Mobile health intervention for parenting stress in caregivers of justice-involved youth

Reducing Parenting Stress to Facilitate Justice-Involved Youth's Treatment

Not applicable Interventional University of California, San Francisco · NCT05032742

This study is testing a new mobile app designed to help reduce stress for parents of kids involved in the juvenile justice system.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages12 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorUniversity of California, San Francisco Academic / other
Locations1 site (San Francisco, California)
Trial IDNCT05032742 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This project aims to develop and evaluate a mobile health (mHealth) intervention designed to alleviate parenting stress among caregivers of youth involved in the juvenile justice system. The intervention addresses barriers to treatment engagement for these youth, who often face high rates of substance use and mental health issues. By utilizing participatory informatics, caregivers will be actively involved in the development of the mHealth app, ensuring its relevance and efficacy. The study will assess the feasibility and acceptability of this intervention to improve treatment outcomes for justice-involved youth.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are caregivers of youth aged 12-17 who are currently detained and have identified substance use or co-occurring mental health needs.

Not a fit: Patients who are not caregivers of justice-involved youth or those whose children do not have substance use issues may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly enhance treatment engagement and outcomes for youth involved in the juvenile justice system.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using mobile health interventions to address similar issues, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

The following is a description for the inclusion criteria for aims 1 and 2 for caregivers participating in this research study.

Eligible caregivers must be the parent or legal guardian of a youth who is:

* currently detained in a juvenile detention center or correctional facility, mandated by the juvenile justice system to a congregate out-of-home placement (e.g., group home);
* 12-17 years old;
* has an identified substance use or substance use and co-occurring mental health need;
* and is scheduled to be released into the community to the care of the enrolled caregiver.

The following is a description for the inclusion criteria for aim 3 for system stakeholders participating in this research study.

Eligible behavioral health providers (e.g., substance use counselor) must:

* Provide substance use or dual diagnosis treatment justice-involved youth and their caregivers,
* be over 18 years old,
* and speak English fluently.

Eligible juvenile probation officers must be:

* 18 years or older
* and speak fluent English.

Exclusion Criteria:

Exclusion criteria for all participants includes:

* lack of proficiency in English
* and cognitive impairment or active psychosis which precludes provision of informed consent.

Caregivers who do not have access to a device with internet access will also not be eligible as this would preclude them from being able to participate in the mHealth intervention.

Where this trial is running

San Francisco, California

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Stressparenting stressjuvenile justicedigital health
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.