# Development of a Training Intervention to Improve Mental Health Treatment for Gender Minority Youth

> **NIH NIH K23** · BOSTON COLLEGE · 2021 · $193,792

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Background: Gender minority youth (GMY; children, adolescents, and young adults whose gender identity differs from
their birth-assigned sex) face a disproportionately high risk for serious mental health problems relative to cisgender youth
(whose gender identity is congruent with their birth-assigned sex). These mental health inequities are exacerbated by
treatment utilization barriers, including the dearth of mental health providers trained in gender-affirming care (i.e., practices
that address the distinct experiences and mental health needs of gender minorities). The NIH and numerous scholars have
called for increased efforts to develop and deploy interventions that improve access to, engagement in, and quality of, mental
health interventions for gender minorities. Research: The proposed research will develop and pilot test a training
intervention to increase mental health providers’ use of gender-affirming practices. Intervention design (Aim 1) will utilize
community-engaged and user-centered design methods, with systematic engagement from key stakeholders: GMY, their
caregivers, as well as providers with and without expertise in gender-affirming care. Using an empirically-supported
framework for behavioral intervention development, the intervention will be designed to affect three mechanisms
hypothesized to result in behavioral change in providers (i.e., increased use of gender-affirming practices): knowledge,
attitudes, and self-efficacy. Scalability of the intervention will be emphasized through the integration of mHealth
technology. Intervention refinement (Aim 2) will involve two phases of user-centered design usability testing: (1) lab-based
testing with focus groups of providers and (2) a case series study with 3 providers treating GMY consumers for 3 months.
Feedback from usability testing will be used to iteratively refine the intervention and ensure the intervention’s readiness for
pilot testing. The pilot test (Aim 3) will be an open trial in a multi-clinic mental health agency, aimed at examining the
feasibility and acceptability of conducting a future RCT. Effectiveness and implementation data from both providers (N =
44) and consumers (i.e., GMY and their caregivers; N = 50 GMY) will be collected and analyzed. Candidate’s Career
Development, Goals, and Environment: The proposed Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award
(K23) will provide Dr. Price with the advanced training and skills necessary to launch an independent research program
focused on reducing mental health inequities for stigmatized youth and families through developing and evaluating training
interventions, with an emphasis on GMY. Formal training and mentorship in (T1) mechanism-driven intervention
development and testing, (T2) user-centered design, (T3) community-engaged research, and (T4) implementation science
will support the successful execution of the primary research aims and Dr. Price’s career development. The imm...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10293170
- **Project number:** 1K23MH124670-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** BOSTON COLLEGE
- **Principal Investigator:** Maggi Price
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $193,792
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10293170

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10293170, Development of a Training Intervention to Improve Mental Health Treatment for Gender Minority Youth (1K23MH124670-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10293170. Licensed CC0.

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