Helping teenage girls in juvenile justice reduce risks of HIV and pregnancy

CHOICES-TEEN: Efficacy of a Bundled Risk Reduction Intervention for Juvenile Justice Females

NIH-funded research University of Texas at Austin · NIH-11260931

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Texas at Austin NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Austin, United States)
Project IDNIH-11260931 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: 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.

Not a fit: 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.

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 performed: Previous interventions targeting similar populations have shown promise in reducing health risks, indicating that this approach may be effective.

Where this research is happening

Austin, 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.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome VirusAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 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.