Helping teenage girls in juvenile justice reduce risks of HIV and pregnancy
Official title: CHOICES-TEEN: Efficacy of a Bundled Risk Reduction Intervention for Juvenile Justice Females
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11260931 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is helping young girls in juvenile justice centers learn how to make safer choices about their health and avoid risky behaviors related to alcohol and marijuana, so they can reduce the chances of getting pregnant or contracting HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $757,751 |
| NIH project number | 7R01DA050670-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11260931 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescent females currently involved in juvenile justice programs who are at risk for substance use and sexual health issues.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in the juvenile justice system or who do not engage in high-risk behaviors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on adolescent females in juvenile justice settings who are at high risk for engaging in behaviors that can lead to HIV and unplanned pregnancies, particularly due to alcohol and marijuana use. The study aims to implement a program called CHOICES-TEEN, which uses motivational interviewing techniques to educate and empower these young women to make safer choices regarding their sexual health and substance use. By addressing these issues in a supportive environment, the research seeks to reduce the incidence of substance-exposed pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among this vulnerable population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly lower the rates of HIV and unplanned pregnancies among adolescent girls involved in the juvenile justice system.
How similar studies have gone: Previous interventions targeting similar populations have shown promise in reducing health risks, indicating that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parrish, Danielle Elizabeth — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Parrish, Danielle Elizabeth
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.