YouthNCT05293145
AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program Evaluation
A study testing Building Futures Program Primary Services in people with Youth, run by Midwest Evaluation & Research at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
AVANCE seeks to understand if participation in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures (A-HBF) program is associated with improved outcomes among the target population of at-risk, homeless, and incarcerated youth. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 14 to 18 yearsHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Youth
- What is being tested?
- Building Futures Program Primary Services
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 718 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2021to 29 Aug 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 14 to 18 years
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Child, Adult
Who may be able to join
- Youth (aged 14-18)
- High-needs school districts enrolled in grades 9-12
- Residing in juvenile detention center
Who cannot join
- Adult (age 19 and older)-youth can be age 18 and enrolled into the study
- Youth (age 14 and younger)
- Not enrolled in school (non-incarcerated youth)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Program Evaluation
AVANCE seeks to understand if participation in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures (A-HBF) program is associated with improved outcomes among the target population of at-risk, homeless, and incarcerated youth. Additionally, the evaluation will examine how and why participant-level characteristics such as relationship status, life status, and demographics are associated with greater or lesser benefit from A-HBF program participation. This research will provide insights about the Survival Skills for Healthy Families curriculum and its effectiveness for the target population that can be used in the development of future programming efforts.
Read the detailed description
Trauma-informed services are needed to improve self-sufficiency, economic stability, and healthy relationships among at-risk, homeless, and incarcerated youth in Harris County, especially those living in areas with high numbers of single-family households, high poverty rates, low educational attainment, high teen pregnancy rates, high incidence of domestic violence, and high involvement with the (juvenile) justice system. AVANCE-Houston's Building Futures program (A-HBF) aims to facilitate successful transitions to adulthood for cohorts of at-risk and homeless youth by offering healthy relationship and marriage education through the Survival Skills for Healthy Families (SSHF) curriculum.
Developed by Family Wellness Associates, SSHF is an evidence-based curriculum delivered through a series of workshops that focus on communication skills, conflict resolution, knowledge of the benefits of marriage, stress and anger management, parenting skills, financial literacy, job and career advancement, and relationship skills to improve family and economic stability. AVANCE will offer the curriculum via weekly workshops for youth that take place in targeted high-need areas.
AVANCE seeks to understand if participation in the A-HBF program is associated with improved outcomes among the target population of at-risk and homeless youth. Additionally, the evaluation will examine how and why participant-level characteristics such as relationship status, life status, and demographics are associated with greater or lesser benefit from A-HBF program participation. This research will provide insights about the SSHF curriculum and its effectiveness for the target population that can be used in the development of future programming efforts.
- Conditions
- Youth
- Being tested
- Building Futures Program Primary Services
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Building Futures Program Primary ServicesOther
Primary Services Participants receive 14 hours of Survival Skills for Healthy Families curricula delivered over a series of 7 weekly workshops. Participants also receive support services delivered by Family Coaches and Career Coaches as needed.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Building Futures Program Primary Services | Experimental | Primary Services Participants receive 14 hours of Survival Skills for Healthy Families curricula delivered over a series of 7 weekly workshops. Participants also receive support services delivered by Family Coaches and Career Coaches as needed. Receives: Other: Building Futures Program Primary Services |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Healthy Partner Relationship Behavior Measurement #1
1A) Will participants report healthier partner relationship behaviors after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program?
Items measured include:
5 items - levels of reported skill with key relationship behaviors (categories; 4-point scale)
Measured on the Healthy Parenting Behavior Scale #1 as:
1=I am extremely good at this, 2=I am good at this, 3=I am bad at this, 4=I am extremely bad at this
The lower the rating, the better the score.
The construct is created by adding all 5 scores together and dividing by 5. Maximum score: 4.0, minimum score: 1.0
Measured: baseline and follow-up 12-months post-enrollment
Healthy Partner Relationship Behavior Measurement #2
1B) Will participants report healthier partner relationship behaviors after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program?
Items measured include:
6 items - frequency of engagement in key relationship behaviors (categories; 5-point scale)
Measured on the Healthy Parenting Behavior Scale #2 as:
1=none of the time, 2=some of the time, 3=half of the time, 4=most of the time, 5=all of the time The lower the rating, the better the score.
The construct is created by adding all 6 scores together and dividing by 6. Maximum score: 5.0, minimum score: 1.0
Measured: baseline and follow-up 12-months post-enrollment
Secondary outcomes (5)
Healthy Partner Relationship Attitudes Measurement #1
2A) Will participants report healthier partner relationship attitudes after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program?
