Frank Grijalva and Matthew Vasquez Published for evidence based research on KINNECT

Frank and Matthew were published in the September Journal of Residential Treatment for Children and Youth. You can read the abstract sited below or use the the URL posted at the bottom of the page to read the full article and research findings.

ABSTRACT

Early intervention programs for youth in residential treatment can have a positive impact on numerous outcomes, including health, educational performance, and reduced prevalence of high-risk behaviors. Yet, there is currently a limited number of evidenced-based interventions that treat youth in these settings. This paper presents preliminary findings of a new psychosocial treatment for adolescents in residential treatment that can be implemented by front-line youth professionals. A 20-session multimodal group social skill building intervention, called KINNECT, was developed to address numerous health-risk behaviors through movement-based psychosocial skill building. A quasi-experimental post-test only design using non-equivalent groups was used on 63 participants from two residential treatment facilities in the Midwest. The findings of this study found a reduced likelihood of non-emergency medical visits and self-harming behavior in those who participated in the KINNECT intervention. The authors provide a discussion of these findings along with recommendations for future research.

Frank Grijalva & Matthew Vasquez (2019) Preliminary Findings of KINNECT: A Psychosocial Intervention for Youth in Residential Treatment, Residential Treatment for Children & Youth, DOI: 10.1080/0886571X.2019.1669096