence through a participatory research process. Guided by trained facilitators, youth learn the method after obtaining parental consent and youth assent. Using the structured SHOWED framework, they analyze and discuss images, generating ideas for social action. During the photovoice sessions, photo assignments will be completed, with discussions recorded, analyzed for themes, and shared for validation.
The final four sessions will integrate these themes into theater arts performances, allowing youth to creatively express insights and experiences, fostering empowerment and social change.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| YEAH group: Immediate Intervention | Other | 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 Receives: Behavioral: YEAH: Youth Empowered Advocating for Health |
| YEAH group: Delayed | Other | 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 Receives: Behavioral: YEAH: Youth Empowered Advocating for Health |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in prosocial behavior: Multidimensional Well-being Assessment Scale
Youth prosocial behavior will be measured using a scale developed by Grills et al. (2016) which assesses youth endorsement of behaviors that build connections with others in the past 2 weeks (α=.92). This 12-item scale was developed from items from the Multidimensional Well-being Assessment Scale, and uses a Likert-type scale (1=never; 5=always), with higher mean scores indicating greater likelihood of engaging in behaviors that reflect care and concern for others
Measured: Baseline, Week 8, Month 3
Change in aggressive behavior: California Healthy Kids Survey adaptation
Youth aggressive behavior will be measured using 10 items adapted from the California Healthy Kids Survey. This measure asks participants how often they engaged in behaviors such as yelling at teachers, hitting or punching someone, or teasing another student in the past month (α=.88). These items assess the frequency of behaviors with 5 response categories (0,1,2,3,4+).
Measured: Baseline, Week 8, Month 3
Change in community violence exposure: Community Experiences Questionnaire
This will be measured with 14 items (items 12-25) from the Community Experiences Questionnaire assessing exposure to violence by witnessing (CEQ-WIT). This scale asks the respondent to rank the frequency with which they have experienced each item on a 4-point rating scale (1=never, 2=once, 3=a few times, 4=lots of times). Scores are calculated by averaging respondents' ratings for the scale
Measured: Baseline, Week 8, Month 3
Secondary outcomes (2)
Racial identity: multidimensional inventory of Black identity-teen (MIBI-T)score
Racial identity will be measured using the multidimensional inventory of Black identity-teen (MIBI-T), including centrality, private regard, public regard, nationalism, humanism, assimilation, and oppressed minority. The scale includes 21 items on a Likert-type scale (1=really disagree; 5=agree), with higher mean scores indicating more positive racial identity
Measured: Baseline, Week 8, Month 3
Future orientation: Hemingway Measure of Adolescent Connectedness
This will be measured using 4 items selected from the Hemingway Measure of Adolescent Connectedness as used by Grills et al. (2016). These items assess participants' orientation toward the future by rating their expectations and aspirations on a 5-point Likert-type scale (1=strongly disagree; 5=strongly agree), with higher scores indicating more positive expectations for the future (α=.84).
Measured: Baseline, Month 3
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 Mar 2025
- Study start27 Feb 2025
- Primary completionMay 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionMay 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Community ViolenceStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Emory UniversityThe 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
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 360 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Emory University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Briana Woods-Jaeger, Emory University
- Investigators
- Briana Wood-Jaeger, PhD, Principal investigator, Emory University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06886204
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- STUDY00006694
- Other IDs
- R01CE003580
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 4 Mar 2025
- Last updated
- 31 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Yes: De-identified data will be available upon request with data use agreements in place
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 31 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Youth Participatory Action Research to Prevent Community Violence Among Black Youth
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06886204
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- STUDY00006694
- Conditions
- Community Violence
- Keywords
- Youth Participatory Action Research, Youth Empowered Advocating for Health, Community violence
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 360 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Emory UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Study start
- 27 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- May 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- May 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 Mar 2025 (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 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.
