EMPOWER Youth Implementation Pilot at YWCA

An ongoing project (2026-Present). 

The Aim of the Study:

The overarching goal of this study is to test the implementation of the EMPOWER Youth intervention within the programming of YWCA San Antonio and YWCA Austin. Specifically, this study aims: 

 

  • To test the feasibility and acceptability of the EMPOWER Youth intervention delivered in a community setting by trained non-specialist frontline personnel 
  • To test the effectiveness of the EMPOWER Youth intervention in improving the anxiety and depression symptoms and interpersonal problems of adolescents ages 10-19 served by YWCA San Antonio and YWCA Austin 

 

This study will be the first implementation of EMPOWER Youth in a community setting. While the feasibility and acceptability of the digital training curriculum have been tested recently, this study will expand upon the initial pilot study to deliver the intervention to adolescents and to test the effectiveness of improving adolescent internalizing problems. This study will generate proof of concept and allow the research team to adapt the implementation approach before scaling the program more broadly. 
 

The Background:

Adolescent mental health needs are substantial, yet most young people who require care never receive it. For youth in community settings, access is particularly limited by cost, geography, and waitlists that can stretch for months. Organizations like the YWCA already serve many of these young people, creating an opportunity to deliver evidence-based mental health support where adolescents are already present.


The Project Plan:

YWCA collaborators

The HMS team partnered with YWCA San Antonio and YWCA Austin to identify frontline staff providers. 

Trained YWCA staff deliver EMPOWER Youth within ongoing YWCA programming, followed by a mixed-methods participatory evaluation.


Supporters and Project Duration:

The development of the EMPOWER Youth Intervention was funded by the Manton Foundation. Implementation is supported by Mary Beth Gordon (2026).
 

Findings:

Six YWCA staff members have been trained in EMPOWER Youth. Check back for more updates.
 

Next Steps:

Intervention delivery will begin in summer 2026, followed by evaluation.


Publications: