RESEARCH & Impact
"We are a scientific study aimed to greatly reduce the effects of childhood trauma on the developing mind."
Our Research & Impact At Rise Above the Clouds, our work is guided not only by compassion and lived experience, but by intentional research and ethical data collection designed to improve outcomes for foster youth.
Through our camps, year-round resilience programming, and youth development initiatives, we gather both qualitative and quantitative data to better understand what truly supports healing, emotional regulation, confidence, and long-term stability. We examine how relationship-centered, trauma-informed, and nervous system-aware practices impact youth well-being over time.
Our research protocols have been reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB), ensuring that the data we collect meets rigorous ethical standards and prioritizes the safety, dignity, and confidentiality of the youth and families we serve.
In partnership with research leadership and academic expertise, we are building a growing body of evidence to support a more relational, preventative, and healing-centered model of foster care. Our long-term goal is to translate this data into policy recommendations that inform foster care reform at local, state, and national levels. We believe meaningful reform begins with listening — to youth, to caregivers, and to lived experience — and pairing that wisdom with responsible, evidence-based research. By documenting what works, we aim to contribute to a foster care system that prioritizes stability, connection, and resilience for every child.
Literature Review
A systematic review of trauma-informed care for youth: Developmental considerations and practice elements
A review on trauma-informed care for youth found that this approach was linked to improved mental health outcomes, reduced substance use, and reduced involvement in the criminal justice system. The authors suggest that trauma-informed care should be integrated into all systems that serve youth to improve long-term outcomes. The review underscores the importance of understanding and addressing the impact of trauma on youth in order to promote their overall well-being (Mackelprang et al., 2018).
Adverse childhood experiences and trauma informed care: the future of health care
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) impact health and wellbeing, and trauma-informed care is a primary way to mitigate negative effects of ACEs. Trauma-informed care is an approach that recognizes the impact of trauma on patients and providers and responds by integrating knowledge about trauma into policies, procedures, and practices. The authors highlight the need for increased education and training on trauma-informed care for healthcare providers, and further research to better understand how it can improve health outcomes for individuals who have experienced ACEs. (Oral et al., 2016)
The Unique Nature of Depression and Anxiety among College Students with Adverse Childhood Experiences
This study examined depression and anxiety symptoms in college students with adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). The results suggest that ACEs may have a unique impact on the presentation of depression and anxiety in this population. The findings highlight the importance of early identification and intervention for ACEs in order to improve mental health outcomes for high risk youth into adulthood. (Watt et al., 2020)