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Completed

NCT Number: NCT05658068

Systems Aligning for Equity (SAFE) Spaces

The goal of this 2-arm cluster randomized clinical trial is to test whether an evidence-based staff training and coaching model specifically designed as a response to legal system-involved youths' and frontline staff's mental health needs can improve the safety and suicide outcomes, mental health challenges, and wellness and facility climate for youth and staff in facilities assigned to the intervention condition. Staff in facilities assigned to the intervention are eligible to receive evidence-based programming in suicide detection and prevention (Shield of Care; SOC) and wellness skill-building (Skills for Life) through training and personalized coaching. Multiple training sessions will be offered to small groups of staff in-person in residential facilities and paired with personalized in-person and virtual coaching. Staff and youth in all facilities will be asked to complete periodic surveys assessing experiences in the facility, suicide and safety knowledge and risk, and their mental health and wellness. Researchers will compare outcomes of staff in youth in facilities assigned to the intervention compared to facilities in the training-as-usual condition.

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Key information

Conditions

Suicide Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Burnout, Professional Burnout, Psychological Mental Disorder Mental Disorders Mental Health Occupational Diseases Occupational Stress Personal Satisfaction Psychological Well-Being Self Harm Self-Injurious Behavior Stress, Psychological

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

New York University

New York, 10003, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Placement in in ACS-run or contracted residential facilities enrolled in the study during the first 2 years of the intervention period
  • Proficiency in English

Exclusion criteria

  • Not placed in an ACS run-or contracted facility enrolled in the study during the study period
  • Lack of proficiency in English.

Treatment and study plan

SAFE Spaces training and coaching

Behavioral

Staff in facilities assigned to the intervention are eligible to receive evidence-based programming in suicide detection and prevention (Shield of Care; SOC) and wellness skill-building (Skills for Life) through training and personalized coaching. Multiple training sessions will be offered to small groups of staff in-person in residential facilities and paired with personalized in-person and virtual coaching.

Primary outcomes

  1. Decreases in Suicidal Ideation Questionnaire (Davis, 1992) and suicide subscale of Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (Grisso et al., 2001)

    Time frame: 1 year

    Change in suicide ideation, thoughts, and behaviors

  2. Decreases on Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (Nock et al., 2007)

    Time frame: 1 year

    Change in self-harm thoughts and behaviors

  3. Decreases on internalizing and externalizing subscales of Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (Grisso et al., 2001)

    Time frame: 1 year

    Change in mental health correlates of suicide

  4. Decreased burnout and increased job efficacy on the Professional Quality of Life measure (Stramm, 2016) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory

    Time frame: 1 year

    Change in staff burnout and job efficacy

  5. Change in responses on the Inventory of Depression and Anxiety Symptoms (Watson et al., 2007)

    Time frame: 1 year

    Change in staff mental health

  6. Increased suicide knowledge and response skills from Tennessee's state-wide gatekeeper training (Schut & Lockman, 2013)

    Time frame: 1 year

    Change in suicide knowledge and response skills

  7. Increased self-harm knowledge response skills from Tennessee's state-wide gatekeeper training (Schut & Lockman, 2013)

    Time frame: 1 year

    Change in self-harm knowledge and response skills

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

New York University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Experimental Evaluation of a Multi-site Suicide Intervention for Youth During and After Residential Placement

Acronym: SAFE Spaces

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 20, 2022
Registry last updated
Jan 7, 2026

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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