Virtual Safe Dates program for pregnant and parenting youth
Official title: Preventing Intimate Partner Violence Among Teens Who Are Pregnant or Parenting
Run by RTI International · NCT07226401 · Data updated 2026-11-12
We're testing whether delivering the Safe Dates program online helps pregnant or parenting youth have less intimate partner violence than an online health education program.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 16 Years to 21 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | RTI International Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Durham, North Carolina) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | November 11, 2025 |
| Main results expected | June 1, 2026 |
| Study ends | July 31, 2026 |
| Registry record updated | December 15, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT07226401 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are English-speaking youth aged 16–21 who are currently pregnant, the partner of a pregnant person, or parenting a child with at least weekly contact, and who can provide informed consent and contact information.
✕Probably not a fit
Youth who are not pregnant or parenting, cannot read or speak English, cannot provide informed consent, or are already enrolled in another violence-prevention program may not benefit or be eligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This pilot randomized program invites English-speaking youth aged 16–21 who are pregnant, the partner of a pregnant person, or parenting a child to attend ten virtual group sessions of the Safe Dates for Young Parents (SDYP) program or a comparison HealthSmart program on physical activity and nutrition. Participants complete surveys before the program and at follow-up points up to six months to measure feasibility, acceptability, and experiences of intimate partner violence. The SDYP curriculum is adapted from the evidence-based Safe Dates program with added pregnancy and parenting content and emphasis on help-seeking barriers. The trial tests whether virtual delivery can improve attendance and reduce IPV compared with an alternate health education program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, virtual delivery could increase access to an evidence-based IPV prevention program and reduce intimate partner violence, benefiting young parents and their children.
How similar studies have gone: The original in-person Safe Dates program has shown efficacy in preventing dating abuse among teens, but virtual delivery specifically for pregnant or parenting youth is novel and not widely tested.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Pregnant or parenting youth (Pilot RCT participants) * Aged 16-21 years. * Currently pregnant, partner of a pregnant person, or parenting a child (i.e., have contact with child at least once per week). * Able to speak and read English. * Willing and able to provide written informed consent. * Willing and able to provide adequate contact/locator information. Facilitators (IDI participants) * Aged 18 years or older. * Trained and served as a facilitator of the virtual SDYP intervention. * Able to speak and read English. * Able and willing to provide verbal informed consent. Exclusion Criteria (Pilot RCT participants): * Has any other condition that, in the opinion of the PI or their designee, would preclude informed consent, make study participation unsafe, complicate interpretation of study outcome data, or otherwise interfere with achieving the study objectives. * Currently participating or will be participating in a violence prevention education program in the next 3 months. * Previously participated in the Empowering Young Parents study.
Where it's running
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RTI International
Durham, North Carolina, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Marni Kan, PhD
- Email: mkan@rti.org
- Phone: 919-485-2756
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.