Research
Research Base
Our tripartite program is grounded in neuroscientific and psychological research showing that three key mechanisms, namely emotion reactivity, emotional regulation, and reward processing, are thought to be affected by trauma and to play a key role in why high-risk behaviour are described as helpful.
Equally, research suggests that boosting these three mechanisms through social connectedness can promote resilience to future stressors and thus provide young people with alternatives to high-risk behaviours.
Research Evaluation
We have an active research team revising and evaluating the effectiveness of our program. Publishing our results in peer-reviewed journals will help to disseminate knowledge and provide accountability.
To be part of this, young people and families will be invited to complete standardized measures at various points throughout the program to track their own progress and to help us understand which parts of the program work best for them.
Young People as Collaborators
We believe that young people are the true experts.
Since 2018, we have relied on an “expert panel” of young people with various backgrounds and lived experience to help us design our program.
As collaborators, young people have guided the early neurobiological research underlying the current 3Trees program, design practical day-to-day schedules and help navigate difficult questions (i.e., use of mobile phones? searching bags on arrival? smoking/vaping allowed?).
We are grateful for the young people’s guidance and expertise… and for calling us out when we divert from what is important. They are our most honest critics and most valued collaborators.
