A Fighting Chance: Pilot Study of a Group Mentoring Intervention for Assault Injured Youth

Inclusion Criteria

• •Injury: Eligible youth have been treated in the ED for an interpersonal intentional injuries excluding child abuse, sexual abuse, sibling fights, police fights, and other domestic violence-related fights involving relatives and/or household residents. These excluded types of violence have a different set of complex dynamics and services needs requiring separate study and intervention.
• •Age: Eligible youth are age 12-14 years (i.e. up to the 14th birthday) and youths' parents/guardians are age 18 years and older.
• •Mental/Physical Status: Youth and parents must have the cognitive ability to participate in the intervention. Those with severe psychopathology (i.e. severe history of mental illness with multiple psychiatric hospitalizations) or inability to comprehend questions, will be excluded.
• •Language: English-speaking ability of the parent and child is necessary to enable participation in the intervention, training and assessments.
• •Mentorship: Eligible youth are not currently participating in a formal mentoring program.