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Evaluating a Substance Use Prevention Program with Family Advocates

This study is looking at ways to prevent substance use and address the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), which are difficult or traumatic events that happen in childhood. We are testing two approaches: the Strengthening Families Program (SFP) alone, and SFP combined with a Family Advocate. The Family Advocate is a trained professional who helps families access community resources. We want to see if adding a Family Advocate makes the program more effective in preventing substance use and reducing the impact of ACEs. You may be able to join if you live in or attend SFP meetings in certain New Jersey communities that have high levels of ACEs and substance use issues. The study will measure substance use and perceptions of harm, as well as referrals to clinical services, at the beginning, end of the program, and 6 months later. The current recruitment status is unclear.

Study design
This study is an interventional trial with a planned enrollment of 360 families, comparing two different behavioral interventions.
What's involved
Families will participate in 11 sessions over 10-14 weeks, as part of the Strengthening Families Program curriculum.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 6 months after the intervention is completed.

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NCT06236100

Evaluating an Adverse Childhood Experience-Targeting Advocate Model of a Substance Use Prevention Program

Recruiting
NAAges 7+InterventionalPrevention
RTI International
~360 participants
Updated 2026-05-05 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Strengthening Families Program + Family AdvocateStrengthening Families Program

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Substance use prevalence
Measured over Baseline, intervention completion (ranging from 10 to 14 weeks), and 6-month post-intervention follow-up
+3 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Substance-Related Disorders
Adverse Childhood Experiences

Explore related trials

Adverse Childhood ExperiencesSubstance-Related Disorder

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
New Jersey1

Study leadership

  • Phillip W. Graham, DrPH · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · RTI International
  • Dallas J Elgin, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · RTI International

Who to contact

Andrea L. Zapcic, BA
[email protected]
908-433-2064
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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Either reside in, or attend SFP meetings, within one of the 36 New Jersey communities with disproportionate levels of ACEs and substance use disorder (SUD) issues that are assigned to either the treatment or control conditions via the study's cluster randomized controlled trial design
Meet family eligibility requirements:
One or more adult caregivers
One or more adolescents, ages 7 to 17
Caregiver provision of signed and dated informed consent form
For children, informed assent and parental permission via the informed consent to participate in the study
Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and lifestyle considerations and availability for the duration of the study
Willingness to adhere to the regimens of the SFP and FA interventions
Access to necessary resources for participating in a technology-based intervention (i.e., computer, smart phone, internet access)

Exclusion

Caregiver has previously completed SFP with one or more children, ages 7 to 17
Intellectual disabilities (i.e., cognitive impairments that would prohibit the completion of the SFP curriculum or data collection instruments)
Language difficulties (caregivers and children must read and understand spoken English)

What this trial measures

  • Substance use prevalenceBaseline, intervention completion (ranging from 10 to 14 weeks), and 6-month post-intervention follow-up

    Measure of substance use prevalence among parents/caregivers and youth derived from 4 questions included on the SFP adult and SFP youth pre-test, post-test, and 6-month follow-up surveys. These 4 questions focus on whether various substances were ever used, used in the past 30 days, on how many day substances were used (if any), and which substances were used.

  • Substance use perceptions of harmBaseline, intervention completion (ranging from 10 to 14 weeks), and 6-month post-intervention follow-up

    Measure of substance use perceptions of harm among parents/caregivers and youth derived from 3 questions included on the SFP adult and SFP youth pre-test, post-test, and 6-month follow-up surveys. These 3 questions focus on perceptions of harm associated with alcoholic beverages, marijuana, and prescription drugs.

  • Referrals to clinical servicesBaseline, intervention completion (ranging from 10 to 14 weeks), and 6-month post-intervention follow-up

    Measure of rate of referrals to clinical services among participating families using the study's Weekly Clinical and Non-Clinical Services Referral Log

  • Referrals to non-clinical servicesBaseline, intervention completion (ranging from 10 to 14 weeks), and 6-month post-intervention follow-up

    Measure of rate of referrals to non-clinical services among participating families using the study's Weekly Clinical and Non-Clinical Services Referral Log