Project VOICES

The VOICES Project is funded by the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA; R01DA035231). It is a five-year study of the efficacy of a gender responsive, trauma-informed substance use intervention for girls and young women who are at risk to be or are already involved with the justice system. Developed by Stephanie Covington, PhD, LCSW, the VOICES program aims to address the unique needs of adolescent girls and young women, providing them with a safe space, support, and tools for self-empowerment. The study includes conducting a randomized controlled trial with 200 justice-involved duets to test the efficacy of the VOICES program in reducing substance use and HIV/STI risk behaviors compared to treatment as usual. It is currently underway in the San Francisco Bay Area.