Our Research

This project is a collaboration with Urban Initiatives, a citywide non-profit foundation that utilizes soccer and active play to promote youth physical and mental health in resource-scarce neighborhoods.  The project employs an iterative collaborative approach to enhance the organizational capacity of UI to impact youth physical and mental health by strengthening their workforce development practices. Specifically, project staff and Urban Initiatives are working together to (a) develop a training and support system to increase the capacity of UI staff to promote youth mental health; (b) develop fidelity measures to support quality assurance; and (c) assess the feasibility and acceptability of the training and support system. Currently we are attending ongoing UI professional development activities, conducting site visits, and meeting regularly with UI leadership to strengthen the relationship and collaboratively build the training and support system. Plans for Year Two include be a study examining the feasibility and acceptability of the support system developed in year one.