Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) is a serious public health issue impacting almost 50% of youth and over 60% of adults in the US. ACES, in the absence of buffering protective factors, leads to prolonged or repeated activation of the stress response system. Toxic stress exposure is associated with negative health and social outcomes. Garnering Resilience in Traumatized youth and families (GRIT) is a community health worker (CHW)-delivered psychoeducation, based upon principles from Cognitive-Behavioral and Acceptance Commitment Therapy, that includes teaching cognitive behavioral skills and practicing mindfulness, health coaching on managing stress and adversity, using wearable technology (Oura Ring) to collect objective stress response data via the measurement of heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV) and sleep quality from both youth and caregivers, and ensuring ongoing support and connection to mental health and social services as indicated. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to study the feasibility of implementing GRIT.Studying the feasibility of this intervention in combination with collecting objective stress data using the Oura Ring will lay the foundation for the transformation of GRIT into a just-in-time adaptive intervention and the future development of a RCT funded by an NIH RO1.The specific aims for this project are to conduct a pilot study of an 8-week GRIT program with 20 adolescent youth-caregiver dyads to: 1) Assess GRIT’s preliminary effect on toxic stress related psychological and behavioral outcomes (i.e. mental health symptoms and risk behaviors) from baseline to 3 and 6 months; 2) Assess GRIT’s preliminary effect on toxic stress symptoms (i.e. heart rate variability and sleep quality) using the Oura Ring from baseline to 3 and 6 months; and 3) Establish GRIT’s feasibility, acceptability, and cultural and contextual relevance with youth and their caregivers via qualitative interviews.
