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Pilot Projects

2022-2023

Design & Pilot Test of a Text-Messaging Intervention to Address Barriers & Increase Uptake of STAND Among Community College Students of Color

PI: Tamar Kodish

This pilot project involves running focus groups with ELAC students to identify key barriers and facilitators to the use of STAND. Findings from this discovery process will be translated into the design, building and testing of a text-messaging intervention to promote STAND uptake among ELAC students. This activity builds on Project 1 by developing a more context-specific understanding of ELAC students’ barriers and facilitators to STAND uptake and supports the Center’s mission to optimize STAND implementation.

2023-2024

Examining Family Factors to Optimize STAND Uptake & Adherence among Community College Students from Minoritized Ethnoracial Backgrounds

PI: Vanessa Calderon

The overarching aim of this pilot project is to examine the role of the family on STAND uptake and adherence. The findings will inform development of adjunctive family-focused intervention strategies. The project will leverage data being collected as part of the Signature Project and Project 1 as well as additional qualitative data. This activity supports the Center’s goal of optimizing STAND implementation by reducing barriers to uptake and engagement.

Understanding Digital Therapy Response Through Passive Sensing

PI: Zachary Cohen

This pilot project introduces digital phenotyping to the Center by providing Apple Watches to participants initiating digital therapy in the ALACRITY Signature Project. Using digital sensing, this project aims to advance our understanding of when, how and for whom treatments work, and to leverage this knowledge to develop personalized psychological interventions that improve patient outcomes.

Culturally Adapting Caring Contacts for Suicide Prevention in Latine College Students

PI: Natalia Jaramillo

This pilot project aims to culturally adapt and pilot the Caring Contacts (suicide prevention) intervention for Latine college students at risk for self-harm. The project seeks to identify if a culturally tailored version of Caring Contacts could increase engagement with mental health services for Latine college students via two modes of delivery: text messages and voice memos. The study will also evaluate if Caring Contacts can increase self-rated hope and reduce loneliness (two key mechanisms implicated in suicide outcomes). The findings of this mixed-methods study will inform ALACRITY Project 3 as well as the overall provision of mental services for Latine college students.

Emotion Regulation Diversity: Generalization Across Racial & Ethnic Backgrounds & Utility in Improving Engagement in Depression & Anxiety Interventions

PI: Alainna Wen

This pilot project examines risk and resilience factors and treatment engagement and response in minority populations. Focused on Signature Project participants, this study 1) examines the association between emotion regulation (ER) diversity and symptoms and functioning in individuals of minority racial and ethnic backgrounds, 2) designs a personalized, ER-focused strategy for improving uptake and engagement in depression and anxiety interventions for individuals of racial and ethnic minority backgrounds and 3) tests the preliminary effectiveness of this ER-based strategy for increasing orientation attendance in the STAND program. This activity supports the Center's mission of developing solutions to increase uptake and engagement in the STAND program.