Systems Aligning for Equity (SAFE) Spaces

NCT05658068 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: IRB-FY2019-3228
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 1,000
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this 2-arm cluster randomized clinical trial is to test whether an evidence-based staff training and coaching model specifically designed as a response to legal system-involved youths' and frontline staff's mental health needs can improve the safety and suicide outcomes, mental health challenges, and wellness and facility climate for youth and staff in facilities assigned to the intervention condition. Staff in facilities assigned to the intervention are eligible to receive evidence-based programming in suicide detection and prevention (Shield of Care; SOC) and wellness skill-building (Skills for Life) through training and personalized coaching. Multiple training sessions will be offered to small groups of staff in-person in residential facilities and paired with personalized in-person and virtual coaching. Staff and youth in all facilities will be asked to complete periodic surveys assessing experiences in the facility, suicide and safety knowledge and risk, and their mental health and wellness. Researchers will compare outcomes of staff in youth in facilities assigned to the intervention compared to facilities in the training-as-usual condition.

Conditions

Self Harm; Suicide; Mental Disorder; Mental Health; Burnout, Professional

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (7)

• Decreases in Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (Davis, 1992) and suicide subscale of Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (Grisso et al., 2001)

  Change in suicide ideation, thoughts, and behaviors

  1 year

• Decreases on Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (Nock et al., 2007)

  Change in self-harm thoughts and behaviors

  1 year

• Decreases on internalizing and externalizing subscales of Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (Grisso et al., 2001)

  Change in mental health correlates of suicide

  1 year

• Decreased burnout and increased job efficacy on the Professional Quality of Life measure (Stramm, 2016) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory

  Change in staff burnout and job efficacy

  1 year

• Change in responses on the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms (Watson et al., 2007)

  Change in staff mental health

  1 year

• Increased suicide knowledge and response skills from Tennessee's state-wide gatekeeper training (Schut & Lockman, 2013)

  Change in suicide knowledge and response skills

  1 year

• Increased self-harm knowledge response skills from Tennessee's state-wide gatekeeper training (Schut & Lockman, 2013)

  Change in self-harm knowledge and response skills

  1 year

Study Arms (2)

SAFE Spaces training and coaching

EXPERIMENTAL

Staff in facilities assigned to this arm are offered the SAFE Spaces training and coaching model.

Behavioral: SAFE Spaces training and coaching

Training as Usual

NO INTERVENTION

Staff in facilities assigned to this arm receive training as usual.

Interventions

SAFE Spaces training and coaching BEHAVIORAL

Staff in facilities assigned to the intervention are eligible to receive evidence-based programming in suicide detection and prevention (Shield of Care; SOC) and wellness skill-building (Skills for Life) through training and personalized coaching. Multiple training sessions will be offered to small groups of staff in-person in residential facilities and paired with personalized in-person and virtual coaching.

SAFE Spaces training and coaching

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• Placement in in ACS-run or contracted residential facilities enrolled in the study during the first 2 years of the intervention period
• Proficiency in English

You may not qualify if:

• Not placed in an ACS run-or contracted facility enrolled in the study during the study period
• Lack of proficiency in English.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• New York University: lead

Study Sites (1)

New York University

New York, New York, 10003, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Suicide; Mental Disorders; Psychological Well-Being; Burnout, Professional; Self-Injurious Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior; Personal Satisfaction; Occupational Stress; Occupational Diseases; Burnout, Psychological; Stress, Psychological

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: FACTORIAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 1, 2022
• First Posted: December 20, 2022
• Study Start: April 23, 2022
• Primary Completion: June 30, 2025
• Study Completion: June 30, 2025
• Last Updated: January 7, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-07

Locations

US (1)