SYNC Program for Psychosocial Functioning in Foster Youth

N/A

Recruiting

Led By Jennifer Blakeslee, PhD,MSW,BS

Research Sponsored by Portland State University

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be younger than 65 years old

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up immediately after program completion, 6 months after program completion

Awards & highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial will deploy a program to improve mental health & service use of foster youth before & after exiting care. It aims to increase coping self-efficacy & help-seeking attitudes, & test if the program is effective in improving mental health & service use.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for foster youth in Oregon, aged 16-20, who have been in care for at least 90 days post-age 14 and show signs of behavioral health risks. It's not open to those who can't actively participate due to language barriers, significant developmental disabilities, or crisis situations.

What is being tested?

The SYNC program is being tested to see if it helps foster youth manage stress better by improving their emotional regulation and coping strategies. The study will also look at whether the program encourages seeking help as a way to cope with mental health issues.

What are the potential side effects?

Since this intervention focuses on group therapy and skill development rather than medication or medical procedures, traditional physical side effects are not expected. However, discussing sensitive topics may cause temporary emotional discomfort.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ immediately after program completion, 6 months after program completion

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~immediately after program completion, 6 months after program completion

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and immediately after program completion, 6 months after program completion for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

Cognitive control and coping flexibility

Help-seeking intentions

Secondary study objectives

Barriers to seeking help

Coping self-efficacy

Self-efficacy and empowerment specific to mental health

Other study objectives

Depression and anxiety

Domains for psychiatric diagnoses

Mental health service use

+1 more

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group

All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Experimental Treatment

Active Control

Group I: InterventionExperimental Treatment1 Intervention

The Intervention group receives the SYNC intervention in addition to typical child welfare services (i.e., services as usual). The SYNC intervention includes 10 weekly remote (videoconference) 90-minute sessions delivered by a facilitator and a near-peer young adult aged 20-26, both with lived experience in child welfare.

Group II: Services-as-usualActive Control1 Intervention

The Services-as-usual (SAU) group receives typical child welfare services, which include ILP, or federally funded transition planning (e.g., identifying and supporting youth education and employment goals) and life skills (e.g., budgeting, renting an apartment, insurance) services typically delivered through a mix of classes, group activities, and/or individual skill-building with a paraprofessional service provider.

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