Community soccer program to support mental health for newcomer youth
Meet Me on the Pitch: Developing and testing a community-based sports and behavioral health intervention for newcomer youth
A soccer-based program that trains coaches to support the emotional well-being of refugee and immigrant youth who recently arrived in the U.S.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11196209 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This program is co-designed with newcomer youth and their coaches to use soccer as a way to build community, social-emotional skills, and connections to school and behavioral health supports. Trusted community members (soccer coaches) receive culturally responsive training to recognize and respond to mental health needs. The team will implement the program in schools and community soccer settings, gather feedback from participants, and refine the program to better meet newcomer needs. The approach aims to reduce barriers like discrimination, fear of deportation, and access issues by meeting youth where they are comfortable.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Refugee and immigrant youth who arrived in the United States within the last five years and who participate in school or community soccer programs are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Youth who are not recent arrivals, those not involved in soccer or organized sports, or individuals seeking immediate clinical treatment for severe psychiatric conditions may not benefit directly from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help newcomer youth feel more supported, improve coping and social skills, and make it easier to get behavioral health help through familiar community channels.
How similar studies have performed: Community sports and coach-led social-emotional programs have shown promise for improving youth well-being, though combining this with culturally tailored behavioral-health training for newcomer youth is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Decker, Mara — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Decker, Mara
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.