Support for youth facing racial stress and trauma after maltreatment
Pilot study of buffering racial stress and trauma for youth exposed to maltreatment
This project offers adapted trauma-focused support to help children and teens who experienced abuse or neglect and face racial and community stress build coping skills and heal.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180145 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be offered a trauma-informed intervention adapted for young people who have experienced maltreatment and the added burden of racial and community stress. The program combines evidence-based approaches like Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with family support and community-centered strategies. Researchers work with child welfare partners to deliver the intervention in real-world clinics and measure changes in trauma symptoms, coping, and daily functioning. The team also plans to develop ways to spread the approach to other providers and communities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children and adolescents with a history of abuse or neglect, especially those involved with child welfare or experiencing racial and socioecological stress and trauma symptoms.
Not a fit: Youth without a history of maltreatment, adults, or those whose problems are primarily medical rather than trauma-related are unlikely to gain direct benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reduce trauma symptoms, strengthen coping and family supports, and increase access to culturally responsive care for maltreated youth.
How similar studies have performed: Trauma-Focused CBT and family-based supports have shown effectiveness for reducing PTSD in many studies, but tailoring these treatments specifically to racial and socioecological stress among maltreated youth is a newer direction.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- University of Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Toth, Sheree Lynn — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Toth, Sheree Lynn
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.