Core Components

DNA-V is a group-based programme designed to promote behaviours that enhance flexible strength in persons aged 5 years and above. Delivered either as a universal or targeted intervention (for people in counselling), DNA-V aims to promote mindfulness, as well as social and emotional learning skills. This is expected to enhance abilities that alter negative thoughts and feelings, and enable participants to persist in things cared about. Hence programme participants should be better able to cope with stress and life challenges; manage emotions; flexibly change behaviours based on the situation faced; develop healthy relationships; and build values and vitality. 

DNA is an acronym for Discover, Noticer, and Advisor, which represent three classes of behaviour that are embedded in self and social contexts used to build vitality and value. Discover addresses behaviours that expand and enhance skills, resources and social networks; Noticer refers to behaviours that enhance awareness of both internal and external experiences; and Advisor addresses verbal behaviours that aim to help children navigate life efficiently and safely, while protecting them from learning via trial and error. V represents Valuer, a label used to describe things that are cared about (including forming connections, giving, being active, challenging and caring for one’s self). DNA-V therefore aims to enhance these D, N, A, V skills. The programme is typically delivered to participant groups, in six one-hour weekly session. Programme activities include group discussions, watching of short video clips, games, and group exercises. Weekly take home exercises are handed to participants to reinforce the taught skills, and promote use of these skills in their daily lives.   

Fidelity

Fidelity monitoring measures were not able to be confirmed.

Modifiable Components

DNA-V has been adapted for use in adolescents at high psychosocial risk. DNA-V is typically delivered in outpatient clinics, schools, and community settings. It is usually delivered in group format but can be delivered in individualised format, and to whole classrooms. In addition to the youth programme, DNA-V is also available to adults as the DNA-V adults programme.  

Implementation support is available online via the thriving adolescent website. Additional implementation support is available from Dr. Louise Hayes, in Victoria, Australia.

Implementation Support

Practitioners can access virtual trainings to enhance programme delivery. Practitioners can also get free online access to the programme protocol (for session by session delivery), student handbook, case conceptualisation worksheet, goal setting worksheets, and other resources that support programme delivery. Lastly, practitioners can freely access books, videos/ audios, therapy tools, and other resources that enhance understanding of the programmes’ theory underpinnings, and application.

Licence Requirements

Licence requirements for programme delivery were not able to be confirmed.

Start-up Costs

Start-up costs can include training costs. Live-online workshops for practitioners costs $390, and includes training, e-book, electronic handouts and access to electronic materials for use with young people. The online self-paced training costs $299, and includes online access to videos, written materials and quizzes. To support programme delivery, practitioners get free online access to multiple programme resources.

Building Staff Competency

Qualifications Required

There are no pre-requisites to training, but DNA-V is typically delivered by psychologists, counsellors, teachers, social workers, and youth workers.

Training Requirements

Training is delivered in a 2-day live online workshop, or self-paced online course. Training covers programme underpinnings, processes in the programme model, case conceptualisation, therapy sessions, as well as programme application in individualised, group, and classroom formats.

Supervision Requirements

No information on supervision requirements was obtained.

Theory of Change

DNA-V is a developmental model that is centered on positive psychology, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and contextual behavioural science. This is evident in the programmes’ integration of mindfulness practices into cognitive behavioural approaches, and social and emotional learning. The programme helps participants develop skills in the use of D, N & A classes of behaviours, thereby enhancing their flexibility, adaptability, competencies in shift behaviours, values, and strength.

Values

DNA-V is a group-based programme designed to promote behaviours that enhance flexible strength in persons aged 5 years and above. DNA-V applies positive psychology, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and contextual behavioural science, to promote mindfulness, as well as social and emotional learning skills. These are expected to enhance participants’ abilities to alter negative thoughts and feelings, and enable them to persist in things cared about.

• Does this approach align with the key values of your organisation?

Priorities

DNA-V is designed to enhance flexible strength in persons aged 5 years and above. The programme aims to enhance participants’ coping skills; help them manage emotions; flexibly change behaviours; develop healthy relationships; as well as build values and vitality. DNA-V is delivered either as a targeted or universal intervention.

• Is your service looking to deliver a programme that aims to enhance flexible strength in persons aged 5 years and above?
• Is a programme that can be delivered either as a universal or targeted intervention a priority for your service?

Existing Initiatives

• Does your organisation have existing programmes that teaches skills to enhance flexible strength?
• Are there components addressed by DNA-V that are not met by existing programmes?
• Are the existing initiatives effective? Do they fit your current and anticipated future requirements?

Workforce

DNA-V is typically delivered by psychologists, counsellors, teachers, social workers, and youth workers. Training is delivered in a 2-day live online workshop, or self-paced online course. Practitioners deliver the programme in six one-hour weekly sessions to participant groups.

• Does your organisation have qualified practitioners who are interested in learning and delivering this programme?
• Can your organisation support the time commitment required for practitioner training and delivery?

Technology Support

Practitioner training is available online (either as live-online workshop or self-paced online training). Resources to support programme delivery (including short video clips, games, session-by-session protocol, student handbook) can be accessed online.

• Does your organisation have technology to access online training and programme resources?

Administrative Support

DNA-V is typically delivered in outpatient clinics, schools, and community settings.

• How will participants be recruited into the programme?
• In what setting will the programme be delivered?
• Does your organisation have administrative capacity and systems to support programme delivery in the setting of choice?

Financial Support

Start-up costs for DNA-V include costs for practitioner training. This costs $390 for live-online workshop, or $299 for self-paced online training. Practitioners get free online access to multiple programme resources.

• How many practitioners will receive training to deliver DNA-V?
• Will practitioners attend live online workshop or self-paced training?
• Can the training costs for this number of practitioners be financially supported?
• How many groups will be supported in the first year of delivery? Can this be financially supported?

Comparable Population

DNA-v is a group-based programme designed to promote behaviours that enhance flexible strength in persons aged 5 years and above. Evidence of effectiveness comes from one non-randomised controlled study conducted in adolescents approximately aged 14-18 years. The study was conducted in USA, and included 115 ethnically diverse students from a rural, underserved high school.

• Is this comparable to the population your organisation would like to serve?

Desired Outcome

DNA-V is designed to enhance flexible strength in people 5 years and older. The programme aims to help participants cope with stress and life challenges; manage emotions; flexibly change behaviours based on situation faced; develop healthy relationships; and build values and vitality.

• Is delivering a programme designed to flexible strength in persons aged 5 years and over a priority for your service?
• Does your organisation have other initiatives in place that effectively and efficiency address the above outcomes?