Mentoring Program for Transgender Youth (TCP Trial)
Recruiting in Palo Alto (17 mi)
Age: Any Age
Sex: Any
Travel: May be covered
Time Reimbursement: Varies
Trial Phase: Academic
Recruiting
Sponsor: University of Nebraska Lincoln
No Placebo Group
Approved in 1 jurisdiction
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?The purpose of this project is to develop and evaluate an online mentoring and skill-building program for transgender and/or gender minority youth (TGMY) ages 14 to 18, the Teen Connection Project (TCP). The TCP includes seven 90-minute sessions facilitated by transgender and/or gender minority (TGM) adults (who are also mentors). TGMY will be paired with a TGM adult mentor, based on their shared interests. Mentors and mentees will participate together in each session along with other mentors and mentees. Mentors will direct activities and discussion to promote TGMY social-emotional skills. The TCP sessions will include one-on-one mentor-mentee break-out sessions.
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.
What data supports the effectiveness of the Teen Connection Project (TCP) treatment for transgender youth?
The Transforming Connections program, which is similar to TCP, has shown positive effects in improving parent-teen relationships and mental health for transgender and gender non-conforming youth. This suggests that programs focusing on connection and support can be beneficial for this population.
12345How is the Teen Connection Project (TCP) treatment unique for transgender youth?
The Teen Connection Project (TCP) is unique because it focuses on mentoring and support for transgender youth, emphasizing peer support and community connection, rather than traditional medical or psychological treatments. This approach aims to build resilience and leadership skills, addressing social and educational challenges specific to transgender youth.
678910Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for transgender and/or gender minority youth aged 14 to 18 who may be experiencing anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, or engaging in risky behaviors like drug use or alcohol consumption. Participants should not have any conditions that would exclude them from safely participating in an online mentoring program.Inclusion Criteria
I identify as transgender or part of a gender minority.
I am between 14 and 18 years old.
I can read and speak English.
Participant Groups
The Teen Connection Project (TCP) is being tested. It's a series of seven online sessions lasting 90 minutes each where transgender and/or gender minority youth are paired with adult mentors for skill-building activities aimed at improving social-emotional skills.
3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: TreatmentExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
The Teen Connection Project (TCP) is theoretically grounded, and follows best practices for effective health behavior prevention. It includes seven 90-minute sessions with group and one-on-one mentoring components. The intervention is facilitated by transgender and/or gender minority adults (i.e., any identity other than cisgender).
Group II: Waitlist controlActive Control1 Intervention
Provide check-ins, provide resources, and offer program after intervention and measurement has been completed.
Group III: MentorsActive Control1 Intervention
Mentors complete a two-day training and post-training survey, facilitate programming, and complete post-session surveys. A subset of the mentors will complete exit interviews.
Teen Connection Project (TCP) is already approved in United States for the following indications:
🇺🇸 Approved in United States as Teen Connection Project for:
- Prevention of psychosocial and behavioral health issues among transgender and other gender minority youth
Find A Clinic Near You
Research locations nearbySelect from list below to view details:
[online program, administered by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln]Lincoln, NE
Loading ...
Who is running the clinical trial?
University of Nebraska LincolnLead Sponsor
University of Rhode IslandCollaborator
References
Assessing Readiness for Transition From Pediatric to Adult Gender Affirming Care. [2023]Transitioning from pediatric to adult care is a critical juncture in the health of adolescents. Little is known about how best to optimize transition to adult care among transgender and nonbinary (TGNB) youth. While the Transition Readiness and Assessment Questionnaire (TRAQ) has been validated in other pediatric populations, it has not been studied in TGNB youth. Our aims were to pilot the use of the TRAQ for TGNB patients, describe transition readiness patterns, and identify factors associated with transition readiness.
