Focus Area News Post Archives

Helping Schools Meet HB 959: Media Literacy Programs for Elementary Through High School

Elizabeth Porter2026-03-12T21:32:35+00:00

March 12, 2026, Durham, NC – As social media and digital platforms become a central part of young people’s lives, educators are tasked with helping students navigate online environments safely and responsibly. In response, North Carolina passed House Bill 959 (HB 959), which requires schools to provide instruction on social media literacy and responsible technology use. Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, public schools must provide instruction on social media literacy at multiple grade levels, once in elementary school, once in middle school, and twice in high school. The law outlines several topics that instruction should address, including but not [...]

Helping Schools Meet HB 959: Media Literacy Programs for Elementary Through High SchoolElizabeth Porter2026-03-12T21:32:35+00:00

Using Opioid Settlement Funds to Strengthen Youth Prevention Programs

Elizabeth Porter2026-03-12T21:31:30+00:00

March 12, 2026, Durham, NC – States, counties, and community organizations across the United States are receiving opioid settlement funds intended to address the long-term impacts of the opioid crisis. While many communities are investing these resources in treatment and recovery services, prevention remains a critical part of reducing future substance misuse. For organizations responsible for allocating opioid settlement funding, prevention programs that build knowledge, skills, and protective factors among youth can play an important role in addressing substance misuse before it begins. Evidence-based prevention programs implemented in schools, afterschool programs, and community organizations can help communities make strategic use [...]

Using Opioid Settlement Funds to Strengthen Youth Prevention ProgramsElizabeth Porter2026-03-12T21:31:30+00:00

Key Takeaways from the 2026 State of Tobacco Control Report

Elizabeth Porter2026-03-12T21:36:44+00:00

March 12, 2026, Durham, NC - Last month, the American Lung Association released its 2026 State of Tobacco Control report, which provides an annual assessment of tobacco control efforts across the United States. The report evaluates federal and state policies aimed at reducing tobacco use and assigns “grades” based on progress in key areas such as prevention programs, tobacco taxes, and smoke-free laws. This year’s report highlights both progress and concerning developments in the nation’s tobacco control landscape. How Has the Tobacco Control Landscape Changed? Several major changes to federal tobacco control programs occurred in 2025, which may have long-term [...]

Key Takeaways from the 2026 State of Tobacco Control ReportElizabeth Porter2026-03-12T21:36:44+00:00

iRT Welcomes Angelika Santero to the Team

Elizabeth Porter2026-02-09T20:20:10+00:00

February 09, 2025 – Angelika Santero has joined iRT as the newest member of our team of interdisciplinary research scientists, research assistants, web developers, multimedia designers, and more. iRT is pleased to welcome Santero as an intern through the Karen M. Gil Internship Program, which iRT has supported and participated in for several years. Santero is a third-year undergraduate student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, double-majoring in psychology and data science. Her interests lie in social and organizational psychology as well as using data science to support meaningful causes. She is passionate about the power of mentoring [...]

iRT Welcomes Angelika Santero to the TeamElizabeth Porter2026-02-09T20:20:10+00:00

Available Now! Web-Based Mindfulness Program for Adolescents with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

Elizabeth Porter2026-02-19T19:47:52+00:00

January 14, 2026, Durham, NC – iRT is pleased to release the Aware Program for Teens with 22q11DS, a web-based, mindfulness training program designed to enhance the daily functioning of adolescents with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11DS). Why is this program important? Adolescents with 22q11DS tend to experience high levels of anxiety as well as challenges in social situations; however, few behavioral interventions have been developed to help this group of youth handle these challenges. Researchers and developers from iRT created the Aware Program for Teens with 22q11DS to fill the gap in resources for young people with 22q11DS. The program [...]

Available Now! Web-Based Mindfulness Program for Adolescents with 22q11.2 Deletion SyndromeElizabeth Porter2026-02-19T19:47:52+00:00

Plan My Ride Could Protect Young People from Increased Risk of Unsafe Driving Around the Holidays

Elizabeth Porter2025-12-11T19:58:13+00:00

December 11, 2025, Durham, NC – At the end of the year, drivers are at a higher risk for unsafe driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports an uptick in the number of deaths from traffic accidents involving alcohol impairment and occurring in the evening hours during the month of December.1 Holiday parties and get-togethers at this time of year may be related to increased driving while impaired. In addition, fewer daylight hours may mean more drivers are on the road after dark. To protect themselves and others, drivers must have skills to avoid unsafe driving and understand the [...]

Plan My Ride Could Protect Young People from Increased Risk of Unsafe Driving Around the HolidaysElizabeth Porter2025-12-11T19:58:13+00:00

iRT Collaborates with IWPR to Support their Connect for Success Initiative

Elizabeth Porter2025-12-09T21:47:46+00:00

December 09, 2025, Durham, NC – iRT is pleased to announce our new partnership with the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) to support their Connect for Success Initiative. The Connect for Success Initiative aims to increase community college students’ access to sexual and reproductive health resources, information, and care. Through this initiative, IWPR has created a learning community that connects community colleges with tools to promote student health, encourages the spread of new research and information in the field, and inspires policy change and other efforts to expand student access to sexual and reproductive health resources. To support IWPR’s initiative, [...]

iRT Collaborates with IWPR to Support their Connect for Success InitiativeElizabeth Porter2025-12-09T21:47:46+00:00

Boost Your Research Proposal’s Competitiveness with DigiKnowIt News

Elizabeth Porter2025-12-09T21:00:34+00:00

December 9, 2025, Durham, NC – If you are planning to apply for grant or contract funding to support your pediatric research projects, it is important to develop a clear strategy to include in your proposals for how you will recruit participants. When reading your proposal, reviewers will look to see if it is realistic and feasible to recruit the number and types of people you want to participate in your study. In other words, your research proposal should not only include who you plan to recruit, but also how you plan to recruit and retain participants. Carefully strategizing and writing [...]

Boost Your Research Proposal’s Competitiveness with DigiKnowIt NewsElizabeth Porter2025-12-09T21:00:34+00:00

Connected Scholars Program Positively Impacts College Student Retention and Graduation Rates

Elizabeth Porter2025-11-24T19:13:21+00:00

November 24, 2025, Durham, NC – Recently published research reported that the Connected Scholars program has significant positive impacts on college student retention and graduation rates. Connected Scholars teaches high school and college students how to build social capital, expand their social networks, and develop mentoring relationships that can help them reach their academic and life goals. The program helps students proactively seek out mentoring relationships and practice their networking skills, so they can thrive academically and socially. These skills may be particularly important for students of color and first-generation college students, who often have fewer connections to mentors and less [...]

Connected Scholars Program Positively Impacts College Student Retention and Graduation RatesElizabeth Porter2025-11-24T19:13:21+00:00

iRT Supports the Southeast PTTC in Enhancing Digital Training Tools for Substance Misuse Prevention Professionals

Elizabeth Porter2025-11-19T17:19:05+00:00

November 18, 2025, Durham, NC – This year, iRT has been collaborating with the Southeast Prevention Technology Transfer Center (Southeast PTTC) to support their efforts to advance substance misuse prevention. The Southeast PTTC, housed at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, is one of 10 regional centers that are part of the Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) Network. The network was created to improve the implementation and delivery of evidence-based substance misuse prevention strategies across the nation. Funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Southeast PTTC offers training and technical assistance services to the substance misuse [...]

iRT Supports the Southeast PTTC in Enhancing Digital Training Tools for Substance Misuse Prevention ProfessionalsElizabeth Porter2025-11-19T17:19:05+00:00