Detailed 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.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Health services research
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| YEAH group: Immediate Intervention | Other | Behavioral: YEAH: Youth Empowered Advocating for HealthYEAH 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 |
| YEAH group: Delayed | Other | Behavioral: YEAH: Youth Empowered Advocating for HealthYouth 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 may qualify
- Ages
- 12 to 17 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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)
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Non-English speakers
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 |
|---|---|---|
| YEAH: Youth Empowered Advocating for HealthAlso: YEAHThe Youth Empowered Advocating for Health (YEAH) program is a Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR) intervention aimed at addressing community violence by fostering youth and community healing. It combines photovoice and theater arts performances. In photovoice sessions, Black youth explore structural determinants of community violence through a participatory research process. Guided by trained facilitators, youth learn the method after obtaining parental consent and youth assent. Using the structured SHOWED framework, they analyze and discuss images, generating ideas for social action. During the photovoice sessions, photo assignments will be completed, with discussions recorded, analyzed for themes, and shared for validation. The final four sessions will integrate these themes into theater arts performances, allowing youth to creatively express insights and experiences, fostering empowerment and social change. | Behavioural | YEAH group: Delayed, YEAH group: Immediate Intervention |
Primary outcome
Change in prosocial behavior: Multidimensional Well-being Assessment Scale
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8, Month 3
Youth prosocial behavior will be measured using a scale developed by Grills et al. (2016) which assesses youth endorsement of behaviors that build connections with others in the past 2 weeks (α=.92). This 12-item scale was developed from items from the Multidimensional Well-being Assessment Scale, and uses a Likert-type scale (1=never; 5=always), with higher mean scores indicating greater likelihood of engaging in behaviors that reflect care and concern for others
Change in aggressive behavior: California Healthy Kids Survey adaptation
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8, Month 3
Youth aggressive behavior will be measured using 10 items adapted from the California Healthy Kids Survey. This measure asks participants how often they engaged in behaviors such as yelling at teachers, hitting or punching someone, or teasing another student in the past month (α=.88). These items assess the frequency of behaviors with 5 response categories (0,1,2,3,4+).
Change in community violence exposure: Community Experiences Questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8, Month 3
This will be measured with 14 items (items 12-25) from the Community Experiences Questionnaire assessing exposure to violence by witnessing (CEQ-WIT). This scale asks the respondent to rank the frequency with which they have experienced each item on a 4-point rating scale (1=never, 2=once, 3=a few times, 4=lots of times). Scores are calculated by averaging respondents' ratings for the scale
2 secondary outcomes
Racial identity: multidimensional inventory of Black identity-teen (MIBI-T)score
Time frame: Baseline, Week 8, Month 3
Future orientation: Hemingway Measure of Adolescent Connectedness
Time frame: Baseline, Month 3
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 31 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Yes. De-identified data will be available upon request with data use agreements in place
Related trials for Community Violence
Active, not recruiting
Supportive Hospital-Based Intervention for Firearm Trauma
Gun Violence Prevention, Adolescent Behavior
Active, not recruiting
Recovery Legal Care Pilot
Firearm Injury, Economic Problems
Enrolling by invitation
Evaluation of Violence Prevention Strategies to Prevent and Reduce Community Levels of Youth Violence
Violence, Exposure to Violent Event
Active, not recruiting
Community Resiliency Collective Efficacy Intervention
Violence, Physical, Violence, Non-accidental
Enrolling by invitation
Rise up! A Youth-Informed Video Program For Young Children To Stay Safe From Community Violence
Firearm Injury
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.
Tiffaney Renfro contact
Briana Wood-Jaeger, PhD principal investigator
Emory University
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing YEAH: Youth Empowered Advocating for Health in people with Community Violence, run by Emory University 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 5 inclusion and 1 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 31 Aug 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Briana Woods-Jaeger, PhD (404-727-8295, bwoodsjaeger@emory.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in prosocial behavior: Multidimensional Well-being Assessment Scale (time frame: Baseline, Week 8, Month 3). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 31 Aug 2026.