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Completed

NCT Number: NCT03051997

Increasing Caregiver Engagement in Juvenile Drug Courts

The purpose of this study is to test a prize-based contingency management intervention for increasing caregiver engagement in juvenile drug court and adolescent drug treatment, and for achieving the ultimate outcomes of reduced substance use and delinquent behavior among drug court-involved youth.

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Key information

Conditions

Substance Abuse Chemically-Induced Disorders Mental Disorders Substance-Related Disorders

Age range

13 year–89 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Montgomer County Juvenile Court, 380 West Second Street, Dayton, Ohio, United States

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About this study

Juvenile offenders with substance abuse problems represent a large and underserved population that is at high risk of deleterious outcomes and long-term costs for themselves, their families, communities, and society. Moreover, a high percentage of substance abusing adolescents continue to abuse substances and engage in criminal activity into adulthood. Although one juvenile justice intervention, Juvenile Drug Court (JDC), has emerged as a promising model for reducing drug use and delinquency among youth, its effectiveness is variable. Drug court outcomes may be compromised by the lack of caregiver engagement in JDC processes and adolescent drug treatment. Incorporating easily implemented evidence-based incentive programs in JDCs might improve their effectiveness in reducing youth drug use and re-offending. An extensive body of research supports the critical role that families play in the etiology, maintenance, and treatment of adolescent substance abuse. Although family-based interventions for adolescent substance abuse have been shown to be superior to other treatment modalities, parents must attend treatment and participate in meaningful ways for these superior outcomes to be realized. This randomized clinical trial will examine the efficacy of a prize-based contingency management intervention for increasing caregiver engagement (attendance and participation) in JDC and adolescent drug treatment. This caregiver contingency management intervention (CCM) will be compared with drug court treatment as usual (TAU). Increased caregiver participation is predicted to improve adolescent outcomes (decreased drug use and delinquent behavior). One hundred and eighty youth enrolled in JDC will be randomly assigned along with a parent/caregiver to TAU or CCM. Analyses will examine measures of caregiver engagement in JDC as well as youth substance use (urine drug screens) and delinquent activity. Results from this study will demonstrate the effectiveness of CCM procedures for increasing caregiver attendance and participation in JDC and adolescent drug treatment above and beyond drug court and usual care. If effective, the CCM approach may ultimately be used to enhance JDC outcomes, thereby reducing substance use and recidivism in juvenile offenders served by this promising juvenile justice intervention.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

for youth:

  • Involved in juvenile drug court
  • Aged 13-17 years
  • Youth is willing to participate
  • At least one caregiver is willing to participate in the youth's treatment
  • Fluent in English or Spanish

Exclusion criteria

for youth:

  • Diagnosed with intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder

Inclusion criteria

for caregivers:

  • Caregiver of youth involved in juvenile drug court
  • Caregiver is willing to participate
  • Fluent in English or Spanish

Exclusion criteria

for caregivers:

  • Diagnosed with intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder

Inclusion criteria

for therapists:

  • Providing substance abuse treatment to a youth in juvenile drug court

Exclusion criteria

for therapists:

  • None

Inclusion criteria

for Juvenile Drug Court Personnel:

  • Personnel working in juvenile drug court

Exclusion criteria

for Juvenile Drug Court Personnel:

  • None

Treatment and study plan

Caregiver Contingency Management + Usual Drug Court Treatment

Behavioral

In addition to receiving JDC treatment as usual described below, caregiver participants will receive prize draws for engaging in activities consistent with their adolescents' successful completion of the JDC program during the time the youth is actively involved in JDC and substance abuse treatment. Specific activities that may be reinforced include: attendance at drug court hearings; accompanying the youth to probation meetings; participating in home visits; attendance at the youth's drug treatment sessions; attendance at mental health provider meetings; attending groups for parents of youth with substance abuse issues; and completing other verifiable treatment-related activities. All activities will meet the goals of (directly or indirectly) enhancing caregiver participation in the JDC and/or treatment process. Caregivers will receive escalating chances for tangible reinforcers each week for completing up to 3 of the activities agreed upon by the caregiver and the therapist.

Usual Drug Court Treatment

Behavioral

Standard outpatient substance abuse treatment services that a young person would receive while participating in JDC.

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants With Positive Urine Drug Screens at 5 Months Post-baseline

    Time frame: Baseline to 5 months

    This measure reflects the number of positive urine drug screens for THC, amphetamines, methamphetamines, opiates, cocaine, benzodiazepines, MDMA, and oxycodone collected from youth participants. Assessed at baseline and 5 months; data reported for 5-month time point

  2. Frequency of Substance Use and Substance-related Problems Self-reported by Youth on the Global Appraisal of Individual Needs.

