Program to Improve Coping and Help-Seeking for Youth in Foster Care
Pilot Testing an Intervention to Enhance Coping and Increase Mental Health Help-seeking Among Transition-age Youth in Foster Care
This study is testing a new program called SYNC to see if it can help young people in foster care improve their coping skills and encourage them to seek mental health support.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 106 (estimated) |
| Ages | 16 Years to 20 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Portland State University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Portland, Oregon) |
| Trial ID | NCT06019377 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This intervention aims to enhance mental health functioning and service utilization among youth transitioning from foster care through a program called Stronger Youth Networks and Coping (SYNC). The program consists of 10 modules designed to improve coping strategies and promote help-seeking behaviors among adolescents at risk for behavioral health issues. By leveraging existing transition services, SYNC targets cognitive schemas that influence stress responses and aims to engage youth in both informal and formal support systems. The study will assess the feasibility and efficacy of this program in a real-world context before potentially launching a larger randomized control trial.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are youth aged 16-20 who are currently in foster care and eligible for federally-funded transition services in Oregon.
Not a fit: Patients who are non-English speaking, significantly developmentally disabled, or in crisis may not benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this program could significantly improve mental health outcomes and service engagement for youth in foster care.
How similar studies have performed: While similar interventions have been explored, this specific approach targeting foster youth is relatively novel and untested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Eligible to receive federally-funded transition-related services in Oregon (ages 16-20 and in foster care at least 90 days after they turned age 14), * Indicated behavioral health risk. Behavioral health risk is indicated by child welfare administrative indicators of lifetime behavioral health need or service involvement (DSM diagnoses, psychotropic medication, emotional-behavioral disability, congregate care/residential placement) Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to actively participate in the intervention, including you who are: non-English speaking, significantly developmentally disabled, or where participation is otherwise contraindicated (e.g., youth is in crisis, youth is in a placement that will not allow for participation)
Where this trial is running
Portland, Oregon
- Portland State University — Portland, Oregon, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jennifer Blakeslee, PhD,MSW,BS — Portland State University
- Study coordinator: Jennifer Blakeslee, PhD,MSW,BS
- Email: jblakes@pdx.edu
- Phone: 5037258389
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.