Helping at-risk teens build healthy relationships in emergency departments

Promoting Healthy Relationships among At-Risk Adolescents: A Feasibility Trial in the Emergency Department

NIH-funded research Children's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo) · NIH-10799563

This study is testing a program called HEART in emergency rooms to help teenagers who might have faced abuse by giving them support and information to improve their well-being and reduce risky behaviors.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionChildren's Mercy Hosp (Kansas City, Mo) NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Kansas City, United States)
Project IDNIH-10799563 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on addressing adolescent relationship victimization (ARV) by implementing the HEART intervention in emergency departments. It aims to provide education and counseling to at-risk adolescents who may have experienced various forms of abuse. The approach includes universal delivery of resources and comprehensive support to mitigate the negative impacts of ARV, such as mental health issues and risky behaviors. By adapting the intervention for the emergency department setting, the research seeks to enhance the effectiveness of existing programs.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation are adolescents aged 12-18 who are at risk of or have experienced relationship victimization.

Not a fit: Patients who are not adolescents or those who have not experienced any form of relationship victimization may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the prevalence of relationship victimization among adolescents and improve their overall mental health and well-being.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success with similar interventions in school settings, indicating potential for effectiveness in emergency departments as well.

Where this research is happening

Kansas City, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.