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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06045273

The Elders' Resilience Curriculum

The overall goal of this research is to better understand if and how the Elders' Resilience Curriculum (ERC), a culturally grounded, school-based upstream suicide prevention program taught by White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT) Elders to youth, promotes connectedness, cultural strengths, and reasons for living among American Indian youth.

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Key information

Age range

9 year–14 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

CIH Whiteriver Office

Whiteriver, Arizona, 85941, United States

About this study

The overall goal of this research is to better understand if and how the Elders' Resilience Curriculum (ERC), a culturally grounded, school-based upstream suicide prevention program taught by White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT) Elders to youth, promotes connectedness, cultural strengths, and reasons for living among American Indian youth. Prior to this trial, the investigators collaborated with WMAT research partners to gather qualitative data to identify key protective factors and core components of the ERC. After identifying key protective factors and core components of the ERC, the investigators developed a culturally adapted assessment battery and theoretical model to assess the ERC. This study works with White Mountain Apache tribal community partners to collaboratively pilot test a rigorous evaluation of the ERC.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Ages 9-14 years
  • Enrolled in a school where the Elders' Resilience Curriculum is delivered
  • Participating in the Elders' Resilience Curriculum Program

Exclusion criteria

  • Parent/Guardian objection to youth participation

Treatment and study plan

Elders' Resilience Curriculum

Behavioral

The Elders' Resilience Curriculum (ERC) is a culturally grounded, school-based program taught by White Mountain Apache Tribe (WMAT) Elders to youth. It is designed to prevent suicide ideation and behaviors for American Indian youth

Other names: ERC

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Reasons for Life as Assessed by the Reasons for Life Scale

    Time frame: Baseline, 26 weeks

    11 self-report items from the Reasons for Life scale, measures beliefs and experiences that make youth feel like life is enjoyable, worthwhile, and meaningful. Responses range from 1 (not at all) to 3 (a lot) with higher scores indicating more reasons for life. Total scores range from 11-33 with higher scores indicating more reasons for life. Change was calculated from the difference between endline and baseline responses.

  2. Change in Cultural Connectedness as Assessed by the Cultural Connectedness Scale - Short Form

    Time frame: Baseline, 26 weeks

    The Cultural Connectedness Scale-short version is a 9-item self-report measure that assesses connection to cultural identity, traditions, and spirituality among First Nations youth. Responses vary - five questions are yes/no, three questions range from 0 (disagree) to 1 (agree) and the last question ask about frequency, ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (every day). Higher agreement (i.e., "yes" or "agree" responses) indicate greater levels of cultural connectedness. Total scores range from 0-12 with higher scores indicating greater levels of cultural connectedness. Change was calculated from the difference between endline and baseline responses.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Awareness of Connectedness as Assessed by the Awareness of Connectedness Scale

    Time frame: Baseline, 26 weeks

    The Awareness of Connectedness Scale is a 12-item self-report measure that evaluates awareness of connection with self, family, community, and the natural environment. Responses range from 0 (not at all) to 2 (a lot) with higher scores representing greater levels of awareness of connectedness. Total scores range from 0-24 with higher scores representing greater levels of awareness of connectedness. Change was calculated from the difference between endline and baseline responses.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Other

Collaborators

  • National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)

Registry information

Official study title

The Elders' Resilience Curriculum: Toward Building Empirical Evidence Around a Culturally-Grounded, Strengths-Based Intervention

Important dates

Study start
2023
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2024
First posted
Sep 21, 2023
Registry last updated
Jun 4, 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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