Transforming Connections: A Trauma-Informed and Attachment-Based Program to Promote Sensitive Parenting of Trans and Gender Non-conforming Youth. [2021]Gender non-conforming and trans youth experience high rates of bullying and victimization, placing them at risk for serious mental health challenges. Parent support is one of the most significant protective factors in this population, and yet few programs are specifically developed to promote parenting sensitivity, understanding, and acceptance. Connect, a trauma-informed and attachment-based group program for caregivers of at-risk adolescents, has been shown to reduce parent stress and depressed mood, increase parents' sense of efficacy and satisfaction, and reduce parent-teen conflict. Teens benefit from increased attachment security and improved mental health and well-being. Treatment effects have been documented to continue for up to 2 years post-treatment. This paper describes the adaptation of the Connect program to create a new program, Transforming Connections, for caregivers of transgender and gender non-conforming youth. Participants in the first three groups were 20 parents of 16 gender non-conforming youth (ages 12-18). Common themes in group discussions related to gender included: coming out, connecting with peers, affirming pronouns/names, medical transition, parental reactions (e.g., confusion, isolation, grief, acceptance), and concerns about safety and mental health. All parents completed the full program, attending on average 9 of 10 sessions. Caregivers reported feeling respected, safe, and welcomed in the program and indicated that learning about attachment enhanced their understanding of their teen and their gender journey as well as themselves as a parent. Additionally, all parents reported applying the ideas discussed in the group frequently (60%) or somewhat frequently (40%). The majority indicated that their relationship with their teen had improved somewhat (65%) or a great deal (20%). Findings provide positive preliminary evidence of the fit and value of Transforming Connections for these families.
What are the health outcomes of trans and gender diverse young people in Australia? Study protocol for the Trans20 longitudinal cohort study. [2020]Being transgender is frequently accompanied by gender dysphoria, which often coexists with mental health concerns. Increased referrals of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth to gender clinics have been observed in many countries. Nevertheless, there are limited empirical data on the presentation and outcomes of these patients, and there is an urgent need for more evidence to ensure optimal medical and psychosocial interventions. Here, we describe Trans20, a longitudinal study of TGD patients attending a multidisciplinary paediatric gender service in Melbourne, Australia. Trans20 aims to understand the demographic and clinical characteristics of these patients, to document the natural history of gender diversity presenting in childhood and to investigate long-term outcomes for those receiving interventions.
Building a Pediatric Patient Registry to Study Health Outcomes Among Transgender and Gender Expansive Youth at a Rural Gender Clinic. [2020]Purpose: Significant knowledge gaps regarding outcomes of gender-affirming therapy in transgender (TG) and gender expansive (GE) youth impede an evidence-based approach to these patients. The Gender Wellness Center (GWC) Pediatric Patient Registry was established in 2017 to enable systematic, longitudinal research to describe the physical, mental, and quality-of-life outcomes of these youth. Methods: All TG/GE youth, ages 8-21 years, presenting to the GWC were recruited on site. Ten research questions guided the creation of data fields. The following 131 variables were abstracted from electronic medical records: demographics, weight, height, body mass index, gender identity, sexual orientation, coexisting diagnoses, substance use, Tanner stage, sexual activity, medications, fertility preservation, Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) analog use, hormone therapy, surgery, and related outcomes. Health-related quality of life is assessed using the Child Health Questionnaire-87 for ages <18 and the Short Form-36 for ages 18-21. Results: To date, 139 TG and GE youth (90% white and 93% non-Hispanic), have enrolled in the registry. Average age at enrollment was 17.5 years (±3.1, range: 8-21). Two-thirds of youth identified on the trans masculine spectrum (n=90), 28.8% identified on the trans feminine spectrum (n=40), and 6.5% identified as nonbinary/gender nonconforming (n=9). Nearly, all youth had socially transitioned (n=121, 87.7%) and were medically transitioning (n=123, 89.1%). Conclusion: As one of the first rural-based registries, the GWC Registry has helped to delineate health outcomes attributable to gender-affirming care in a unique patient population of TG/GE youth. Our results will be used to describe treatment outcomes that will contribute to evidence-based guidelines.
Gender dysphoria assessment and action for youth: Review of health care services and experiences of trans youth in Manitoba. [2022]To describe the paediatric transgender population accessing health care through the Manitoba Gender Dysphoria Assessment and Action for Youth (GDAAY) program, and report youth's experiences accessing health care in Manitoba.
Conceptualizing transgender and gender-diverse older adults as a vulnerable population: A systematic review. [2023]While extant literature clearly illustrates the negative experiences of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people, the intersection between TGD identity and older age in producing vulnerability is poorly understood. The Vulnerable Populations Conceptual Model (VPCM) provides a framework for identifying vulnerable communities. Understanding access to resources, relative risks, and health status experienced by TGD older adults is critical in developing person-centered interventions.
