CDC Research Study - Monique Burr Foundation

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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What They're Saying...

The MBF Teen Safety Matters curriculum hosts an in-depth approach to important social and safety concerns relevant to youth. The program content is age-appropriate with engaging activities, jargon, and realistic situations to positively promote a relatable and impacting learning experience…Teen Safety Matters is an educational benefit to all parties involved – students, parents, facilitators, and schools.

Sharon W. Cooper, MD

National Center for Missing & Exploited Children

I heard about the program through my son. He came home…and showed me the safety rules. I cannot thank the Foundation enough; to have other people who are also concerned about my child’s safety and the safety of other kids is wonderful. I especially like the program’s focus on the prevention side.

Roberta Targino, M.S.

Parent and Mental Health Counselor

There’s not a child in the world who can’t benefit from this program. There are so many instances where we see children who have been damaged and hurt. Things happened to them and we think, if they’d only had this program, if they’d only had the benefit of this education, that might not have happened to them. If we can prevent that from happening to a single child, then it’s worth all the effort we have put forth

Edward Burr

MBF Founder/Chairman of the Board