An efficacy and effectiveness trial of a school-based prevention program for newcomer immigrant youth - YEDI-Affiliated Project
William Martinez, Professor
UC San Francisco
Applications for Fall 2024 are closed for this project.
The present study is a randomized control trial to evaluate the efficacy and effectiveness of a school-based group prevention program (Fuerte) in San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) Public Schools. Fuerte targets newcomer Latinx immigrant youth (five years or less post arrival in the U.S.) who are at risk of experiencing traumatic stress. In particular, the Fuerte program focuses on increasing youth's mental health literacy, improving their social functioning, and identifying and connecting at-risk youth to specialty mental health services. In addition, the present study will also inform effective procedures for adaptations of the Fuerte program for other newcomer immigrant youth from non-Latin American countries. The program will be implemented by mental health providers from various county community-based organizations, as well as from the SFUSD Wellness Centers, who already offer mental health services in SFUSD schools.
If you are selected for this research project, you will be given the opportunity to join the Youth Equity Discovery Initiative (YEDI) program. YEDI is a research apprenticeship and mentorship program that supplements your URAP research work with weekly workshops in both Fall and Spring semesters. YEDI creates a cohort of undergraduate scholars (usually around 20-30, many from underrepresented backgrounds) that are working on youth equity research projects, such as this one. The year-long program utilizes cascading mentorship, skill-building workshops, and professional development to provide supportive pathways into research careers, service, and leadership addressing adolescent inequities and well-being. Scholars greatly benefit from (and enjoy!) the extra training and support, as well as the professional development opportunities (including faculty guest speakers, graduate student and practitioner panels). The program culminates in a research presentation at the end of the program. The 2024-2025 YEDI cohort will meet on Tuesdays from 4:30 - 6:00pm beginning September 24th. In order to take part in the YEDI program, you MUST be able to attend the workshops at this time. As a YEDI scholar, you will sign up for a PH198 class and receive 1 unit. This is in addition to the units you receive for your URAP research project. For any questions about YEDI, please contact Marieka Schotland at mschotland@berkeley.edu or visit our website here (https://i4y.berkeley.edu/youth-equity-discovery-initiative-yedi-program).
We value equity and inclusion; Students from different backgrounds, with diverse identities and experiences, are all encouraged to apply.
Role: 1) Task: Participate in recruitment and the administration of survey instruments in Spanish during routine procedures in compliance with research protocols.
1) Learning outcomes: Become familiar with research protocols and the informed consent process; Practice leading data collection interviews.
2) Task: Conduct literature searches and write literature summaries after the supervisor outlines conceptual approach.
2) Learning outcomes: Practice navigating academic databases and develop critical thinking about the design, methods, and analysis of community-based research.
3) Task: Update study materials, website, and records on research progress.
3) Learning outcomes: Gain first-hand experience in communicating research to increase community engagement; Practice managing the organization of research data.
Qualifications: 1) Ability to work independently (required)
2) We are looking for a minimum of 8 hours of time dedicated to our project per week, with at least half of those hours being in person. We are flexible on which day of the week you are able to do your in-person hours. (required
3) Interest in quantitative and qualitative social science methods (required)
4) Reliability in completing assigned workload tasks on time (required)
5) Interest in adolescent health, particularly adolescent health issues affecting immigrant youth (desirable)
6) Desire to pursue graduate school in public health or allied fields such as clinical psychology, public health, sociology, epidemiology, medicine, etc. (desirable)
Please note in your application if you are fluent in Spanish or a language other than English.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Maria Jimenez-Salazar, Post-Doc
Hours: 9-11 hrs
Off-Campus Research Site: Research activities will include a flexible mix of remote and on-site work at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (1001 Potrero Ave, SF, CA 94110) and SFUSD school sites.
Related website: fuerte.ucsf.edu
Related website: https://profiles.ucsf.edu/william.martinez