Trauma Informed Prevention for Substance Use and Risky Sex (TIPS)

The Risky Sexual Behaviors Scale (RSBS) is a validated measure that was originally created to gain more insight on the behaviors of a population of homeless adolescents. The scale measures increased risk of STDs through four major scale items. The RSBS uses a five-point Likert scale that targets caregiver involvement in discussions surrounding sexual behaviors with the option for least involved being "never" (score of 1) and the greatest involved being "always" (score of 5). The scale also includes fill-in-the-blank questions that gauge the number of "times" an adolescent has engaged in a specific behavior in the past 30 days and the past 90 days. Higher scores are indicative of higher rates of risky sexual behaviors.

The Family Environment Scale (FES) is a validated measure that is made up of 26 "true or false" questions that target different interactions that commonly occur within families. We are using two validated subscales from this measure, family conflict and family cohesion. Higher scores on the family conflict subscale are indicative of greater rates of family conflict. Higher rates on the family cohesion subscale are indicative of higher rates of family cohesion. The measure aims to detect an increase in positive family environment over time.

The Bad Friends Subscale of the Pittsburg Youth Study (Youth-Friends Scale) is a validated measure made up of eight questions (both fill-in-the-blank and yes/no) that aim to detect caregiver approval of adolescent peer groups and whether caregiver opinions are considered in future peer interactions. The scale aims to detect a decrease in negative peers over time. Answers are qualitative in nature. In general, the rater looks for themes in regards to whether the youth spends time with negative peers (that the caregiver does not approve of).

The Alabama Parenting Questionnaire (APQ) is a validated measure consisting of questions that look into family interactions and, more specifically, interactions between youth and caregiver. The scale is scored on a five-point Likert scale that ranges from "never" (score of 1) to "always" (score of 5) when looking at how often certain behaviors occur within the home. High scores on the positive parenting subscale and low scores on the poor monitoring/supervision, inconsistent discipline, and corporal punishment subscales are indicative of positive parenting.

The UCLA Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Index DSM-IV (UCLA PTSD Index DSM-IV) is a validated, subjective measure that consists of 23 yes or no questions regarding the occurrence of different traumas or losses that may happen during a child's life. Each question is followed up with details of the trauma that occurred and more extensive questioning for the trauma experienced that is still most bothersome in the present day. These follow-up questions gauge symptoms of PTSD on a five-point Likert scale that ranges from "none" (score of 0, no days has this symptom occurred in the last month) to "most" (score of 4, symptom occurred almost every day in the past month). The most traumatic experience is also followed by several yes/no questions that gauge distress and functional impairment. Higher scores are indicative of higher rates of PTSD symptoms.

The Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) is a validated measure that consists of 27 multiple choice items that gauge depressive behaviors/symptoms in youth. The items each have three choices that are best described as "Never/Rarely," "Many," or "All" in regards to each behavior in question. Higher scores are indicative of higher rates of depressive symptoms.

The Timeline Follow Back (TLFB) is a validated, subjective measure that uses a calendar for people to provide estimates of substance use (drugs/alcohol) on a daily basis, retrospectively. Key dates and calendars are used to aid in memory recall. The measure is beneficial in both clinical and research environments. Over time, the TLFB looks for a decrease in alcohol use. Higher numbers of substance use are indicative of greater substance use.

Scores of two or more are indicative of a probable substance use problem.