To create new knowledge and provide direction about the best practices and appropriate policies for positive youth development, the center focuses on multi-investigator, cross-disciplinary systematic research efforts. These research projects represent the current and on-going work at Youth-Nex in the area of healthy lifestyles.

Behavior undertaken in adolescence shapes a lifetime of habits and health long into adulthood. What can we do now to ensure their well-being at this important time of development?

Research Projects

  • Research Project

Compassionate Schools Project

The Compassionate Schools Project (CSP) is the most comprehensive study ever undertaken of a 21st century health and wellness curriculum in an elementary or secondary school setting. The Group Randomized Trial was started in 2016 and a follow-up is scheduled to run through 2021. Fifty schools, over 625 teachers, and more than 6250 students will be included in the study.

  • Research Project

Healthy Living Curriculum

We intend to conduct a randomized trial comparing schools with this as part of the curriculum to education as usual. This program will involve 50 schools in the Jefferson County Kentucky school district in a large-scale randomized trial.