@article{ref1,
title="Improving the livelihoods of justice-involved youth: study protocol for a replication and extension of functional family therapy-gangs",
journal="Contemporary clinical trials",
year="2023",
author="Pyrooz, David C. and Buckley, Pamela R.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: This study will evaluate Functional Family Therapy-Gangs (FFT-G), an extension of a family-based therapeutic intervention-Functional Family Therapy (FFT)-designed to help troubled youth exhibiting mild to severe behavior problems overcome delinquency, substance abuse, and violence. FFT-G, however, addresses risk factors that are typically more salient among gang than delinquent populations. A randomized control trial with adjudicated youth in Philadelphia revealed reductions in recidivism over an 18-month period. The purposes of this paper are to outline the protocol for replicating FFT-G in the Denver metropolitan area, document the design and challenges of the prospective research, and promote transparency. <br><br>METHODS: As a condition of pre-trial or probation supervision, 400 youth/caregiver dyads will be randomly assigned to FFT-G or a treatment-as-usual control group. Preregistered confirmatory outcomes include recidivism (i.e., criminal/delinquent charges and adjudications/convictions) measured using official records (Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/abyfs). Secondary outcomes include measures of gang embeddedness, non-violent and violent recidivism, and substance use measured using interview-based surveys and arrest, revocation, incarceration, and crime type indicators of recidivism from official records. Exploratory mediation and moderation analyses are also planned. Intent-to-treat regression analyses will estimate intervention effects 18 months post-randomization. <br><br>CONCLUSION: This study will contribute to advancing high-quality evidence-based knowledge on gang interventions for which there are few known effective responses.  Keywords: Juvenile justice <p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1551-7144",
doi="10.1016/j.cct.2023.107186",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cct.2023.107186"
}