    Time frame: Baseline, 5 months

    The GAIN Substance Frequency Scale assesses frequency of substance use over the past 90 days. Scores range from 0 (no use) to 90 (daily use). Higher scores indicate greater substance use severity.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Changes From Baseline to 18 Months Post-baseline in Youth Arrests, Charges, and Convictions.

    Time frame: Baseline to 18 months

    Number of youth arrests, charges, and convictions measured via official arrest records.

  2. Changes From Baseline to 18 Months Post-baseline in Youth Delinquent Behaviors (Measured at 0, 3, 5, 6, 9, 12, and 18 Months).

    Time frame: Baseline to 18 months

    Frequency of delinquent behaviors self-reported by youth using the Self-Report Delinquency Scale.

  3. Changes From Baseline to 18 Months Post-baseline in Caregiver Reports on Youth Internalizing Symptoms and Externalizing Behaviors (Measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, and 18 Months).

    Time frame: Baseline to 18 months

    Frequency of youth's internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors measured with the Child Behavior Checklist (caregiver report).

  4. Changes From Baseline to 18 Months Post-baseline in Youth Reports on Youth Internalizing Symptoms and Externalizing Behaviors (Measured at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, and 18 Months).

    Time frame: Baseline to 18 months

    Frequency of youth's internalizing symptoms and externalizing behaviors measured with the Brief Problem Checklist (youth report).

  5. Changes From Baseline to Post-treatment in Caregiver Substance Use Problems.

    Time frame: Baseline through treatment completion, an average of 4 months

    Frequency and severity of substance use problems self-reported by caregivers on the Addiction Severity Index.

  6. Changes From Baseline to Post-treatment in Caregiver Depressive Symptoms.

    Time frame: Baseline through treatment completion, an average of 4 months

    Frequency and severity of depressive symptoms self-reported by caregivers on the Beck Depression Inventory.

  7. Changes From Baseline to Post-treatment in Therapist-Family Working Alliance (Measured at 1, 2, 3, and 4 Months, as Well as Post-treatment).

    Time frame: Baseline through treatment completion, an average of 4 months

    Levels of alliance during treatment reported by therapists, caregivers, and youth on the Working Alliance Inventory.

  8. Changes From Baseline to Post-treatment in Caregiver Treatment Attendance and Activity Completion (Measured at 1, 2, 3, and 4 Months, as Well as Post-treatment).

    Time frame: Baseline through treatment completion, an average of 4 months

    Frequency of caregiver attendance at their youth's substance use treatment sessions and completion of therapeutic activities reported by therapists on the Session Tracking Sheet.

  9. Changes From Baseline to the End of JDC Involvement in Caregiver Attendance at JDC Sessions.

    Time frame: Baseline through the end of JDC involvement, an average of 12 months

    Frequency of caregiver attendance at their youth's JDC sessions reported by JDC personnel on the JDC Attendance Form.

  10. Rates of Treatment Completion.

    Time frame: Up to 4 months on average

    Rates of youth treatment completion reported by therapists using the Treatment Termination Form.

  11. Levels of Satisfaction With Treatment and JDC.

    Time frame: Up to 4 months on average

    Levels of satisfaction with substance use treatment and JDC reported by caregivers and youth on the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire.

  12. Changes From Baseline to Post-treatment in Caregiver Perceptions of Incentive Programs.

    Time frame: Baseline through treatment completion, an average of 4 months

    Ratings by caregivers on perceptions of incentive-based interventions as measured by the Provider Survey of Incentives.

  13. Changes From Baseline to 36 Months Post-baseline in Therapist and JDC Personnel Perceptions of Incentive Programs (Measured at 0, 12, 24, and 36 Months).

    Time frame: Baseline to 36 months

    Ratings by therapists and JDC personnel on perceptions of incentive-based interventions as measured by the Provider Survey of Incentives.

  14. Reports at Post-treatment on Youth and Caregiver Attitudes Toward Incentive Programs.

    Time frame: Up to 4 months on average

    Youth and caregiver attitudes toward incentive programs as measured during qualitative interviews.

  15. Changes From Baseline to 36 Months Post-baseline in Therapist and JDC Personnel Attitudes Toward Incentive Programs (Measured at 0, 12, 24, and 36 Months).

    Time frame: Baseline to 36 months

    Therapist and JDC personnel attitudes toward incentive programs as measured during qualitative interviews.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Medical University of South Carolina

Other

Collaborators

  • Alliant International University
  • Baylor University
  • National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  • Wayne State University

Registry information

Official study title

Behavioral Incentives to Increase Caregiver Engagement in Juvenile Drug Courts

Important dates

Study start
2017
Primary completion
2023
Study completion
2024
First posted
Feb 14, 2017
Registry last updated
Dec 8, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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