Youth Engagement
Conditions
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
Study Purpose: The purpose of this study is to conduct a feasibility and acceptability of a pilot intervention to promote relationality among Apsáalooke youth. This formative study is grounded in community-based participatory efforts to build locally relevant educational programming for youth and support the development of future evidence-based programming for youth. Participants and Inclusion Citeria: Participants in this study consisted youth who are a maximum of 13 years old who are enrolled in 5th-6th grade at the time of the study. Eligibility criteria included youth that live on or near the Crow Reservation in Montana and have parental or guardian consent to participate. Recruitment efforts were conducted in partnership with local schools, educational liaisons, and community champions. Information about the program was shared through school announcements, flyers sent home with students and presentations during school-based and community events. Interested families received informational packets and consent forums outlining the purpose, procedures and voluntary nature of participants. Informed consent was also obtained from parents and assent from each youth participant. The recruitment spanned from May 2024 through June 2024. A total of 10 participants were recruited and enrolled in the study. Data Collection Methods Data for this feasibility study consisted of process evaluation data and qualitative, art-based reflections. The primary data collected included recruitment and retention metrics: Researchers tracked the number of students recruited, consented, and retained during the program. Session Observations: Trained facilitators and researchers documented implementation fidelity, student engagement, and logistical issues during sessions. Observational field notes were compiled systematically and informed the overall assessment of feasibility. Arts-based qualitative reflections. At the conclusion of each session, students participated in a reflective activity using paper and markers to draw or write about their experiences. Prompts included: What did you like best today? What did you learn? What would you like to share with your family? The creative responses provided insight into the youth's internalization of key messages and their personal engagement with the content. Following the acidity, students voluntarily shared their drawing and narratives with the group. Researchers took detailed notes during these sharing moments to record accurate explanations.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALConnectedness Activities
Indigenous Connectedness: Promoting respect, listening to elders, understanding Crow cultural values.
Sponsors
Montana State University
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
The feasibility study includes pilot testing activities and an evaluation of the activities. This study focused on developing the lessons that would promote cultural connectedness.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
10 Years to 13 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
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. Exlcusion Criteria: Youth not enrolled in fifth or sixth grade, and who did not obtain parental or guardian consent.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Crow Knowledge | 2 week | Arts-based open-ended question for youth to describe what they liked, what was challenging or what they learned. We examined whether they mentioned the clan system (Crow Relationally), or the Creation Story. |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Recruitment details
5th and 6th grade Youth; recruited through flyers and social media
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Intervention Youth Sessions focused on respect, communication, and relationally. | 10 |
| Total | 10 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Intervention |
|---|---|
| Age, Categorical <=18 years | 10 Participants |
| Age, Categorical >=65 years | 0 Participants |
| Age, Categorical Between 18 and 65 years | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native | 10 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Asian | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) White | 0 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 5 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 5 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk |
|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 10 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 0 / 10 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 0 / 10 |
Outcome results
Primary
Crow Knowledge
Arts-based open-ended question for youth to describe what they liked, what was challenging or what they learned. We examined whether they mentioned the clan system (Crow Relationally), or the Creation Story.
Time frame: 2 week
| Arm | Measure | Category | Value (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intervention | Crow Knowledge | Mentioned Crow Stories | 8 Participants |
| Intervention | Crow Knowledge | Did not Mention Crow stories | 2 Participants |