The data behind the work.
US-Squared programs are built on peer-reviewed research, longitudinal data, and the lived experiences of the 7,000+ young people whose stories shaped our framework.
Peer-reviewed work.
Ten Frequently Asked Questions About Latent Transition Analysis
Nylund-Gibson, K., Garber, A. C., Carter, D. B., Chan, M., Arch, D. A. N., Simon, O., Whaling, K., Tartt, E., & Lawrie, S. I. (2023). Ten frequently asked questions about latent transition analysis. Psychological Methods, 28(2), 284–300. https://doi.org/10.1037/met0000486
Foundational methodological reference for latent transition analysis — the statistical approach underlying research on adolescent mental health profiles and trajectory shifts.
Learn More →Unraveling Hopelessness: A Latent Class Analysis of Black Adolescent Student Experiences
Tartt, E. L. (2023). Unraveling hopelessness: A latent class analysis of Black adolescent student experiences [Doctoral dissertation, University of California, Santa Barbara]. eScholarship.
Using CDC 2021 ABES data, identified three classes of Black adolescents by exposure to racial discrimination, each with distinct patterns of school experience, hopelessness, and mental health — challenging deficit-based narratives and informing the BASE Framework.
Feelings Unplugged: A Guided Journal for Understanding Your Emotions
Tartt, E. L. (2026). Feelings Unplugged. US-Squared Research Institute. Available via IngramSpark and direct from the author.
A BASE Framework companion publication translating peer-reviewed research on adolescent emotional suppression into an accessible guide for youth and the adults who support them.
Learn More →The BASE Framework.
Four principles derived from dissertation research and 20+ years of educational practice. BASE is the conceptual spine running through every US-Squared program.
Brilliance
Every young person arrives with a form of genius. Our programs are designed to surface, name, and build on that brilliance — not remediate deficits.
Authenticity
Youth are most engaged and resilient when allowed to show up as their full selves. Authenticity is not a soft skill — it is a developmental necessity.
Self-Expression
Art, writing, movement, and voice are not supplements to learning — they are the primary vehicles through which young people process, integrate, and share their experiences.
Empowerment
Programs must transfer agency, not create dependency. Everything we build is designed to make itself unnecessary — because self-determination is the goal.
Download the brief.
One-page summary of our research, outcomes, and program data. Ideal for funders, partners, and program evaluators.