Strengthening Healthy Relationships Among Apsaalooke Youth

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Youth Engagement
• Interventions: Behavioral: Healthy Relationship

• Registration Number: NCT05734014
• Lead Sponsor: Montana State University

Brief Summary

This pilot project uses community based participatory research principles to build upon cultural strengths to develop a feasibility of intervention to promote relationality and connectedness among Apsáalooke youth. This project worked closely with a Community Advisory Board (CAB) members to develop all stages of the project. The CAB identified 5th grade as an important age to focus. The feasibility study is developing pilot activities related to respecting promoting intergenerational, family, community and land connectedness among Crow youth.

Detailed Description

This project builds upon long-standing community-based participatory research partnerships between Montana State University and the Crow Nation. Through these partnerships, Apsáalooke community members prioritized healthy relationships among youth as a critical area for intervention. Through interviews and focus groups with Apsaalooke community members a strength-based strategy to promote healthy relationships among youth has emerged. This pilot project proposes to build upon these cultural strengths, including the clan system, to test the feasibility of a translational research intervention to promote healthy relationships and prevent dating violence among Apsáalooke youth. Community Advisory Board members identified 5th grade as an important age to establish healthy dating norms. The feasibility study includes a one-group pre/post intervention that includes 10-hour long sessions with youth to promote healthy relationship knowledge, volition, and communication skills. Elders and near-peer (young adults) will assist during these sessions sharing advice and serving as role models for youth. In addition, to promote the connectedness between youth and their community, there are 3 monthly clan feeds. Using a participatory approach, our project will accomplish the following aims:

1. Using a participatory research approach, finish adapting and localizing the curriculum. 2. Test the feasibility of pilot intervention among Apsáalooke youth and their families. 3. Refine pilot intervention and design an appropriate translational intervention (R01) for promoting healthy relationship skills among Apsáalooke youth.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2022-09-30
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-02-16
• Study First Posted: 2023-02-17
• Study Start: 2024-05-01
• Primary Completion: 2024-06-30
• Study Completion: 2024-06-30
• Status Verified: 2025-05
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-15
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-21

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 11

Inclusion Criteria

Students who are entering the fifth and sixth grade and who live on or near the Crow reservation will be invited to participate in the summer camp.

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Intervention Group	Healthy Relationship	The feasibility study includes a one-group pre/post intervention that includes 10-hour long sessions with youth to promote healthy relationship knowledge, volition, and communication skills. Elders and near-peer (young adults) will assist during these sessions sharing advice and serving as role models for youth. In addition, to promote the connectedness between youth and their community, there are 3 monthly clan feeds.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Youth Engagement	1 week	Arts-based open-ended question for youth to describe what they liked, what was challenging or what they learned

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Vanessa Simonds; 🇺🇸 Bozeman, Montana, United States