Welcome to the Good Gifts Project website!

The Good Gifts Project offers an opportunity for youth who may be experiencing homelessness to cultivate gratitude, generosity, and hope by recognizing their own gifts and sharing them with others. The Good Gifts Program is offered as part of Independent Living Skills Classes at Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota. This website provides information and resources about the Good Gifts Project which is a research study in which we are seeking youth feedback about the Good Gifts Program and whether it is helpful for youth.

We are currently recruiting participants at most ILS sites!

What is the study about?
The purpose of this research study is to evaluate whether the Good Gifts Program, that will be delivered as part of your Independent Living Skills (ILS) Program at Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota (LSS-MN), helps to promote gratitude, generosity, and hope in youth.

Who can participate?

You must be between the ages of 16 and 24, fluent in English, and enrolled in an Independent Living Skills class through LSS-MN.

What will you be asked to do?

In addition to attending the Independent Living Skills group at LSS, you will be asked to: (a) complete a 20-minute survey before and after the four group sessions that are part of the Good Gifts Program and (b) complete 2-minute daily surveys on the internet for six-seven weeks while you are in the program. Your participation and responses will remain private. Surveys focus on your experiences of the program and how you see your personal strengths – we do not ask about illegal behaviors or trauma.

What will you receive?

You will receive up to $200 in e-gift cards if you complete all parts of the study.

What if I decide I want to quit?

You can be in the ILS group without being in the study. You can refuse to answer any question and to quit the study at any point. We will provide gift cards for the parts of the study that you have completed.

Interested in participating?  Please call your ILS case manager or email us at thegoodgiftsproject@unc.edu!

This study has been reviewed by the University of North Carolina Institutional Review Board (#20-0273).