The peer-reviewed research that grounds every episode — organized by topic and translated into practical implications for the caring adults in young people's lives.
Felitti, Anda, Nordenberg, et al. · Am. J. Prev. Med. · 1998
The foundational ACE Study linking childhood abuse and household dysfunction to the leading causes of adult mortality — the starting point for understanding how early adversity shapes lifelong health.
Anda, Felitti, Bremner, et al. · Eur. Arch. Psychiatry Clin. Neurosci. · 2006
A convergence of neurobiology and epidemiology showing how abuse and adverse childhood experiences alter brain development and long-term health.
Shonkoff & Garner · Pediatrics · 2012
A landmark Pediatrics paper framing early childhood adversity and toxic stress as a public-health imperative with lifelong effects.
Freeny, Peskin, Schick, Cuccaro, Addy, Morgan, Lopez, & Johnson-Baker · J. Child Adolesc. Trauma · 2021
Dr. Freeny's study connecting ACEs, depression, resilience, and spirituality in African-American adolescents — weaving together several of the podcast's central themes.
Bethell, Jones, Gombojav, Linkenbach, & Sege · JAMA Pediatrics · 2019
A statewide study showing positive childhood experiences promote adult mental and relational health across all levels of adversity — one of the strongest research anchors for the protective factor idea.
Huang, Halfon, Sastry, Chung, & Schickedanz · Pediatrics · 2023
Recent evidence that positive childhood experiences are independently associated with better adult health outcomes.
Neblett · Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol. · 2023
A contemporary review of racial identity, racial socialization, spirituality, family, and parenting as resilience factors in African American youth mental health.
Sieving, McRee, McMorris, et al. · Am. J. Prev. Med. · 2017
Directly examines connectedness with caring adults as a protective factor for adolescent health — central to the podcast's message that one trusted adult can change everything.
Resnick, Bearman, Blum, et al. · JAMA · 1997
A landmark national study of protective influences across family, school, and individual environments.
Gaylord-Harden, Barbarin, Tolan, & Murry · Am. Psychol. · 2018
A strengths-based framework for positive youth development among African American boys and young men, moving beyond deficit-focused narratives.
Marraccini & Brier · School Psychol. Q. · 2017
A systematic meta-analysis linking school connectedness to lower suicidal thoughts and behaviors — tying suicide prevention directly to connection.
Runyan, Becker, Brandspiegel, et al. · West. J. Emerg. Med. · 2016
Lethal means counseling for parents of youth seen in the ER for suicidality — a practical, caregiver-centered suicide-prevention strategy.
Walrath, Godoy Garraza, Reid, Goldston, & McKeon · Am. J. Public Health · 2015
Federal evaluation showing counties with Garrett Lee Smith-funded prevention activities had lower youth suicide mortality than matched comparison counties.
Godoy Garraza, Walrath, Goldston, Reid, & McKeon · JAMA Psychiatry · 2015
The companion study showing the Garrett Lee Smith program reduced suicide attempts among youth — together with the mortality study, evidence on both deaths and attempts.
Walton, Chermack, Shope, et al. · JAMA · 2010
The SafERteens trial — a brief intervention tested with urban adolescents (a majority African American) to reduce violence and alcohol misuse.
Nofi, Roberts, Cornell, et al. · J. Pediatr. Surg. · 2023
A scoping review of hospital-based violence intervention programs — relevant to hospital–community partnerships, firearm injury prevention, and reinjury prevention after violent injury.
Price & Khubchandani · J. Community Health · 2023
An important bridge between Black youth, firearm mortality, structural conditions, and policy.
Odgers & Jensen · J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry · 2020
A balanced review of what the research actually supports about adolescent mental health in the digital age — moving past the oversimplification that 'screens are bad.'
Shannon, Bush, Villeneuve, Hellemans, & Guimond · JMIR Ment. Health · 2022
A systematic review and meta-analysis of problematic social media use in adolescents and young adults.
Nickerson & Fredrick · Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol. · 2026
A current review covering cyberbullying, mental health, protective mechanisms, family involvement, and school-based prevention.
Wingenbach, Koswatta, Engels, Freeny, & Haddad · Scientific Reports · 2023
Documents Dr. Freeny's work evaluating professional development for Texas school personnel supporting students' behavioral and mental health — including mindfulness and trauma-informed practice.
Hoover & Bostic · Psychiatr. Serv. · 2021
A foundational case for schools as essential settings for prevention, early identification, intervention, and treatment.
Beason, Knox, Lever, Hoover, Dubin, & Gordon-Achebe · Child Adolesc. Psychiatr. Clin. N. Am. · 2024
A culturally responsive, antiracist, and equitable approach to comprehensive school mental health — aligned with the podcast's focus on equity and youth voice.
Woods-Jaeger, Hampton-Anderson, Christensen, et al. · Psychol. Trauma · 2022
Connects ACEs, violence exposure, schools, race, trauma, and resilience — showing how school-based racial microaggressions can undermine recovery.
Orenstein, Yarnell, Connors, Bohnenkamp, Hoover, & Lever · J. Sch. Health · 2024
Findings from 25 states on school mental health policy, funding, leadership, infrastructure, and implementation.
Chriqui, Leider, Temkin, et al. · J. Sch. Health · 2020
Evidence that state policy can shape district-level school health policy under the WSCC framework.
Mays · J. Sch. Health · 2020
How a federal Medicaid policy change created opportunities for states and districts to expand school health services.
Athey, Nestadt, Rogers, Dunton, McCourt, & Wilcox · J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry · 2025
A strong intersection of policy, firearm safety, and suicide prevention — using U.S. mortality data from 1990–2020 to evaluate state child-access-prevention laws.
Slopen & Williams · Dev. Psychopathol. · 2021
Argues that resilience is not only something children possess individually — policies and social environments can themselves create resilience-promoting conditions.