Research Projects
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Our team presented this work at the Society of Research on Adolescence conference in New Orleans
Nothing about us without us: Amplifying the perspectives of youth with incarcerated parents
Although parental incarceration can drastically impact youth's lives and perpetuate inequities, few supports are available for youth. Additionally, the majority of parental incarceration research centers adult perspectives.
We are conducting a YPAR project with Project YouthBuild, River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding, and team of young adults who have experienced parental incarceration to answer the research question "what are the support needs of youth aged 12-22 with incarcerated parents?"
National Youth Wellbeing Network
The dual pandemics of racial injustice and COVID-19 impacted youth mental health, especially for communities of color, and exacerbated pre-existing inequities. Because most YPAR interventions don’t target mental health, we sought to explore the feasibility of arts-based YPAR as an emotional wellbeing intervention. We created a virtual national network to engage fifteen young people across Florida, California, and Colorado in YPAR to understand their needs for post-pandemic well-being and healing from racial injustices. Young people created and analyzed art (including poetry, music videos, and photography) and decided on actions to take.
Preliminary themes about strengths of the network include: 1) artwork promoted healing and self-expression; 2) network created a sense of community; 3) shared decision-making led to an empowering space; and 4) equitable pay allowed for sustained engagement. Preliminary themes around areas for growth of the network include 1) prefer a longer group duration; 2) need for balanced group composition across states and commitment to being fully engaged; and 3) desire for transparent and structured facilitation.
Use of Research Evidence
Our team presented this work at the Society for Community Research and Action Biennial in Atlanta
In YPAR, youth conduct research that often results in evidence-based, actionable recommendations for change. However, this change does not always happen. We are trying to better understand the factors that support schools and districts to utilize youth-generated research evidence. Previous research has looked at what it takes to bring evidence-based decision-making into policy more generally. However, researchers have not yet examined readiness for the use of youth generated research evidence, and if readiness for this process differs from what readiness looks like for the use of general research evidence.
We are conducting a qualitative analysis of interviews with adult YPAR facilitators and educational decision makers to assess readiness and better understand what it takes for decision makers to use youth generated research evidence when making major decisions that impact youths’ lives.