The focus of this research is an innovative community-based intervention that combines mentoring with self-esteem enhancement and health education/promotion strategies to prevent mental health problems and health-compromising behaviors among urban, minority young adolescent girls (ages 10-14). The intervention model, developed by Big Brothers/Big Sisters (BB/BS) of Metropolitan Chicago, involves combining traditional one-on-one mentoring with the joint participation of mentors and youth in an extended series of workshops that use experiential learning and skill-building activities to strengthen self-esteem and promote positive health behavior. The overall aim of the research is to prepare for conducting a full-scale efficacy trial of the intervention. Specific objectives are: (1) to develop and pilot research-based innovations to the core intervention model; (2) to standardize intervention materials and the evaluation protocol; and (3) to conduct a small-scale piloting and feasibility study. Innovations to the program will be developed in four areas: (1) self-esteem building strategies (i.e., enhancement of multidimensional self-esteem; coping with prejudice and discrimination); (2) health education/promotion activities (workshops on specific health behaviors: substance use, sexuality, diet/nutrition and exercise); (3) procedures to facilitate generalization of workshop experiences (between-session assignments; resource materials for mentors, youth, and parents/guardians; group reunions); and (4) a """"""""built in"""""""" evaluation component (monitoring of program implementation by staff and mentors; assessment of participating youths' self-esteem and health knowledge/attitudes). In the piloting and feasibility study, a sample of 40 youth will be assigned randomly to receive either the intervention (i.e., mentoring and workshops) or traditional mentoring through the same host agency (i.e., BB/BS of Metropolitan Chicago). The chief goals of the study will be to pilot and further refine the intervention protocol and measures; assess feasibility of procedures for implementing and evaluating the intervention in a controlled outcome study (i.e., participant and mentor recruitment, randomized assignment, measurement and data collection methods); gather data to estimate intervention parameters (i.e., effect size, attrition rates, response rates); and perform preliminary analyses of program effects on outcomes as well as potential mediators and moderators of effects.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21MH069564-01
Application #
6704274
Study Section
Social Sciences, Nursing, Epidemiology and Methods 4 (SNEM)
Program Officer
Vitiello, Benedetto
Project Start
2004-03-01
Project End
2007-02-28
Budget Start
2004-03-01
Budget End
2005-02-28
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$173,013
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Illinois at Chicago
Department
Public Health & Prev Medicine
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
098987217
City
Chicago
State
IL
Country
United States
Zip Code
60612
Keller, Thomas E; Overton, Bahia; Pryce, Julia M et al. (2018) ""I really wanted her to have a Big Sister"": Caregiver perspectives on mentoring for early adolescent girls. Child Youth Serv Rev 88:308-315