MBF has partnered with NORC at the University of Chicago to study the effectiveness of the MBF Teen Safety Matters® abuse prevention program in middle schools. This research study is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and will take place in up to 48 New York City middle schools over three school years, from 2026 to 2029.
The goal of the study is to better understand how well Teen Safety Matters helps middle school students and school staff recognize unsafe situations, build social and emotional skills, and respond appropriately to abuse and violence both online and in real life.
As part of the study, participating schools will be randomly assigned to one of four groups:
schools that receive the program for students only
schools that receive the program for staff only
schools that receive the program for both students and staff
a comparison group that does not receive the program during the study period
Students and staff will complete brief online surveys before and after the program each year to measure changes in knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to safety and prevention. Some students will also complete a follow-up survey after transitioning to high school to help researchers understand the longer-term impacts.
The findings from this study will provide strong, independent evidence of Teen Safety Matters‘ effectiveness in real school settings and will help guide future improvements and broader use of the program in schools and communities.
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