Program of Research on the Prevention of Youth Violence

Mission

The Institute for Prevention Science aims to advance science-based prevention programs and policies through empirical research. We are a collaborative, multidisciplinary team dedicated to increasing the scientific understanding of social and psychological processes related to healthy development and family functioning. We apply that understanding to the design and evaluation of interventions that strengthen children, families, and communities. A primary focus of our work is in the area of youth violence prevention in young children living in socio-economically disadvantaged urban neighborhoods. Prevention of aggressive behavior and conduct disorders in youth has strong implications for reducing school failure and dropout, decreasing criminal behavior and violence, and reducing substance abuse. Prevention trials aim to promote parenting and child competences and reduce risk for early onset conduct problems. Experimental trials address a broad spectrum of questions including short- and long-term program efficacy to reduce conduct and other mental health problems, development of methods to expand access to programs by high-risk groups, and clarification of factors that determine program effectiveness.

Goals

To conduct basic research that seeks to advance the understanding of the causes of childhood conduct problems.

To develop and evaluate cost-effective, community-based programs designed to promote children's social-emotional and academic competence and prevent children from developing later conduct problems.

To provide professional training opportunities in prevention science for medical students, psychiatry residents, psychologists and allied health professionals.

To educate a diverse audience including educators, parents, community leaders, health professionals and the general public through presentations, workshops, collaborations, and publications.

History

The Institute for Prevention Science was established in 1998 to promote research aimed at strengthening parenting and child competencies and preventing conduct problems. Dr. Laurie Miller Brotman is the founding director of the Institute for Prevention Science and was recently named the Corzine Family Associate Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Funding

The Institute for Prevention Science has had funding from the National Institute for Mental Health since its inception. Other funding sources have included the US Department of Education, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, JP Morgan Chase, Inc, Toys R Us, The Bigwood Foundation, Kids of NYU, and private donors.

Who we are

The Institute for Prevention Science includes scientists from diverse professional backgrounds who are concerned with the prevention of mental health problems and the promotion of child social, emotional and academic competence. The Institute has a staff of 40 including 13 Ph.D.s and one M.D. who are Faculty and Research Scientists in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine.

Strengths and Features

• The development of user-friendly, engaging parenting programs and materials for families living in socio-economically disadvantaged neighborhoods
• Designing and implementing multi-modal interventions for children at high-risk for conduct problems
• Bringing evidence-based parenting programs to urban schools
• Direct observation of child and family social interactions in home, school, and community settings
• Developing and improving child and family assessment techniques
• Examining social and biological variables in prevention studies
• Working with schools and communities as partners
• Assessment of and attention to culture
• Measurement of parenting stressors and mental health issues related to child development

STEPS (Screening, Treatment, and Education to Prevent Suicide)

The STEPS initiative identifies and provides access to treatment for teens with mental health problems to reduce risk for suicide and school violence and will be piloted in high schools in Rockland and Orange Counties. Learn more about STEPS.

Current Research

Early Primary Prevention of Conduct Problems: Building Blocks

Key staff: Laurie Miller Brotman, Ph.D., Principal Investigator
Rachel G. Klein, Ph.D., and Kathleen Kiely Gouley, Ph.D.,Co-Investigators
Project Director: Kathleen Kiely Gouley, Ph.D.
Funding Source: National Institute of Mental Health

This randomized trial tests the short and long-term effects of a prevention program with preschoolers at familial risk for conduct problems. The preventive intervention, Building Blocks, consists of parenting groups, children's groups, parent-child interactions and home visits. Parenting group content was based on the evidence-based Incredible Years program. Participants are 92 parents and 99 preschoolers who had older siblings adjudicated for delinquent acts. Families were randomly assigned to intervention or control conditions. Parenting practices and child behavior are assessed prior to and following the intervention and yearly through fifth grade. Parenting practices are measured via blinded observations in the home and laboratory, and parent report. Child behavior is measured via blinded observations in the home, laboratory and peer settings, parent and teacher report, and tests. To date, study findings suggest that the prevention program leads to important changes in parenting, including reduction in harsh discipline and promotion of school readiness skills in high-risk children. Children and families are being followed as they enter elementary school. Longitudinal evaluation of children's behavior is crucial for documenting effects of the intervention on the prevention of antisocial behavior in school and community settings. An active Community Advisory Board meets monthly to review study findings and contribute to study presentations and publications.

For more information on the Institute for Prevention Science, contact services@AboutOurKids.org.