Helping Young People in Foster Care Cope and Find Mental Health Support
Official title: Pilot Testing an Intervention to Enhance Coping and Increase Mental Health Help-seeking Among Transition-Age Youth in Foster Care
Funded at Portland State University · NIH-11086025 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project is testing a new group program to help young people leaving foster care manage stress and feel more comfortable asking for mental health help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Portland State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $219,407 |
| NIH project number | 5R34MH127141-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11086025 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are young people transitioning from the foster care system who may be at risk for mental health challenges and could benefit from improved coping and help-seeking skills.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not in the foster care system or are not in the transition-age youth group would likely not be eligible for this specific program.
What this research studies
Young people transitioning out of foster care often face many challenges, including difficulties coping with stress and finding mental health support. This project aims to offer a new group program called Stronger Youth Networks and Coping (SYNC) to help these young individuals. SYNC will teach skills to better understand and handle stress, choose helpful coping strategies, and encourage seeking both informal and professional mental health support. The program is designed to be delivered by existing service providers, making it easier for young people to access.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could help young people in foster care develop stronger coping skills and be more likely to get the mental health support they need as they transition to independence.
How similar studies have gone: This project adapts an existing evidence-based coping curriculum for foster youth, building on established methods while introducing a novel program design for this specific population.
Where this research is happening
-
Portland State University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blakeslee, Jennifer — Portland State University
- Study coordinator: Blakeslee, Jennifer
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
An integrated mobile health program to reduce SAVA and mental health problems among female sex workers in Kenya
A new mobile health program aims to help female sex workers in Kenya avoid substance abuse, violence, HIV, and depression by delivering group therapy, online resources, and a peer discussion space.
-
Adolescent girls in Uganda: a long-term look at how money empowerment and family support affect HIV prevention, care, and mental health
A long-term study in rural Uganda will test whether an intervention that combines economic empowerment and family strengthening can help HIV-negative and HIV-affected adolescent girls move safely into young adulthood.
-
Long-term HIV prevention and mental health support for adolescent girls and young women in Uganda
A long-term program in rural Uganda tests if combining economic support and family strengthening helps teenage girls stay HIV-free and improve mental health as they grow into young adults.
-
Johns Hopkins Total Worker Health Center focusing on mental health
A nationwide center at Johns Hopkins is working to improve mental health and well-being among workers by studying workplace health strategies and translating findings into practical tools.
-
Maternal mental health help to protect kids’ breathing health
A mother-focused mental health program is tested to see if improving moms’ mood can also support better breathing and fewer asthma symptoms in children.
-
SNEngage: How Social Networks and Supports Shape Mental Health Care for Black and Latino Individuals with Serious Mental Illness
A long-term study following Black and Latino individuals with serious mental illness to learn how their social networks affect engagement with mental health services and overall well-being.
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.