Technology-based Training Tool for PHAT Life

Summary

Youth under age 18 involved in the criminal justice system are disproportionately minorities \& affected by substance abuse, mental illness, \& HIV/STI. Most young offenders are released on community supervision without the STI, mental health, or substance use screening, diagnosis, \& treatment afforded detained youth, despite similar rates of risk behavior. Their long-term trajectory is poor, costs to society are high, \& lasting effects on community well-being \& individual employment prospects are profound. Altering this trajectory is a public health priority. Preventing HIV Among Teens (PHAT) Life is an evidence-based program that meets the need in juvenile justice to address youths' co-morbid health problems. The next step in ensuring that this decade-long line of research produces actual, real-world improvements in the lives of probation youth is to develop a PHAT Life training strategy that is effective, cost-effective, \& sustainable within juvenile justice settings. The private/public collaboration between ORBIS \& UIC will leverage existing resources \& competencies to create a commercially viable technology-based training tool for PHAT Life with great potential for sustainability \& cost-effectiveness. This Phase II uses a formative process to refine, enhance \& complete the technology-based training tool to include: (a) an interactive multimedia web browser \& mobile application, (b) dynamic multimedia presentations \& interactive queries, (c) video examples of mock intervention delivery, (d) audio narration along with scripted language, (e) brief quizzes to ensure comprehension \& knowledge acquisition, (f) opportunities to "learn more" by clicking on tabs for supplemental information, (g) targeted referrals to appendix materials, (h) games to promote engagement, \& (i) other adaptations based on Phase I feedback. The proposed technology-based training tool should be highly sustainable, because it (a) relies on "indigenous" personnel to deliver the intervention, (b) is likely to prove cost-effective since it will utilize a technology that can deliver training at scale, \& (c) will improve fidelity by leveraging technology to provide consistent training experiences to para-professionals. The training tool will be evaluated via a 2-arm RCT with 130 individuals who work with justice-involved youth. Trainees will receive the technology-based training tool.

Conditions

• HIV Infection
• Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Implementation

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Training Tool for Preventing HIV/AIDS among Teens (PHAT) Life

The technology-based training tool will train facilitators to deliver the behavioral health intervention PHAT Life, which is an innovative HIV/STI, substance use, and mental health intervention for juvenile offenders. The training tool reviews each of PHAT Life's 8 sessions. The curriculum targets broad psychosocial factors implicated in HIV/STI-risk behavior, including promoting positive attitudes toward HIV/STI prevention, self-efficacy to reduce risk, and less substance misuse and sexual risk taking. Content emphasizes the importance of emotion regulation skills to manage strong feelings, uses goal setting and training in positive thought processes to plan ahead, encourages recognition of personal responsibility in future outcomes, and helps youth identify strategies and behaviors to accomplish short- and long-term goals.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Illinois at Chicago

  collaborator OTHER

• Oregon Research Behavioral Intervention Strategies, Inc.

  lead INDUSTRY

Principal Investigators

• David R Smith, PhD · Oregon Research Behavioral Intervention Strategies, Inc.

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-01-26

Primary Completion

2024-11-30

Completion

2024-12-20

Countries

• United States

Study Locations