Family Spirit Strengths for Mental Health in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities

This study is testing a program called Family Spirit Strengths (FSS) to see if it can help improve mental and emotional health in American Indian and Alaska Native communities. FSS is a skills-based program that aims to normalize stress, reduce stigma around seeking help, and build hope. It's being compared to another program called Family Spirit Nurture, which focuses on nutrition education. You may be able to join if you are a female, 14 years or older, pregnant or a primary caregiver of a child 24 months or younger, and have a family history or personal high-risk substance use, or elevated symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. The study will measure success by looking at the difference in the number of "poor mental health days" you experience over 30 days, measured at different times over 6-8 months. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status and plans to enroll 188 participants.

Study design: This is an interventional study with a planned enrollment of 188 participants. It compares two behavioral interventions: Family Spirit Strengths and Family Spirit Nurture.
What's involved: Your mental health will be assessed at the start of the study, then again 3-4 months later, and finally 6-8 months after the start.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: You will be followed for 6-8 months after the start of the study.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

Family Spirit Strengths

Recruiting

NAAges 14+InterventionalPrevention

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

~188 participants

Updated 2026-04-13 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:Family Spirit Strengths (FSS)Family Spirit Nurture

At a glance

Recruiting sites

3 of 3 listed sites are recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

Difference in number of poor mental health days in last 30 days as assessed by a single item on the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) measure

Measured over baseline, 3-4 months post baseline, 6-8 months post baseline

Conditions

Depressive Symptoms

Anxiety Disorders and Symptoms

Substance Use

Mental Health Issue

Where it's being run

3 sites across 3 states

Arizona1

Michigan1

New Mexico1

Study leadership

Emily Haroz · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Who to contact

Emily Haroz, PhD

[email protected]

410-449-0051

Email the study team

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Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Self-identify as female; and

Pregnant or be a primary caregiver of a child that is 24 months or younger; and

14 years or older at time of enrollment; and

Report a family history of high-risk substance use and/or report high-risk levels of personal substance use; and

Have elevated symptoms of depression and/or anxiety and/or risk of substance use disorder; and

Be part of the service population of one of the participating sites.

Exclusion

Profound disability that limits the ability to participate in assessments or interventions; and

Unlikely to be residing in or near the research service area for the next 6 months.

What this trial measures

Difference in number of poor mental health days in last 30 days as assessed by a single item on the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) measurebaseline, 3-4 months post baseline, 6-8 months post baseline
As measured by the single item on the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) which asks responders to identify how many days in the past 30 day they experience bad or poor mental health. Scores may range from 0-30 where 0 indicates the participant did not experience any poor mental health days in the last 30 days and 30 indicates the participant experienced a poor mental health day every day in the last 30 days. A difference in mean for the past 30 days will be calculated at the 6 month follow-up timepoint.

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