The Impact of an Adapted Version of the Strengthening Families Program on IPV Among Caregivers and ACEs Among Children

NCT05129501 | Completed Results DMC

• 1 other identifier: 21287
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 318
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are unfortunately common and the known outcomes are concerning. However, very little is currently known about programs that may prevent ACEs among children, such as witnessing intimate partner violence (IPV) experienced by their caregivers. The purpose of this project is to adapt an existing evidence-based program (i.e., Strengthening Families) to prevent ACEs. A randomized control will be used to determine the initial efficacy of the program. The Strengthening Families program has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing substance use and initiation among youth, and some preliminary evidence suggests that it may be effective at reducing child maltreatment as well. Further, the Strengthening Families program promotes family bonding and cohesion, which are protective factors against ACEs. The Strengthening Families program has been adapted by researchers at UNL (Devan Crawford and Les Whitbeck) for Native American Families (i.e., BII-ZIN-DA-DE-DAH \[Listening to One Another\]) to prevent substance abuse. Using the Strengthening Families and BII-ZIN-DA-DE-DAH programs, the investigators seek to adapt these programs to prevent ACEs among youth ages 10-14 and their caregivers. The program adaptations are being led by a Community Advisory Board as well as community practitioner partners. The community has named the program Tiwahe Wicaghwicayapi (Lakota for: to strengthen/improve families). Native children and/or children living in poverty, ages 10 to 14, will participate in the program with their families. Participants will be "randomized at the family level" into one of two arms (treatment or control), and children were assigned to the same arm as their caregiver. Half of the families will go first and then the second half of the families will get the program after the last survey. The investigators will use surveys to see if and how the program is working and also interview some people who go through the program. A community Advisory Board is involved in all stages of this project and have the ultimate say about how data are shared.

Conditions

Adverse Childhood Experiences; Domestic Violence

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Adverse Childhood Experiences-Child Reported

  Comprehensive ACEs Measure (Higher scores indicate higher adverse childhood experiences). Note: As explained in the Pre-Assignment Details, participants were "randomized at the family level" into one of two arms (treatment or control), and children were assigned to the same arm as their caregiver. Additionally, some measures were collected only for the children or only for the caregivers. This particular measure was collected for children only.

  Past 6 months

• Conflict Tactics Scale-Adult Reported

  Intimate Partner Violence (Higher scores indicate higher levels of intimate partner violence victimization). Note: As explained in the Pre-Assignment Details, participants were "randomized at the family level" into one of two arms (treatment or control), and children were assigned to the same arm as their caregiver. Additionally, some measures were collected only for the children or only for the caregivers. This particular measure was collected for adults (i.e., caregivers) only.

  Past 6 months

Study Arms (2)

Treatment: Tiwahe Wicaghwicayapi

EXPERIMENTAL

Part 1: Conduct informed consent process, perform baseline assessments (time 1 survey) Part 2: Complete the program over 7 weeks, fidelity checking during program Part 3: Takes survey immediately after program (time 2 survey) Part 4: Time 3 survey six months after Time 2 survey. Note: Participants are "randomized at the family level" into one of two arms (treatment or control), and children are assigned to the same arm as their caregiver.

Behavioral: Experimental

Wait List Control: Tiwahe Wicaghwicayapi

NO INTERVENTION

Part 1: Conduct informed consent process, perform baseline assessments (time 1 survey) Part 2: Waitlist with access to resources while treatment group completes program Part 3: Takes survey immediately after experimental group completes program (time 2 survey) Part 4: Time 3 survey six months after Time 2 survey \*Complete program. Note: Participants are "randomized at the family level" into one of two arms (treatment or control), and children are assigned to the same arm as their caregiver.

Interventions

Experimental BEHAVIORAL

The Tiwahe Wicagwicayapi seven-session program is for children ages 10 to 14 who are Native American and/or living in poverty and their caregivers. The program begins with a traditional Lakota meal followed by family time and break-out time for caregivers only and children only. The program includes skill-building activities as well as the integration of Lakota language, history, and culture. The program is facilitated by diverse individuals, predominantly Native Americans in Rapid City and surrounding tribal communities.

Treatment: Tiwahe Wicaghwicayapi

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 10 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Youth must be aged 10 to 14
• Must identify as a Native American, American Indian, Indigenous, and/or Lakota/Nakota/Dakota youth AND/OR live in poverty
• Both the youth and the caregiver(s) must be present to participate

You may not qualify if:

• Youth younger than 10 or older than 14
• Not identifying as Native American, American Indian, indigenous, and/or Lakota/Nakota/Dakota youth OR living in poverty
• Not being a primary caregiver of a youth that meets criteria
• Not having both the caregiver and youth present

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Nebraska Lincoln: lead
• Bennington College: collaborator
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Rapid City Family Project Office

Rapid City, South Dakota, 57702, United States

Location

Related Publications (5)

• Kumpfer, K. L. (1998). Prevention Interventions: The Strengthening Families Program. Drug Abuse Prevention Through Family Interventions, 160-207.

  BACKGROUND

• Kaufman, E. A., Xia, M., Fosco, G., Yaptangco, M., Skidmore, C. R., & Crowell, S. E. (2016). The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale Short Form (DERS-SF): Validation and replication in adolescent and adult samples. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 38(3), 443-455.

  RESULT

• Olson, D. H., Portner, J., & Bell R. Q. (1982). FACES II: Family adaptability and cohesion evaluation scales. Family Social Science, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota.

  RESULT

• Small, S. A., & Kerns, D. (1993). Unwanted sexual activity among peers during early and middle adolescence: Incidence and risk factors. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 941-952.

  RESULT

• Straus, M. A., Hamby, S. L., Boney-McCoy, S., & Sugarman, D. B. (1996). The revised conflict tactics scales (CTS2) development and preliminary psychometric data. Journal of family issues, 17(3), 283-316.

  RESULT

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Katie M Edwards, PhD
• Organization: University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families, and Schools/Interpersonal Violence Research Laboratory

katie.edwards@unl.edu

402-472-2448

Study Officials

• Katie M Edwards, PhD

  University of Nebraska Lincoln

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restrictive Agreement: No

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: October 7, 2021
• First Posted: November 22, 2021
• Study Start: October 9, 2021
• Primary Completion: October 31, 2022
• Study Completion: October 31, 2022
• Last Updated: February 5, 2025
• Results First Posted: February 5, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)