NICHD
ID: 2R44HD049938-02
PI: MELISSA DEROSIER, PHD
TERM: 04/08 – 03/11

Black children and families possess extensive social, behavioral, and emotional strengths, yet Black youth are disproportionately at risk for developing social, emotional, and behavioral difficulties. Few culturally-sensitive, evidence-based intervention programs exist to address social, behavioral, and emotional concerns specific to Black youth. This phenomenon creates a barrier to Blacks’ access and use of psychosocial services. Intervention programs that promote interactions with peers and improve engagement in treatment (i.e., recruitment, retention, participation, and satisfaction) are needed. These qualities, as well as an intense focus on developing skills in a sociocultural context, might assist Black children in developing effective and adaptive coping strategies. In turn, developing these strengths may buffer Black children against poor psychosocial adjustment.

Celebrating the Strengths of Black Youth (CSBY) is a small group intervention program designed to reinforce Black children’s existing strengths and to assist them in developing new strengths, including positive cultural attitudes. Once completed, the program will include a 10-session curriculum that includes scripted sessions focusing on social, behavioral and emotional concerns specific to Black youth. The program also includes multi-media components (e.g., audio stories, interactive computer resources) and family resources designed to engage caregivers in the program. Overall, the completed CSBY product is expected to build appropriate behavioral, emotional, and social skills and build up appropriate cultural attitudes.

Through Phase I development work, a prototype of the CSBY program was developed and tested with two groups of potential users: mental health professionals and children along with their primary caregivers. Five sessions of the curriculum were reviewed by mental health professionals from school and community settings and they responded with high endorsement. Children and their caregivers also reviewed components and children participated in selected activities. Feedback from all of these participants was instrumental in the continued development of CSBY.

The current Phase II project builds on Phase I findings as well as input from the project Advisory Board to complete development of this innovative, much needed resource for Black children. Once finalized, an efficacy trial will be conducted to empirically test the program through a randomized treatment-waitlist control trial. The trial will be conducted in community-based settings using community members as group leaders. As part of the trial, the program’s efficacy for enhancing children’s social and behavioral functioning will be evaluated along with an evaluation of the program evaluation by participating families.

CSBY is now available for purchase. To learn more or to purchase CSBY, visit 3C Marketplace.