SISTERS UNITED NOW
COMMUNITY-BASED INTERVENTION
Supporting culturally-responsive research aimed to help Black and Biracial adolescent girls learn self-management tools for experiences of stress, anxiety, and confidence.
Sisters United Now (SUN) is a culturally tailored, eight-week mental health intervention designed to help Black and biracial adolescent girls ages 12–15 in the metro Akron, OH area develop greater awareness of and practical strategies for managing anxiety and stress.
Contributions towards this project included:
Intervention facilitation and implementation of the eight-week program
Participant engagement and creation of an environment that encouraged trust, connection, and open discussion
Data collection and management to help capture participant experiences and changes throughout the intervention
Psychosocial assessment delivery, including measures related to anxiety, stress, self-esteem, mindset, racial and ethnic identity
Ongoing data evaluation to better understand how participants experienced and applied the intervention in their everyday lives
We are proud to have supported the delivery and evaluation of an intervention intentionally designed around the experiences, culture, and strengths of Black girls— while contributing to research that can help inform more responsive approaches to adolescent mental health.
This work reflects ACTION Maryland’s commitment to supporting research that does more than generate data— it creates opportunities for young people to develop skills, strengthen relationships, and see themselves as active participants in their own well-being.
Insights Gained:
Published research from the SUN project evaluated the use of the Build Your Own Theme Song (BYOTS) app as a tool for practicing musical cognitive restructuring—helping participants recognize negative thoughts and replace them with more positive, empowering ones.
The findings demonstrated both quantitative and qualitative signs of impact:
72 participants
Black or biracial seventh- and eighth-grade girls participated in SUN.
Significant reduced negative thinking patterns
Negative thinking was significantly lower at day 7 compared with day 1 of app use (P = .05).
Significant reduction in self-reported feelings of anxiety
Participants demonstrated a significant reduction in anxiety from before to after using the BYOTS app (P = .004).
Focus groups identified four major themes: changes in behavior and temperament, greater calmness, usefulness during stressful situations at home, and improved ability to focus.
CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR AND TEMPERAMENT
NAVIGATING STRESSFUL HOME LIFE
Beyond the Numbers
Participants consistently described how the intervention translated into their everyday lives—helping them respond differently to stressful situations, feel calmer, shift their attitudes and behaviors, and self-regulate to maintain focus.
Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Musical Cognitive Restructuring App for Black Inner-City Girls Neal-Barnett et al., JMIR mHealth and uHealth (2019).
Read the published study on PubMed
Sister Circles as a Culturally Relevant Intervention for Anxious African American Women
Neal-Barnett et al., Clinical Psychology (2011).
Explore the Research:
GREATER SENSE OF CALMNESS
IMPROVED ABILITY TO FOCUS
Our Work in Action
Research. Relationships. Results.
ACTION Maryland is committed to partnering with researchers, community organizations, educators, and health professionals turn evidence into meaningful action.
Interested in collaborating on community-centered research or program evaluation?
Let's explore what we can build together.