Forging Hopeful Futures to Reduce Youth Violence

The primary outcome will be past 3-month youth violence perpetration. This will be measured by self-report on 3 items adapted from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, using a past-3 month reporting interval: 1) physical fighting ("How many times were you in a physical fight?"), 2) threatening someone with a weapon ("How many times have you threatened someone with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club?"), and 3) injuring someone with a weapon ("How many times have you injured someone with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club?"). Each item will be assessed with 8 frequency response categories from 0 times to 12 or more times. A summary score will capture the past 3-month incidence of all 3 behaviors (possible range: 0- 21;lower score indicates better outcome)

This will be measured using the same 3 items outlined in the primary outcome, but assessed as a change from baseline to 6 months after program conclusion. This includes self-report on 3 items adapted from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey, using a past-3 month reporting interval: 1) physical fighting ("How many times were you in a physical fight?"), 2) threatening someone with a weapon ("How many times have you threatened someone with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club?"), and 3) injuring someone with a weapon ("How many times have you injured someone with a weapon such as a gun, knife, or club?"). Each item will be assessed with 8 frequency response categories from 0 times to 12 or more times. A summary score will capture the past 3-month incidence of all 3 behaviors (possible range: 0- 21;lower score indicates better outcome)

10 abusive behavior items, modified from Conflict Tactics Scale-2, assess for perpetration against dating partners or towards peers. Summary score of any recent use of violence in the past 3 months (physical, sexual and emotional relationship abuse) calculated as one point for each behavior then summed (possible range: 0-10; lower score indicates better outcome).

4 sexual violence perpetration items assess recent sexual violence perpetration (any/none). Summary score of any recent sexual violence perpetration in the past 3 months, calculated as one point for each behavior then summed (possible range: 0-4; lower score indicates better outcome).

8 items assess using technology to perpetrate abuse against a dating partner or peers. Summary score of any recent use of technology to perpetrate abuse against a dating partner or peers in the past 3 months, calculated as one point for each behavior then summed (possible range: 0-8; lower score indicates better outcome).

6 items to indicate frequency of bullying perpetration on 4-point frequency scale. Mean score of any recent bullying perpetration in the past 3 months, calculated as a mean score across the 6 items (possible range: 0-3; lower score indicates better outcome).

4-item scale adapted from a cyberbullying perpetration scale, assessing perpetration frequency on a 4-point frequency scale. Mean score of recent cyberbullying perpetration in the past 3 months, calculated as a mean across the 4 items (possible range:0-3; lower score indicated better outcome).

1 item adapted from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey asking about frequency of carrying a weapon in the past 30 days (measured on a 5-point frequency scale from 0 days to 6 or more days; possible range: 0-4; lower score indicates better outcome).

5-item scale with participants reporting how often they have perpetrated listed behaviors in the past 3 months (each item measured on a 6-point frequency scale from 0 times to 7 or more times). Mean score of recent homophobic teasing, calculated as a mean across the 5 items (possible range: 0-5; lower score indicates better outcome).

5 items assess frequency of perpetrating sexual harassing behaviors in the past 3 months, assessing perpetration frequency on a 5-point frequency scale. Mean score of recent sexual harassment perpetration in the past 3 months, calculated as a mean across the 5 items (possible range:0-4; lower score indicated better outcome).