Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

A vicious cycle exists between adolescent substance use disorders and youth incarceration. Re-wiring adolescent social networks during community reentry after incarceration can potentially break the cycle of adolescent substance use and youth incarceration. Social networks influence adolescent substance use and delinquent behavior, yet little is known about how to intervene on social networks to improve health. Community reentry is a key opportunity to re-set youths' social networks and re-direct high-risk youth toward a healthier, more supportive network that can foster drug abstinence and reduce recidivism. The investigators hypothesize that an adult who has successfully navigated reentry can guide youth to rewire their social network by encouraging pro-social relationships, troubleshooting basic barriers to healthcare and social services, and helping create linkages to substance use and mental health treatment services. The goal of this study is to measure the impact of a pilot intervention to address two key barriers to accessing behavioral health treatment among recently incarcerated youth: poor care coordination and need for more positive support from the social network. The proposed study intervention, the Whole Person Care (WPC) Reentry Program, is based on the successful adult Transitions Clinic model, and is being adapted for delivery to transition age youth (TAY) by community partners in the Los Angeles County justice system. WPC community health workers (coaches) will provide recently released inmates a formerly incarcerated adult role model who provides care coordination and social support to facilitate access to needed health services, and who actively intervenes to guide TAY youth toward pro-social peers and adults. The investigators propose a pilot longitudinal study of WPC, using a community-partnered participatory research approach. The primary outcome will be reductions in adolescent substance use in response to the intervention (Aim 1). Secondary outcomes will test whether the intervention increases receipt of behavioral health services, decreases recidivism and mental health symptoms, and improves school and work engagement (Aim 2). Finally, the investigators will examine social networks as a potential mechanism by measuring whether youth receiving the intervention report healthier social networks (lower proportion of peers engaging in risky behaviors and a higher number of supportive adults) than control youth (Aim 3).


Clinical Trial Description

A vicious cycle exists between adolescent substance use disorders (SUD) and youth incarceration. Untreated SUD, often comorbid with mental health problems, contribute substantially to youth incarceration. Among 51,000 US youth detained annually, 50-88% have SUD. Incarceration itself can exacerbate existing mental health disorders and contribute to future substance use. Following incarceration, reentry back into the community of peers and adults is a challenging juncture and a high risk period for re-engaging in substance use. Finally, relapse on substance use leads to recidivism. Within 3 years of release, 75% of adolescents are re-arrested, with highest risk among youth with SUD. Re-wiring adolescent social networks during reentry can potentially break the vicious cycle of adolescent substance use and youth incarceration. Social networks powerfully influence adolescent substance use and delinquent behavior, yet little is known about how to intervene on social networks to improve health. In the investigators prior research, the investigators found that incarcerated youth value relationships with supportive adults and peers who can help them succeed in school and stay out of trouble. Most express plans to "stay clean" from drugs and stay away from peers who encourage substance use and delinquent behaviors. Yet, during reentry, many youth re-engage with their previous network of risky peers. Why? The investigators have found that upon reentry, youth who lack sufficient social supports and positive role models default back to previous risky social networks, reinforcing further substance use and other risky behaviors. Community reentry is a key opportunity to re-set social networks and re-direct high-risk youth toward a healthier network that can foster drug abstinence and reduce recidivism. Having an available and supportive adult role model can be transformative for youth after incarceration. The investigators hypothesize that an adult who has successfully navigated reentry can actively guide youth to re-wire their social network by encouraging pro-social relationships, troubleshooting basic barriers to healthcare and social services, and creating linkages to SUD and mental health services, to disrupt the viscous cycle. This community-partnered study seeks to measure the impact of an innovative pilot intervention, the Whole Person Care (WPC) Reentry Program, a network community health worker (i.e. coach) intervention that addresses two key challenges for recently incarcerated transition age youth (TAY): poor care coordination in the "behavioral health cascade" and need for more positive support from the social network. Los Angeles (LA) County has the largest adult and juvenile justice systems in the US and has implemented the WPC Reentry Program to enhance linkages to community behavioral health services. WPC is based on the successful Transitions Clinic model, an intervention with demonstrated efficacy in linking recently incarcerated adults to needed healthcare and improving health outcomes. The model has yet to be implemented for reentry TAY, but has the potential to be transformative at the critical developmental stage of adolescence, when peer social networks are highly dynamic and youth behaviors can affect lifelong trajectories. WPC community health workers will receive formalized training modeled after the adult Transitions Clinic approach and will serve as a formerly incarcerated adult role model who provides care coordination and social support to facilitate access to needed behavioral health services. Tailored for reentry youth, WPC will also include a social network component whereby coaches are trained to actively guide youth toward pro-social peers and adults. Dr. Barnert has been working closely with LA County and this study capitalizes on a unique opportunity to rigorously study WPC. The investigators hypothesize that (1) WPC will reduce adolescent SUD and recidivism and (2) WPC will demonstrate positive associations with other key markers of healthy reentry (e.g., improved mental health). The investigators further hypothesize that shifts towards healthier social networks will mediate these relationships, a potential mechanism the investigators will test. The investigators propose a pilot longitudinal study of WPC, using a community-partnered, participatory research approach. Specific aims are to: 1. Measure the impact of the WPC network coach intervention targeting recently incarcerated youth on decreasing rates of 30-day use and risky use of marijuana, alcohol, and other drug use. 2. Test whether the WPC network coach intervention decreases recidivism, increases receipt of behavioral health services, improves mental health, and enhances school and work engagement. 3. Examine whether recently incarcerated youth receiving the WPC intervention report healthier social networks (lower proportion of peers engaging in risky behaviors and a higher number of supportive adults) than those not receiving the intervention. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT03556618
Study type Interventional
Source University of California, Los Angeles
Contact
Status Active, not recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date March 2, 2020
Completion date December 31, 2023