Informal and Formal Mentoring of Sexual and Gender Minority Youth: A Systematic Review. [2023]Research demonstrates that mentoring relationships can promote positive outcomes for youth across numerous domains, a topic of importance to school social workers. Whereas most mentoring research to date has been conducted with heterosexual cisgender youth, there is a growing body of literature that examines mentoring experiences among sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY). The purpose of this article is to conduct a systematic literature review of informal and formal mentoring experiences among SGMY. Results from twelve studies that met inclusion criteria suggested that (1) the majority of SGMY report having a mentor/role model; (2) demographics are generally unrelated to having a mentor; (3) SGMY seek out mentors with certain characteristics; (4) mentors promote positive outcomes across psychosocial, behavioral, and academic domains; and (5) mentors report varying levels of self-efficacy in mentoring SGMY and disparate motivations for becoming a mentor. Several limitations of the extant literature were identified, underscoring the need for methodologically rigorous and more inclusive research. Nevertheless, preliminary research suggests that SGMY benefit from having a mentor and that efforts are needed to safely connect SGMY to high-quality informal or formal mentors.
Thick trust, thin trust, social capital, and health outcomes among trans women of color in New York City. [2022]Introduction: Many trans women of color communities experience high HIV seroprevalence, extreme poverty, high rates of victimization and substance use, and poor mental health. Greater knowledge of trans women of color social capital may contribute toward more effective services for this marginalized population. Methods: These data come from a mixed-methods study that examined trans/gender-variant people of color who attended transgender support groups at harm reduction programs in NYC. The study was conducted from 2011 to 12, total N = 34. The qualitative portion was derived from six focus group interviews. Results: Two support groups stood out as exhibiting very strong alternative kinship structures. One group was comprised of immigrant trans Latinas, and the other group were trans women of African descent living with HIV. Both groups demonstrated ample cultivation of "trust capital" in the form of "thick trust" (bonding capital) and "thin trust" (bridging/linking capital) both inside and outside/beyond the support groups. Thick trust included the cultivation of intimacy, support in primary romantic relationships, and community leadership. Thin trust included networking with a variety of organizations, increased educational opportunities, and cultural production. Discussion: Participants "opened up to social capital" through the process of trusting as a series of (1) risks; (2) vulnerabilities; and (3) reciprocities. A solid foundation of thick trust resulted in a social, psychological, and emotional "base." Upon this foundation, thin trust was operationalized resulting in positive material, economic, and quality-of-life outcomes, leading to an expanded space of capabilities.
Evaluating transgender youth and parent interest and preferences regarding support groups. [2020]The purpose of this cross-sectional survey study is to explore transgender teens' and their parents' interest in and preferences regarding support groups in an effort to optimally serve the entire family's needs. The aims of the study were to: (1) describe transgender teens interest level and preferences regarding support groups; (2) describe parents of transgender teens interest level and preferences regarding support groups; and (3) compare responses based on demographics including teens versus parent, natal sex, and gender identity. De-identified surveys were collected from a convenience sample of transgender patients (N = 26), ages 13-18 years, and their parents (N = 20). Overall level of interest in support groups was 7.20/10 for youth and 7.95/10 for parents where 0 is not interested and 10 is very interested. Both groups endorsed benefits of a support group, including help with managing school issues, learning about local resources for transgender teens, and providing peer support. Both groups indicated "no time" as the most common potential barrier to attendance. Both groups expressed moderate interest in support groups, with minor differences between youths and parents noted in preferred support group structure. Further examination is warranted to determine optimal support group characteristics aimed specifically at parents and, separately, for youth. Additional support services might complement groups for a more comprehensive approach to support resources for this community.
The Trans Youth Justice Project: A Political Education and Leadership Development Program. [2023]Research has demonstrated that systemic transphobia and cissexism harms transgender youth in terms of social, educational, and health outcomes. All too often, research and policy emphasizes vulnerability among trans youth in a way that denies their capabilities as agents of change or active participants in their liberation. This article analyzes the development of Trans Youth Justice Project, a political education and youth leadership development program for trans youth ages 15-22. Based in principles of gender minority stress and social justice youth development, the 6-week remote program aims to increase the capacity and resilience of trans youth, develop youth leaders, and contribute to addressing social, educational, and health inequalities. We conducted a formative program evaluation of 2 cycles of the program with a total of 25 youth. Pre- and post-test surveys indicated increased feelings of belongingness to a trans community. Follow-up interviews highlighted the impact the program had on skills for social justice, self-efficacy, and community connection. We offer suggestions for implementing the open-source program more broadly.