Link for Equity is a CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE system of support for children impacted by adverse child experiences.

Intervening on adverse child experiences, which include racial discrimination, is a promising approach to reducing school violence among students of color.

The goal of this study is to adapt, implement and evaluate a culturally responsive program of trauma-informed care for ACE-impacted children in 6 racially/ethnically diverse middle schools from Minnesota. We will determine if Link for Equity can effectively prevent school violence by:

reducing teachers’ racial discrimination,
increasing teacher-student connectedness and
reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder

The aims of this study are to:

Adapt, Implement

and evaluate the effect of Link for Equity on school violence disparities.

Evaluate

the effect of Link for Equity on reducing teacher-to-student racial discrimination.

Determine

if the effect of Link for Equity on school violence are mediated through racial discrimination.

Explore

how the effect of Link for Equity on school violence are mediated through stress and connectedness mechanisms.

This system is composed of two Tiers.

❶ TIER ONE

Tier 1 is universal trauma-informed care and cultural humility training to be provided to teachers.

❷ TIER TWO

Tier 2 provides racial discrimination prevention training to a small number of school personnel (5-20 per school) identified to participate as Interventionists. The Psychological First Aid (PFA) in Tier 2 uses the Motivational Interviewing (MI) communication approach to learn about students and understand their unique circumstances.

LINK FOR EQUITY BROCHURE

Download a pdf of our study brochure. This tri-fold brochure provides an overview of the Link for Equity study, our Principal Investigators, aims and goals of the research, answers to questions, and contact information.

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MEET THE STUDY TEAM

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Study Team

COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD

The Link for Equity Community Advisory Board (CAB) is an active, diverse group comprised of student, parent, education, mental health, community, and research partners. CAB members inform research study development and implementation to ensure that Link for Equity research is relevant to schools and students of color in Minnesota. The CAB also helps disseminate Link for Equity research results to the community. The CAB meets quarterly. Please contact our CAB coordinator Tiffaney Renfro at 404-712-8890 or at twilli7@emory.edu for additional information.

Link for Equity is a collaboration between the Emory University Rollins School of Public Health and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

Funding for Link for Equity provided by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD), award number R01MD013801.

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