The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of YES-IDEAS (Youth Empowerment Solutions - Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Appreciation, and Solidarity) compared to regular after school programming in increasing youth empowerment, promoting anti-racist behaviors, and decreasing youth violence. Through the evidence-based YES (Youth Empowerment Solutions) program, youth design and implement projects to help improve their communities. In the current study, investigators adapted the existing YES curriculum to empower youth from diverse backgrounds to address racism and racial discrimination to reduce violent behavior, including race-based victimization. The adapted curriculum, YES-IDEAS, focus on middle school students. The investigators test the effects of YES-IDEAS curriculum on youths' sense of empowerment, racism attitudes, and violent behavior. They designed the study to be a group-randomized trial in after-school programs across multiple middle schools in south-east Michigan, but issues that arose due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other practical issues with the schools we modified the design to be a matched control group design at the school level. Matching variables included size, geographic locations, race/ethnicity, free/reduced lunch status. Dose-response and sustainability of YES-IDEAS effects are also examined.
Control, Treatment
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of YES-IDEAS (Youth Empowerment Solutions - Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Appreciation, and Solidarity) compared to regular after school programming in increasing youth empowerment, promoting anti-racist behaviors, and decreasing youth violence. Through the evidence-based YES (Youth Empowerment Solutions) program, youth design and implement projects to help improve their communities. In the current study, investigators adapted the existing YES curriculum to empower youth from diverse backgrounds to address racism and racial discrimination to reduce violent behavior, including race-based victimization. The adapted curriculum, YES-IDEAS, focus on middle school students. The investigators test the effects of YES-IDEAS curriculum on youths' sense of empowerment, racism attitudes, and violent behavior. They designed the study to be a group-randomized trial in after-school programs across multiple middle schools in south-east Michigan, but issues that arose due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other practical issues with the schools we modified the design to be a matched control group design at the school level. Matching variables included size, geographic locations, race/ethnicity, free/reduced lunch status. Dose-response and sustainability of YES-IDEAS effects are also examined.
Youth Empowerment Solutions: Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Appreciation and Solidarity
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University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109
Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.
For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.
10 Years to 15 Years
ALL
Yes
University of Michigan,
2026-11-30