Other Titles

Rising Star Poster/Presentation - Rapid Presentation Round

Abstract

Support To Reunite, Involve, and Value Each Other (STRIVE) is a five-session manualized psycho-educational family intervention that incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy strategies to facilitate communication skill development, problem solving, and creating a positive family atmosphere. This strengths-based dyadic intervention has been shown to reduce delinquency, drug use, and high-risk sexual behaviors among disadvantaged adolescents aged 13 to 17 years with lived experience of homelessness.

The updated STRIVE+ was tested to investigate the possibility for lowering youth risk factors for commercial sexual exploitation. Adolescent behavioral family treatments are an effective strategy to intervene to prevent adverse developmental consequences. The STRIVE+ intervention was piloted with seven dyads in an urban Midwestern academic medical center setting. Dyads, composed of youth aged 13 to 17 years with lived experience of homelessness in the past six months and their self-identified trusted adult, were recruited in 2019, prior to the onset of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, to participate in testing the feasibility of STRIVE+. Twelve to 17 months following the STRIVE+ intervention, all 14 participants (seven adolescents, six parents, and one grandparent) were invited to participate in one-on-one semi-structured interviews via phone or Zoom video conference. Post STRIVE+ initiative, participants noted improvements in communication as one of the greatest observable effects of STRIVE+. The nonjudgmental nature of the STRIVE+ space and the problem-solving strategies taught during the psychoeducational sessions allowed adolescents and parents to create healthier communication styles. Four subthemes emerged highlighting ways improved communication developed: Self-Reflection, Opening UpSystematic Approach to Communication, and Less Yelling. STRIVE+’s facilitation of improved family functioning as described by STRIVE+ participants underscore STRIVE+’s aim to reduce youth risk for homelessness and CSE. The overlapping and intersecting risks associated with family conflict, homelessness, and risk for CSE warrant efforts to support minoritized adolescents and their parents in developing healthier communication, problem solving, and emotion regulation skills by scaling family-based interventions with demonstrated efficacy, such as STRIVE+.

Notes

Presenter notes included in attached slide deck.

Reference list included in attached slide deck.

Description

Support To Reunite, Involve, and Value Each Other (STRIVE) is a strengths-based dyadic intervention with demonstrated efficacy in reducing delinquency, substance use, and high-risk sexual behaviors among marginalized adolescents experiencing homelessness. The modified STRIVE+ was piloted to investigate the possibility of lowering juvenile risk factors for commercial sexual exploitation.

Author Details

Nastacia Taylor, SN - North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, USA

Sigma Membership

Non-member

Type

Presentation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Other

Research Approach

Quantitative Research

Keywords:

Homelessness -- In Adolescence, Medically Underserved -- In Adolescence, Caregivers, STRIVE+

Conference Name

Creating Healthy Work Environments

Conference Host

Sigma Theta Tau International

Conference Location

Washington, DC, USA

Conference Year

2024

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2026-02-16

Click on the above link to access the slide deck.

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Examining How the STRIVE+ Intervention Affects Caregivers' Comfort Levels and Behaviors: A Quantitative Study

Washington, DC, USA

Support To Reunite, Involve, and Value Each Other (STRIVE) is a five-session manualized psycho-educational family intervention that incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy strategies to facilitate communication skill development, problem solving, and creating a positive family atmosphere. This strengths-based dyadic intervention has been shown to reduce delinquency, drug use, and high-risk sexual behaviors among disadvantaged adolescents aged 13 to 17 years with lived experience of homelessness.

The updated STRIVE+ was tested to investigate the possibility for lowering youth risk factors for commercial sexual exploitation. Adolescent behavioral family treatments are an effective strategy to intervene to prevent adverse developmental consequences. The STRIVE+ intervention was piloted with seven dyads in an urban Midwestern academic medical center setting. Dyads, composed of youth aged 13 to 17 years with lived experience of homelessness in the past six months and their self-identified trusted adult, were recruited in 2019, prior to the onset of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, to participate in testing the feasibility of STRIVE+. Twelve to 17 months following the STRIVE+ intervention, all 14 participants (seven adolescents, six parents, and one grandparent) were invited to participate in one-on-one semi-structured interviews via phone or Zoom video conference. Post STRIVE+ initiative, participants noted improvements in communication as one of the greatest observable effects of STRIVE+. The nonjudgmental nature of the STRIVE+ space and the problem-solving strategies taught during the psychoeducational sessions allowed adolescents and parents to create healthier communication styles. Four subthemes emerged highlighting ways improved communication developed: Self-Reflection, Opening UpSystematic Approach to Communication, and Less Yelling. STRIVE+’s facilitation of improved family functioning as described by STRIVE+ participants underscore STRIVE+’s aim to reduce youth risk for homelessness and CSE. The overlapping and intersecting risks associated with family conflict, homelessness, and risk for CSE warrant efforts to support minoritized adolescents and their parents in developing healthier communication, problem solving, and emotion regulation skills by scaling family-based interventions with demonstrated efficacy, such as STRIVE+.