This page describes the qualitative data collection done in collaboration with the Safety 7. Using the interview and focus group protocols co-developed by the Safety 7, the youth researchers co-led interviews and focus groups with youth, parents/guardians, and community members living in Wards 7 and 8 of Washington, D.C. Through these in-depth discussions, we heard rich details and personal reflections of personal and community violence and safety.
Participant and facilitator supports
For the focus groups and interviews conducted for this project, we prepared materials to ensure participants and facilitators were informed and safe in the data collection process. Related to facilitator safety, we collaborated on a protocol for conducting safe fieldwork, as we collectively determined that in-person qualitative data collection was imperative to connecting deeply with participants. This protocol includes safety planning for facilitators and participants.
Following human subjects research principles, each participant was required to give verbal consent/assent to participate in the data collection. At the beginning of the data collection, supported by a study information sheet, we highlighted information about the project, data collection, privacy, and safety. This ensured participants had relevant information to inform their consent/assent.
Finally, given the nature of the conversations in the focus groups and interviews, we prepared and shared a resource sheet with all participants. This sheet has information of national and community services and programs in case participants needed additional support in processing experiences and feelings that may have arisen from the focus group/interview discussion.
All these measures were taken to support facilitators and participants in data collection. We care deeply about safety and well-being, and we knew that our conversations with youth, parents/guardians, and community members could be challenging. By prioritizing everyone’s well-being, we established a safe and more trusting environment for data collection.
Example facilitation guides, activities, and other resources
- Conducting Safe Fieldwork Protocols – This protocol was used to ensure facilitators had a safety plan in place for data collection in the field, including strategies to use for facilitator and participant safety.
- Study Information Sheet – This sheet was given to all participants at the beginning of the focus group/interview. This sheet covers information about the project, data collection, privacy, and safety.
- Resource Sheet – This sheet was shared with all participants and includes information for national and community resources.
Focus groups
The youth researchers selected focus groups as a data collection method because they wanted to explore shared experiences that might not emerge in one-on-one interviews. Additionally, some participants may feel more comfortable engaging in a conversation about community violence if surrounded by others with similar experiences. For this project, we conducted 16 focus groups with a total of 61 participants (40 youth and 21 adult family and community members). The focus groups aimed to gain deeper insights into their experiences with community safety and violence within the neighborhoods they live in.
- Approach: Youth researchers, Child Trends researchers, and Sasha Bruce Youthwork staff guided conversations using a semi-structured discussion guide. A Child Trends researcher or Sasha Bruce Youthwork staff was present for all focus groups facilitated by youth researchers. Following the safety protocol, a violence interrupter was also present for all in-person data collection activities.
- Key Topics: Focus groups explored causes of community violence, feelings of safety in community, impact of community trauma on the individual and community more broadly, and suggestions for community safety improvements.
By allowing youth, parents/guardians, and community members to express their experiences of community violence and safety in their own words, these focus groups provided valuable context for better understanding youths’ experiences of community violence in Washington, D.C. and informing new and ongoing community safety strategies.
Example facilitation guides, activities, and other resources
- Focus Group Protocol – This protocol was used to support the facilitators guide the focus groups with youth, parents/guardians, and community members. The protocol includes important introductory information, including consent/assent processes, the focus group questions, and closing information including a resource sheet, incentives, and contact information.
Interviews
The youth researchers also chose interviews as a data collection method. These in-depth conversations allow researchers to gain firsthand perspectives from participants, while offering participants time and space to share their experiences in a more private way. For this project, we conducted 31 interviews (15 youth and 16 adult family members and community members) to gain deeper insights into their experiences with community safety and violence within the neighborhoods they live in.
- Approach: Youth researchers, Child Trends researchers, and Sasha Bruce Youthwork staff guided conversations using a semi-structured discussion guide. A Child Trends researcher or Sasha Bruce Youthwork staff was present for all interviews facilitated by youth researchers. Following the safety protocol, a violence interrupter was also present for all in-person data collection activities.
- Key Topics: Focus groups explored causes of community violence, feelings of safety in community, impact of community trauma on the individual and community more broadly, and suggestions for community safety improvements.
Like the focus groups, these interviews provided valuable context for better understanding youths’ experiences of community violence in Washington, D.C. and informing new and ongoing community safety strategies.
Example facilitation guides, activities, and other resources
- Interview Protocol – This protocol was used to support the facilitators guide the interviews with youth, parents/guardians, and community members. The protocol includes important introductory information, including consent/assent processes, the interview questions, and closing out information including a resource sheet, incentives, and contact information.
The Safety 7 includes seven youth researchers (Zionnah Garnett, Elijah Jones, London Mclean, Jermese Perkins, Ife Tobechi, Ike Tobechi, and Meagan Tutt) who make all key research decisions in partnership with staff from Child Trends and Sasha Bruce Youthwork. The Safety 7 is supported by Quiana Lewis Wallace and Deja Logan from Child Trends, Courtney Gibbs, and Bianca Faccio from Sasha Bruce Youthwork. Principal investigators for the study are Samantha Holquist and Quiana Lewis Wallace (Child Trends) with support from Kelly Murphy. Jennifer Widstrand (Child Trends) served as the Project Director. Additional contributions came from Ja’Chelle Ball, Kenya Downing, Jessica Conway, Olivia Reyes, and Alyssa Scott (Child Trends), and Deborah Shore, Donnell Potts, Ivana Gutierrez, and Jane McGhee (Sasha Bruce Youthwork).
If you have questions about the Centering Youth Experiences to Address Community Violence project, please contact Principal Investigator Quiana Lewis Wallace at qlewiswallace@childtrends.org.
This project was supported by Award No. 15PNIJ-22-GG-01420-RESS, awarded by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication/program/exhibition are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Justice.