Items measured include:
9 items - levels of agreement with relationship beliefs (categories; 4-point scale)
Measured on the Healthy Relationship Attitudes Scale #1 as:
1=strongly agree, 2=agree, 3=disagree 4=strongly disagree
The construct is created by adding all 9 scores together and dividing by 9. Maximum score: 4.0, minimum score: 1.0
The higher the score, the better the outcome.
Measured: Change from baseline in partner relationship attitudes to immediately after program completion (7 weeks)
Healthy Partner Relationship Attitudes Measurement #2
2B) Will participants report healthier partner relationship attitudes after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program?
Items measured include:
3 items - likelihood of key relationship beliefs (categories; 5-point scale)
Measured on the Healthy Relationship Attitudes Scale #2 as:
1=almost no chance, 2=some chance but probably not, 3=a 50-50 chance, 4=a good chance, 5=almost certain
The three items are added together and divided by three to get a score. The higher the score, the better the outcome.
maximum score: 5, minimum score: 1
Measured: Change from baseline in partner relationship attitudes to immediately after program completion (7 weeks)
Healthy Sexual Attitudes Measurement #1
3A) Will participants report healthier sexual attitudes after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program?
Items measured include:
7 items - levels of agreement with key sexual attitudes (categories; 4-point scale)
Measured on the Healthy Sexual Attitudes Scale #1 as:
1=strongly agree, 2=agree, 3=disagree 4=strongly disagree The lower the rating the better the outcome.
The construct is created by adding all 7 scores together and dividing by 7. Maximum score: 4.0, minimum score: 1.0
Measured: Change from baseline in sexual attitudes from enrollment to immediately after program completion (7 weeks)
Healthy Financial Attitudes Measurement #1
4A) Will participants report healthier financial attitudes after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program?
Items measured include:
8 items - levels of agreement with key financial attitudes (categories; 5-point scale)
Measured on the Healthy Financial Attitudes Scale #1 as:
1=strongly disagree, 2=disagree, 3=neither agree nor disagree, 4=agree, 5=strongly agree The higher the score, the better the outcome.
The construct is created by adding all 8 scores together and dividing by 8. Maximum score: 5.0, minimum score: 1.0
Measured: baseline and follow-up at 12-months post-enrollment
Healthy Employment Attitudes Measurement #1
5A) Will participants report healthier employment attitudes after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program?
Items measured include:
8 items - levels of agreement with key employment attitudes (categories; 5-point scale)
Measured on the Healthy Employment Attitudes Scale #1 as:
1=strongly disagree, 2=disagree, 3=neither agree nor disagree, 4=agree, 5=strongly agree
The construct is created by adding all 8 scores together and dividing by 8. The higher the score, the better the outcome.
Maximum score: 5.0, minimum score: 1.0
Measured: Change from baseline in employment attitudes to immediately after program completion (7 weeks)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Mar 2022
- Study start1 Apr 2021
- Primary completion30 Apr 2025
- Study completion29 Aug 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for YouthStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Primary Services Participants receive 14 hours of Survival Skills for Healthy Families curricula delivered over a series of 7 weekly workshops, or 16 hours of Survival Skills for Healthy Families curricula delivered over one weekend followed by 2 hours of a Reflections Workshop delivered two weeks later. Participants also receive support services delivered by Family Coaches and Career Coaches as needed.
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 718 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Midwest Evaluation & Research
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Avance Clinical Pty Ltd.
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Matt D Shepherd, PhD, Principal investigator, Midwest Evaluation & Research
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05293145
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- #2021/03/33
- Status last verified
- Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Mar 2022
- Last updated
- 6 Mar 2026
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: All participant data will be confidential and aggregated. No individual participant data will be released unless requested by the courts. This study looks at data as a whole.
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Mar 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Program Evaluation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05293145
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- #2021/03/33
- Conditions
- Youth
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 718 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Midwest Evaluation & ResearchUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Avance Clinical Pty Ltd.
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 29 Aug 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 24 Mar 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 6 Mar 2026
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
AVANCE seeks to understand if participation in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures (A-HBF) program is associated with improved outcomes among the target population of at-risk, homeless, and incarcerated youth. Additionally, the evaluation will examine how and why participant-level characteristics such as relationship status, life status, and demographics are associated with greater or lesser benefit from A-HBF program participation. This research will provide insights about the Survival Skills for Healthy Families curriculum and its effectiveness for the target population that can be used in the development of future programming efforts.
Detailed description
Trauma-informed services are needed to improve self-sufficiency, economic stability, and healthy relationships among at-risk, homeless, and incarcerated youth in Harris County, especially those living in areas with high numbers of single-family households, high poverty rates, low educational attainment, high teen pregnancy rates, high incidence of domestic violence, and high involvement with the (juvenile) justice system. AVANCE-Houston's Building Futures program (A-HBF) aims to facilitate successful transitions to adulthood for cohorts of at-risk and homeless youth by offering healthy relationship and marriage education through the Survival Skills for Healthy Families (SSHF) curriculum.
