Enhancing an Existing Prevention Strategy to Reduce Intentional Firearm Injuries Among High-risk Youth (Phase 1)

Virginia Commonwealth University

Summary

Over the past three decades, substantial resources have been devoted to developing youth violence prevention (YVP) programs. These programs have demonstrated positive effects on reducing aggression and related behaviors, firearm-specific risk factors were largely overlooked due to historical barriers to firearm research. This omission is concerning, as firearms are now the leading cause of injury and death among U.S. youth. Existing YVP strategies such as Emerging Leaders address general violence risk but do not directly target firearm-related risks or suicide prevention. There remains a critical gap in prevention strategies that integrate firearm-specific content while leveraging established program infrastructure.

Description

This study will utilize youth participatory action research (YPAR) to co-develop the SAFE Futures intervention. The SAFE Futures Intervention is a grounded theory of firearm-related behavior change, and it has developed the SAFE Futures single-session intervention through focus groups and youth participatory action research. The study is designed to determine whether adding SAFE Futures to the Emerging Leaders program reduces risk factors associated with intentional firearm violence and suicide among high-risk youth. An advisory board of N=15 high-risk youth will be recruited, and data from f…

Eligibility

Age range: 13–17 years
Sex: All
Healthy volunteers: No

Detailed criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Youth aged approximately 13-17 years. * Identified as at elevated risk for firearm-related injury (e.g., history of violent injury, referred by violence prevention programs). * Able to provide assent (and parental/guardian consent if under 18). * Sufficient proficiency in English to complete study procedures. Exclusion Criteria: * Significant cognitive impairment or developmental disability that would preclude comprehension of the intervention content or study procedures. * Current psychiatric or medical instability requiring immediate treatment or hospitalization. - N…

Interventions

Other
Establish an advisory board of high-risk youth
Fifteen high-risk youth will be recruited to establish an advisory board
Other
Feedback and advice sessions
The youth advisory board will provide feedback and advice on the research questions, methodology, and interpretation of data through approximately fifteen, 60-minute meetings
Other
Youth advisory board training
Youth will be trained in the social-ecological model and health behavior change theories, to better conceptualize the link between theory and intervention content, and to participate in the research process more actively.
Other
Semi-structured focus groups
Will participate in a semi-structured focus group protocol developed in collaboration with the youth advisory board while incorporating knowledge from the empirical literature and health behavior change theories.

Location

Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia