Link for Schools: A System to Prevent Violence and Its Adverse Impacts

The University of Iowa in collaboration with the Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) conducted an effectiveness study to test a theory-based system, called Link, that trained school staff to provide a sustainable infrastructure of support for youth at-risk of violence. Our purpose was to prevent and intervene in violence that impacts students, and to adopt cost-effective school-based violence prevention strategies.

The research team conducted a randomized intervention trial with three "clusters" of within the CRCSD using the procedures described in the following paragraph. Each cluster consisted of a middle school and three "feeder" elementary schools. Implementation of the program began in Fall 2017 at Cluster 1, Fall 2018 at Cluster 2, and Cluster 3 remained a control site and received no intervention.

Program Implementation, by Cluster:

A series of videos were produced by the University of Iowa team in conjunction with the CRCSD, and were offered as a training opportunity to school staff. The series of video trainings include: Trauma Informed Care (TIC) video to be viewed by all staff; and a Link Program training video for select staff.

TIC video instructions was required of all staff during a workshop session. Participants were invited to complete a post-training evaluation survey following the viewing of the TIC video, for research.

Concurrent with the delivery of the Trauma Informed Care video training, select staff were identified by the CRCSD research team to become Link interventionists, by participating in specialized training of the Link system using the Link Program video and in-person trainings. These interventionists had a dual role as a study participant and as a member of the research team. These interventionists were provided 4 in-person trainings throughout the school year that included training in child assent procedures, and Link Program training. These interventionists were invited to complete pre/post evaluation surveys at each training session, for research.

Targeted Research Intervention:

Following the Link Program Training, the CRCSD research team randomly assigned a case load of students to the Link interventionists with whom they used the Link Program skills. Following each student encounter, the interventionist completed a Link Case Management Tool for process evaluation. Link interventionists were also invited to complete a pre-evaluation survey prior to Link Program training, and post-evaluation surveys following training sessions.

Data collected for the targeted student intervention included: primary data in the form of a Link Case Management Tool completed by a Link interventionist following each student encounter; secondary data in the form of existing school administrative data sources (i.e., enrollment and office referrals).