Reducing youth violence and supporting at-risk teens in Richmond

CE21-005 - VCU Healthy Communities for Youth: Evaluation of Violence Prevention Strategies to Prevent and Reduce Community Levels of Youth Violence

NIH-funded research Virginia Commonwealth University · NIH-11121717

This project brings community programs and hospital-based support to help prevent violence and support teens and families in Richmond and similar communities.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVirginia Commonwealth University NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Richmond, United States)
Project IDNIH-11121717 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be offered a mix of community and hospital services aimed at preventing youth violence. Community activities include Youth Voices, a culturally responsive curriculum for African American adolescents, and the SEED Method where youth and adults work together to identify problems and plan local actions. In the hospital, the Emerging Leaders program provides a brief bedside intervention after a violence-related injury, followed by six months of community case management, firearm safety counseling, and workshops. The project also helps local organizations with training and grant-writing and expands community engagement models to strengthen supports for young people.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are adolescents and young people in Richmond and similar communities who are at risk of or have experienced violence, including those treated for intentional or violence-related injuries.

Not a fit: People who do not live in the target communities or adults not involved in youth services are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lower youth violence in participating neighborhoods and connect young people to lasting supports and resources.

How similar studies have performed: Prior hospital-based violence intervention and community prevention programs have shown promising but mixed results, with some reductions in repeat injury and improved supports reported.

Where this research is happening

Richmond, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.