# iKinnect2.0 for Juvenile Justice Involved Youth at Risk for Suicide

> **NIH NIH R44** · EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE INSTITUTE, INC. · 2022 · $1,009,310

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Suicidal behaviors (ideation, planning, attempts) and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors (NSSI) are highly
prevalent among juvenile justice-involved transition-age (TA) youth. More than half of youth in the juvenile
justice (JJ) system report suicidal ideation; one-third report a history of suicidal behavior. Black youth are
disproportionately represented in juvenile justice and are also at increased risk of suicide, as rates of suicidal
behavioral and death by suicide among Black youth have risen at an alarming rate, faster than other
racial/ethnic groups. This increase has resulted in a number of government initiatives to increase suicide
prevention efforts for Black youth. Reducing suicide risk among JJ-involved youth must occur in conjunction
with interventions addressing their broader needs for reduced externalizing behavior and in ways that are
culturally appropriate for Black youth.
 iKinnect is a paired mobile app platform that supports parents (in delivering) and youth (in receiving)
evidence-based practices to reduce youth problem behaviors. Based on Multisystemic Therapy principles,
iKinnect1.0 was originally designed to help youth with serious conduct problems. Results from a randomized
controlled trial (RCT; N=72) demonstrated its efficacy in reducing externalizing behaviors and improving parent
effectiveness. This fast-track proposal seeks to significantly expand iKinnect to prevent NSSI, suicidal
behaviors (ideation, planning, attempts), and death by suicide in JJ-involved TA youth while continuing to
decrease externalizing behaviors and prevent recidivism. Leaders in the area of suicide risk among Black
youth and cultural appropriateness of interventions will guide these efforts.
 This 33-month fast track will include three primary phases of evaluation: (1) a proof-of-concept formative
evaluation phase during which we will iteratively design, test, and build a central portion of iKinnect2.0 to
achieve its usability, acceptability, and relevance (Months 1-10); (2) a product design-and-build formative
evaluation phase, where we will design, build, and test all remaining features for iOS and Android phones,
while also preparing the platform for clinical use (Months 11-23); and (3) a summative evaluation phase
involving a pilot test (N=15) of iKinnect2.0 and an RCT (N=120) comparing iKinnect2.0 to an active control
condition; and results will then be analyzed, reported, and disseminated (Months 24-33). We predict that
iKinnect2.0 TA youth and parents will report a significantly greater decrease in suicidal and NSSI behaviors
and in conduct problem behaviors in TA youth. Furthermore, iKinnect2.0 participants (TA youth and parents)
will report significantly greater use of behavioral skills, as well as self-efficacy in coping with emotional distress
and other challenging situations. iKinnect2.0 parents will report greater awareness of and confidence in
applying evidence-based strategies to prevent suicide/NSS...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10495619
- **Project number:** 4R44MH126819-02
- **Recipient organization:** EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE INSTITUTE, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Linda A Dimeff
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $1,009,310
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2021-05-10 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10495619

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10495619, iKinnect2.0 for Juvenile Justice Involved Youth at Risk for Suicide (4R44MH126819-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10495619. Licensed CC0.

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