Developed by Family Wellness Associates, SSHF is an evidence-based curriculum delivered through a series of workshops that focus on communication skills, conflict resolution, knowledge of the benefits of marriage, stress and anger management, parenting skills, financial literacy, job and career advancement, and relationship skills to improve family and economic stability. AVANCE will offer the curriculum via weekly workshops for youth that take place in targeted high-need areas.
AVANCE seeks to understand if participation in the A-HBF program is associated with improved outcomes among the target population of at-risk and homeless youth. Additionally, the evaluation will examine how and why participant-level characteristics such as relationship status, life status, and demographics are associated with greater or lesser benefit from A-HBF program participation. This research will provide insights about the SSHF curriculum and its effectiveness for the target population that can be used in the development of future programming efforts.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Primary Services Participants receive 14 hours of Survival Skills for Healthy Families curricula delivered over a series of 7 weekly workshops, or 16 hours of Survival Skills for Healthy Families curricula delivered over one weekend followed by 2 hours of a Reflections Workshop delivered two weeks later. Participants also receive support services delivered by Family Coaches and Career Coaches as needed.
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Building Futures Program Primary Services | Experimental | Other: Building Futures Program Primary ServicesPrimary Services Participants receive 14 hours of Survival Skills for Healthy Families curricula delivered over a series of 7 weekly workshops. Participants also receive support services delivered by Family Coaches and Career Coaches as needed. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 14 to 18 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Youth (aged 14-18)
- High-needs school districts enrolled in grades 9-12
- Residing in juvenile detention center
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Adult (age 19 and older)-youth can be age 18 and enrolled into the study
- Youth (age 14 and younger)
- Not enrolled in school (non-incarcerated youth)
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Building Futures Program Primary ServicesPrimary Services Participants receive 14 hours of Survival Skills for Healthy Families curricula delivered over a series of 7 weekly workshops. Participants also receive support services delivered by Family Coaches and Career Coaches as needed. | Other | Building Futures Program Primary Services |
Primary outcome
Healthy Partner Relationship Behavior Measurement #1
Time frame: baseline and follow-up 12-months post-enrollment
1A) Will participants report healthier partner relationship behaviors after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program? Items measured include: 5 items - levels of reported skill with key relationship behaviors (categories; 4-point scale) Measured on the Healthy Parenting Behavior Scale #1 as: 1=I am extremely good at this, 2=I am good at this, 3=I am bad at this, 4=I am extremely bad at this The lower the rating, the better the score. The construct is created by adding all 5 scores together and dividing by 5. Maximum score: 4.0, minimum score: 1.0
Healthy Partner Relationship Behavior Measurement #2
Time frame: baseline and follow-up 12-months post-enrollment
1B) Will participants report healthier partner relationship behaviors after they complete primary services and support services in the AVANCE-Houston Building Futures Program? Items measured include: 6 items - frequency of engagement in key relationship behaviors (categories; 5-point scale) Measured on the Healthy Parenting Behavior Scale #2 as: 1=none of the time, 2=some of the time, 3=half of the time, 4=most of the time, 5=all of the time The lower the rating, the better the score. The construct is created by adding all 6 scores together and dividing by 6. Maximum score: 5.0, minimum score: 1.0
5 secondary outcomes
Healthy Partner Relationship Attitudes Measurement #1
Time frame: Change from baseline in partner relationship attitudes to immediately after program completion (7 weeks)
Healthy Partner Relationship Attitudes Measurement #2
Time frame: Change from baseline in partner relationship attitudes to immediately after program completion (7 weeks)
Healthy Sexual Attitudes Measurement #1
Time frame: Change from baseline in sexual attitudes from enrollment to immediately after program completion (7 weeks)
Healthy Financial Attitudes Measurement #1
Time frame: baseline and follow-up at 12-months post-enrollment
Healthy Employment Attitudes Measurement #1
Time frame: Change from baseline in employment attitudes to immediately after program completion (7 weeks)
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Mar 2026.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No. All participant data will be confidential and aggregated. No individual participant data will be released unless requested by the courts. This study looks at data as a whole.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Matt D Shepherd, PhD principal investigator
Midwest Evaluation & Research
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Building Futures Program Primary Services in people with Youth, run by Midwest Evaluation & Research at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Mar 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 6 Mar 2026). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Healthy Partner Relationship Behavior Measurement #1 (time frame: baseline and follow-up 12-months post-enrollment). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Mar 2026.