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Nen ŨnkUmbi/EdaHiYedo Plus (We Are Here Now Plus): a Multi-level Intervention to Reduce Health Disparities Among American Indian Youth

Nen ŨnkUmbi/EdaHiYedo Plus (NE+): a Multi-level Intervention to Reduce Health Disparities Among American Indian Youth

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07460973
Acronym
NE+
Enrollment
843
Registered
2026-03-10
Start date
2026-03-23
Completion date
2029-05-01
Last updated
2026-05-12

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Condom Use, Healthy, Mental Health, Substance Use (Drugs, Alcohol)

Keywords

Sexual and reproductive health, Mental health, Substance use

Brief summary

We Are Here Now - Plus (NE+) is a holistic, culturally centered, and multilevel intervention for American Indian youth to improve sexual health, mental health, and substance use outcomes. The goal of this intervention is to learn if NE+ can decrease substance use during sex, decrease sexual activity, increase condom use, increase positive mental health, increase caregiver(parent)-youth communication, increase communication between school personnel and youth, and increase utilization of clinical services. Researchers will compare one intervention arm to one control arm to see if the aforementioned indicators improve among the intervention arm for youth participants. Youth participants (ages 12-18) will participate in a 9-month educational program consisting of 18 modules that discuss healthy relationships, puberty & physiology (separate girls & boys), parenting, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention, sexual avoidant behaviors with a focus on abstinence, substance use prevention with a focus on abstinence and refusal skills, & positive mental health, resources; skills (high school)- self-efficacy, refusal skills, decision making, communication, abstinence; skills (middle school) - health knowledge, self-efficacy, boundaries, communication, abstinence. Youth will also participate in six teachings offered by local cultural leaders that coincide with educational modules, including: kinship networks & family; cultural values; 7 sacred roles of tribal members; ceremonies; cultural teachings and responsibilities of women & men in tribe & ceremonies; Indigenous worldview; skills - knowledge of traditional ways, language & cultural people to go to for help; community members roles & responsibilities in tribe & ceremonies. Caregiver (parent) participants will participate in three in-person visits/meetings to discuss the following: visit 1 - age specific physical, cognitive, emotional, spiritual development; visit 2: prevention of substance use, promoting positive mental health, promotion of healthy relationships; skills -communication with youth; visit 3 - pregnancy and STIs/HIV prevention and abstinence from sex, parental monitoring, tribal resources. School personnel participants will participate in three workshops during teacher in-service training days, including the following information: Workshop 1 - cultural teachings on kinship & family networks, cultural values, cultural age & community roles; Workshop 2 - sexual risk avoidant behaviors, substance use prevention, positive mental health promotion, pregnancy STIs/HIV prevention, tribal resources; Workshop 3 - culturally respectful communication skills by age & youth (boy/girl) and age & caregiver (male/female); skills - knowledge of cultural ways, substance use prevention, positive mental health promotion, sexual risk avoidant behaviors, culturally respectful communication.

Interventions

BEHAVIORALNE+

School-based learning intervention consisting of 18 learning modules taught over 9 months.

BEHAVIORALControl

Participants will not receive any educational material in this arm and will only provide survey responses to act as control observations.

Sponsors

Montana State University
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
CollaboratorNIH
Northern Arizona University
CollaboratorOTHER
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
CollaboratorOTHER
Fort Peck Community College
CollaboratorUNKNOWN

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
12 Years to 18 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* 12 to 18 years old * Registered member of a federally recognized tribe or an associate tribal member * Resident of the Fort Peck Reservation with a caregiver who agrees for their child to participate in the intervention

Exclusion criteria

* Not meeting any of the aforementioned inclusion criteria * Having a medically identified physical or cognitive impairment that would impede their understanding of and participation in the educational content, activities, and teachings of the intervention

