Peer support and safety program for LGBTQ youth in child welfare and juvenile justice
Youth Empowerment and Safety Intervention for Systems-involved Sexual and Gender Minority Youth at Risk of Suicide
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11366165
This project will try a peer-support program plus better ways to find and refer sexual and gender minority young people in child welfare or juvenile justice who are at risk of suicide.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CLEVELAND, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11366165 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would be connected with a trained, SGM-affirming peer support specialist who understands LGBTQ youth and public systems. The program also works with child welfare and juvenile justice agencies to improve how they identify and refer youth at risk of self-harm. The study uses a quasi-experimental design to compare whether the new referral processes and peer support increase engagement, acceptability, and reduce suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Researchers will collect feedback from youth and agencies to see if this approach is practical and helpful.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Sexual and gender minority youth involved with child welfare or juvenile justice who are experiencing or at risk for suicidal thoughts or behaviors (roughly adolescents/young people around ages 10–24).
Not a fit: Young people who are not sexual or gender minorities, not involved in child welfare or juvenile justice, or who need immediate emergency psychiatric care may not benefit from this peer-support program alone.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could make it easier for SGM youth in public systems to get affirming support and lower their risk of suicide.
How similar studies have performed: Peer support has shown promise in some mental health and suicide-prevention settings, but using SGM-affirming peer specialists specifically for system-involved youth is relatively new and not well tested.
Where this research is happening
CLEVELAND, UNITED STATES
- CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY — CLEVELAND, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: PRINCE, DANA M — CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: PRINCE, DANA M
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 below.