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iHeLP: Interactive Technology to Prevent Substance Use in Foster Youth

Award Number: R34DA034822
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2013
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2018

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iHeLP: Interactive Technology to Prevent Substance Use in Foster Youth - DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant Each year, roughly 30,000 youth exit the foster care system due to "aging out" at age 18, losing access to support services while also becoming fully responsible for their own financial, health, employment, and housing needs. Progressing from homes disproportionately high in neglect, maltreatment, and parental substance use, these emerging adults face independence with an increased likelihood of developing substance use disorders. Once removed from foster care, these youth have far less access to health services compared to their non- foster care peers. Moreover, substance use services offered within the foster care system are often difficult to access. The proposed pilot intervention study seeks to address these gaps in availability, accessibility, and use of substance use services for youth aging out of the foster care system. Computer- and mobile phone-based interventions have the capacity to provide evidence-based treatment content while reducing many of the barriers relevant to substance use service delivery for foster youth. The proposed study will begin a program of research to synthesize the benefits of these approaches in a way that addresses the needs of a vulnerable population with many barriers to care. More specifically, this project involves the development and pilot data collection of a preventive intervention (iHeLP) targeting the reduction of problematic substance use among foster youth who are aging out of care. Rooted in motivational interviewing, the transtheoretical model, and social cognitive theory, iHeLP is a one-time computerized screening and brief intervention (SBI), supplemented by six months of tailored text messaging based on participants' SBI results and subsequent fluctuations in their readiness to change. The goal of this pilot study is to obtain preliminary daa on acceptability, feasibility, and initial efficacy. Focus groups will be conducted in which twenty four 17-year old foster youth will provide qualitative feedback on the perceived utility, likelihoo of use, and preferences for the content, interface, and functionality of the proposed intervention components. Results will be used to modify the intervention content/format, which then will be delivered to sixteen foster youth in an open trial of iHeLP. Further alterations may result from the qualitative and quantitative results of the open trial. Finally, thirty youth will participate n a pilot randomized controlled trial, testing the efficacy of iHeLP against a contact-control conditio. The use of daily text messaging represents a novel method for delivering intervention boosters. Low-intensity, high-frequency interactions are a marked change from traditional interventions and have high potential for extending initial gains. In addition, tailoring of these messages through dynamic, text-based communication with participants is innovative. Given the potential of wide dissemination to multiple at-risk populations at low cost, the proposed study has high potential public health and clinical significance.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = -$3,845 )
2020	2015	PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EVALUATION	11720 BELTSVILLE DR STE 900	BELTSVILLE	MD	20705	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	001	3	5/21/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$365
2020	2015	PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EVALUATION	11720 BELTSVILLE DR STE 900	BELTSVILLE	MD	20705	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	3	2/18/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$3,480
														Subtotal = -$3,845

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = -$169 )
2018	2015	PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EVALUATION	11720 BELTSVILLE DR STE 900	BELTSVILLE	MD	20705	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	3	8/28/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$169
														Subtotal = -$169

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2017	2015	PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND EVALUATION	11720 BELTSVILLE DR STE 900	BELTSVILLE	MD	20705	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	3	2/16/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2015 ( Subtotal = $229,082 )
2015	2015	PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH & EVALUATION	11710 BELTSVILLE DR, SUITE 300	BELTSVILLE	MD	20705	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	3	4/24/2015	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$229,082
														Subtotal = $229,082

Issue Date FY: 2014 ( Subtotal = $231,530 )
2014	2014	PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH & EVALUATION	11710 BELTSVILLE DR, SUITE 300	BELTSVILLE	MD	20705	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	2	4/16/2014	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$231,530
														Subtotal = $231,530

Issue Date FY: 2013 ( Subtotal = $220,940 )
2013	2013	PACIFIC INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH & EVALUATION	11710 BELTSVILLE DR, SUITE 300	BELTSVILLE	MD	20705	PRINCE GEORGES	USA	Drug Use and Addiction Research Programs	000	1	5/20/2013	NEW	$220,940
														Subtotal = $220,940

Grand Total All Awards = $677,538

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iHeLP: Interactive Technology to Prevent Substance Use in Foster Youth

Award Number: R34DA034822

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2013

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2018

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