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change from baseline in mean number of times participants recently (in the past month) engaged in sexual intercourseFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of days (of past 30 days) youth reported smoking cigarettesFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of youth who reported ever using an electronic vapor productFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times injection drugs were used in past 30 daysFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times injection drugs were used in lifetimeFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times hallucinogenic drugs were used in past 30 daysFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times ecstasy was used in past 30 daysFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times methamphetamines were used in past 30 daysFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times heroin was used in past 30 daysFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times glue, aerosol spray, or other inhalants were used in past 30 daysFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times cocaine was used in past 30 daysFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times hallucinogenic drugs (e.g., acid) were used in lifetimeFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times ecstasy was used in lifetimeFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times methamphetamines were used in lifetimeFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times heroin was used in lifetimeFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times glue, aerosol spray, or other inhalants were used in lifetimeFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times any form of cocaine has been used in lifetimeFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times prescription pain medicine without doctor's prescription was used in the past 30 daysFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times prescription pain medicine was used without a doctor's prescription in lifetimeFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times in the past 30 days youth reported using marijuanaFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean age at which youth reported first using marijuana for the first timeFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times youth reported using marijuana in their lifeFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of drinks (in the past 30 days) that youth reported having in a rowFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of days (in past 30 days) youth reported having 4 or more drinks of alcohol in a row (for males) or 5 or more drinks of alcohol in a row (for females)From baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of days (in past 30 days) youth reported having at least one drink of alcoholFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in the mean age at which youth reported having alcohol for the first timeFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of days (in past 30 days) youth reported using an electronic vapor productFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of times birth control was used during sexual intercourseFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean depressive symptoms scoreFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change in baseline in mean number of youth who have ever smoked a cigaretteFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean anxiety scoreFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean condom use frequency relative to sexual intercourse frequency in the past monthFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of participants reporting if they have ever had sexual intercourseFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baselineMeasuring the mean number of youth who report having ever had sex to examine if youth in the intervention arm have less initiation of sexual intercourse compared to youth in control arm.
Change from baseline in mean age when participants first engage in sexual intercourseFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of lifetime sex partnersFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean number of recent (past-month) sex partnersFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean age of youth initiating tobacco useFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change from baseline in mean condom use self-efficacy score derived from Talashek's Condom Use Self Efficacy ScaleFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baselineTalashek's condom use self-efficacy scale consists of 6 questions regarding condom use self-efficacy (e.g., "I could get condoms") with likert-type responses ranging from 1-5 (1 Yes, I could; 2 Maybe I could; 3 Don't Know; 4 Probably I could not; 5 No, I could not). Scores from each item will be summed to create a sum score between 5 and 30.
Change from baseline in mean condom use intention score derived from one question with a likert-type response set from the Youth Health Risk Behavioral InventoryFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baselineOne single question asks youth how likely it is that they intend to use a condom the next time they have sex, assessed by a likert-type response set of answers ranging from 1-5, where 1 is the least likely and 5 is the most likely.
Change from baseline in mean beliefs about birth control score from the pathways of choice surveyFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline18 questions from the pathways of choice survey, each with a likert-type response set (1 = strongly disagree, 2 = disagree, 3 = neither agree nor disagree, 4 = agree, 5 = strongly agree) will be summed to create a composite score between 18 and 90.
Change from baseline in mean score of knowledge of healthy relationships from the Native STAND (students together against negative decisions) surveyFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline10 questions from the Native STAND survey ask participants if a certain characteristic is representative of a healthy relationship. Participants respond "no" or "yes", where answers of "no" are coded to 0 and "yes" coded to 1. All answers will be summed to create a composite score from 0 to 10.
Change from baseline in mean sexual refusal score derived from a sexual refusal scale from the sexual refusal skills regarding sexFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baselineParticipants are asked 7 questions pertaining to their confidence in being able to refuse sex in different scenarios. The responses range from 1-5 (1, I Definitely Can Say No; 2, I Can Say No; 3, I Don't Know; 4, I Can't Say No; 5, I Definitely Can't Say No). All responses will be summed to create a composite score ranging from 7 to 35.
Change from baseline in mean score on knowledge of sexually transmitted infections and other sexual health itemsFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baseline
Change from baseline in mean caregiver-youth communication score derived from the Parent-Adolescent Communication ScaleFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baselineParticipants are asked 5 questions about how often they speak with their parents about topics regarding sexual health (e.g., "In the past 6 months, how often have you and y our parent(s) talked about how to use condoms?"), where responses range from 0=never, 1=rarely, 2=sometimes, and 3=often. Responses are summed to create a composite score ranging from 0 to 15.
Change from baseline in mean caregiver-adolescent openness score derived from the Parent-adolescent communication scaleFrom baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baselineParticipants are asked 10 questions regarding their openness with their parents (e.g., "I can discuss my beliefs with my mother/father without feeling restrained or embarrassed"), where responses are: 1, Strongly disagree; 2, Somewhat disagree; 3, Neither disagree nor agree; 4, Somewhat agree; 5, Strongly agree. Responses will be summed to create a composite score ranging from 10 to 50.
Change from baseline in mean cultural connectedness score derive from the cultural connectedness scale (short form)From baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baselineParticipants are asked 10 questions regarding how connected they feel to their culture in three different domains (identity, spirituality, and traditions). Response sets include 1=yes and 0=no, as well as likert-type responses (1=strongly disagree, 2=somewhat disagree, 3=neither agree nor disagree, 4=somewhat agree, 5=strongly agree). Responses will be summed to create a composite score for cultural connectedness ranging from 0 to 30.
Change from baseline in mean communication score between youth and school personnel derived from an adapted Ambulatory Care Experiences (ACE) survey.From baseline to 9 months post-baseline, 14 months post-baseline, and 26 months post-baselineParticipants are asked 8 questions about their communication and relationship with school personnel, with response sets from 1, Strongly disagree; 2, Somewhat disagree; 3, Neither disagree nor agree; 4, Somewhat agree; 5, Strongly agree. Responses will be summed to create a composite score from 8 to 40.

Countries

United States

Contacts

CONTACTElizabeth L Rink, PhD, MSW
elizabeth.rink@montana.edu406-600-0297
CONTACTMolly Secor, PhD
molly.secor@montana.edu
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORElizabeth L Rink, PhD, MSW

Montana State University

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORJulie Baldwin, PhD

Northern Arizona University

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORMolly Secor, PhD

Montana State University

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 13, 2026