Helping youth in the child welfare system manage their emotions to prevent substance use
Official title: Emotion Regulation Intervention to Prevent Substance Use Among Youth in the Child Welfare System
Funded at Rhode Island Hospital · NIH-11046686 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a friendly program called iTRAC that helps young people who have faced tough situations learn how to manage their emotions better, so they can avoid turning to drugs or alcohol.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rhode Island Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $551,314 |
| NIH project number | 5R61DA059785-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11046686 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are youth aged 12-20 who have experienced maltreatment and are involved in the child welfare system.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced maltreatment or are outside the age range of 12-20 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing an emotion regulation intervention aimed at preventing substance use among youth who have experienced maltreatment. The intervention, called iTRAC, utilizes a tablet-based platform to teach early adolescents skills for managing their emotions effectively. By enhancing emotional self-efficacy and awareness, the program seeks to address the unique challenges faced by this vulnerable population, particularly those within the child welfare system. The approach is designed to be accessible and low-resource, making it easier for youth to engage with the intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the risk of substance use among youth with a history of maltreatment.
How similar studies have gone: Previous interventions targeting emotion regulation in similar populations have shown promising results, indicating that this approach may be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Rhode Island Hospital
Providence, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Houck, Christopher D. — Rhode Island Hospital
- Study coordinator: Houck, Christopher D.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Emotion Regulation Help for Youth in Child Welfare to Prevent Substance Use
A tablet-based program helps early adolescents in the child welfare system learn emotion regulation skills to reduce future substance use.
-
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Preventing Suicide Among Teens Who Use Substances in School Settings
Aims to see if how schools respond to substance-use incidents (like alcohol or drugs) can lower suicide risk among high‑risk students.
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.