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Recruiting NCT05596474 - Effect of Beet-root Juice and PBM Treatments on Muscle Fatigue N/A
Recruiting NCT05778578 - Universal Basic Income and Structural Racism in the US South N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT05558332 - Youth Nominated Support Team N/A
Completed NCT02451059 - Reducing Socioeconomic Disparities in Health at Pediatric Visits N/A
Completed NCT05082935 - COVID-19: Healthy Oregon (Oregon Saludable): Together We Can (Juntos Podemos) Phase II N/A
Recruiting NCT05454969 - One-4-ALL Initiative N/A
Enrolling by invitation NCT05045222 - Economic and Clinical Outcomes of (Whole Exome) Sequencing in Tapestry
Completed NCT04587063 - Evaluation of Emails Promoting Mail-order Pharmacy N/A
Recruiting NCT05541913 - The Effect of Tele-Nursing on Parents of Circumcised Children N/A
Completed NCT05117333 - Reminders, Cost Sharing, and Healthcare Use N/A
Recruiting NCT04835012 - Health and Health Care Utilization Effects of Medical Debt Forgiveness
Completed NCT04567342 - Effect of Varied Outreach Methods on Appointment Scheduling, Appointment Completion, and Receipt of MMR Vaccination N/A
Not yet recruiting NCT05988983 - The Over The Counter Pill National Study
Recruiting NCT05552638 - Telecare in Rural Senior Centers N/A
Enrolling by invitation NCT04250103 - Home-based Longitudinal Investigation of the Multidisciplinary Team Integrated Care
Completed NCT04240093 - CoMBAT Opioid Use Disorder: A Combined Medication and Behavioral Activation Treatment for People Living With Opioid Use Disorder N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT03724695 - Advanced Heart Care at Home N/A
Completed NCT04517578 - European Neuromuscular Monitoring Survey
Active, not recruiting NCT05609188 - Black Economic Equity Movement N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT04373135 - Understanding Community Considerations, Opinions, Values, Impacts, and Decisions for COVID-19 N/A