Evidence-Based Culturally Appropriate Services for Minorities

Abstract Background Nonmedical use of prescription opioids (defined as taking opioid medications for hedonic effects or in a manner other than prescribed) and the use of heroin have emerged in recent years as major public health concerns in the United States. Of particular concern is the prevalence of opioid use among emerging adults (ages 18–25), as this is a developmental period of heightened vulnerability and critical social, neurological, and psychological development. Data from 2015 show that American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) people have the highest rates of diagnosis for opioid use disorders (OUDs). One recent study found that the overdose death rate among urban-dwelling AI/AN individuals was 1.4 times higher compared to those living in rural areas. To date, there are no evidence-based prevention programs addressing opioid use among urban AI/AN emerging adults that integrate culturally-appropriate strategies with evidence-based treatment. Traditions and Connections for Urban Native Americans (TACUNA) builds on our prior work with AI/AN communities across California to develop and evaluate culturally appropriate programming to address opioid, alcohol, and cannabis use among urban AI/AN emerging adults. Methods/design In a randomized controlled trial, 18–25 year old urban AI/AN emerging adults will receive either TACUNA (n = 185), which comprises three virtual workshops utilizing motivational interviewing, social network visualization, and integrating traditional practices and a wellness circle, or one virtual culturally sensitive opioid education workshop (n = 185). We will evaluate intervention effects on primary outcomes of frequency of opioid, alcohol, and cannabis use, as well as secondary outcomes of social network characteristics and cultural connectedness, over a 12-month period. Discussion This project has the potential to expand the range and effectiveness of opioid, alcohol, and cannabis services for urban AI/AN emerging adults by addressing the opioid epidemic and use of other substances at both the community and individual level. In addition, it provides important culturally grounded conceptual and practical information to advance the field of substance use interventions and enhance resiliency among this population. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04617938. Registered October 26, 2020 https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT04617938.

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An Approach to Improve Dementia Health Literacy in Indigenous Communities

Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology ◽

10.1007/s10823-019-09388-2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 69-83 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Sharlene Webkamigad ◽

Wayne Warry ◽

Melissa Blind ◽

Kristen Jacklin

Keyword(s):

Health Promotion ◽

Health Literacy ◽

Indigenous Knowledge ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Indigenous Communities ◽

Cultural Safety ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Culturally Appropriate ◽

Care Providers ◽

Indigenous Perspectives

AbstractThis project aims to improve health literacy in Indigenous communities through the development of evidence-based culturally relevant health promotion materials on dementia that bridge the gap between Indigenous and Western perspectives of the illness. The research team worked in partnership with Health Canada’s First Nations and Inuit Home and Community Care Program (FNIHCC) and consulted with Indigenous elders to utilize a two-eyed seeing framework that draws upon Indigenous knowledge and Western biomedicine. A consolidated review of materials and research involving Indigenous perspectives of Alzheimer’s and age-related dementias led to the development of two culturally appropriate fact sheets. Two Indigenous-specific fact sheets were developed “What is Dementia? Indigenous Perspectives and Cultural Understandings” and “Signs and Symptoms of Dementia: An Indigenous Guide.” The fact sheets prioritize Indigenous knowledge and pay particular attention to Indigenous languages, diverse Indigenous cultures, and literacy levels. The content uses phrasing and words from Indigenous people involved in the research to share information. Biomedical concepts and words were included when necessary but language or presentation of these aspects were often modified to reflect Indigenous conceptualizations. This project provides a foundation for evidence-based knowledge translation in relation to cultural safety in dementia care. Specifically, the researchers outline how health care providers can develop culturally appropriate health promotion material, thus increasing Indigenous cultural understandings of dementia and health literacy.

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The Accommodation Experiences of Older Gypsies and Travellers: Personalisation of Support and Coalition Policy

Social Policy and Society ◽

10.1017/s1474746412000413 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 205-219 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nicky Hodges ◽

Sarah Cemlyn

Keyword(s):

Social Inclusion ◽

Culturally Appropriate ◽

Specialist Services ◽

Culturally Appropriate Services

This article reports on a study exploring the accommodation experiences of older Gypsies and Travellers and how specialist Supporting People services can enhance their wellbeing and social inclusion. The findings suggest that through development of pro-active, culturally appropriate services, flexible, tailored support and joint working, these services have contributed to their users’ wellbeing. Cuts to Supporting People funding pose a serious threat, especially in the context of loss of other services and changes to accommodation policy under the banner of localism. Targeted funding to sustain these specialist services could be important to redress risks of further marginalisation of Gypsy/Traveller communities.

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Salud America! Developing a National Latino Childhood Obesity Research Agenda

Health Education & Behavior ◽

10.1177/1090198110372333 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 38 (3) ◽

pp. 251-260 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Amelie G. Ramirez ◽

Patricia Chalela ◽

Kipling J. Gallion ◽

Lawrence W. Green ◽

Judith Ottoson

Keyword(s):

Childhood Obesity ◽

Research Agenda ◽

Minority Group ◽

Research Priorities ◽

Research Data ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Culturally Appropriate ◽

Policy Makers ◽

Obesity Research ◽

Obesity Interventions

U.S. childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions, with one third of children overweight or obese. Latino children have some of the highest obesity rates, a concern because they are part of the youngest and fastest-growing U.S. minority group. Unfortunately, scarce research data on Latinos hinders the development and implementation of evidence-based, culturally appropriate childhood obesity interventions. In response, the Salud America! network conducted a national Delphi survey among researchers and stakeholders to identify research priorities to address Latino childhood obesity and compare differences by occupation and race or ethnicity. The resulting first-ever National Latino Childhood Obesity Research Agenda provides a framework to stimulate research and collaboration among investigators, providers, and communities, and inform policy makers about the epidemic’s seriousness and specific needs for priority funding. The agenda ranks family as the main ecological level to prevent Latino childhood obesity—followed by community, school, society, and individual—and ranks top research priorities in each level.

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Community Health Centres: An Innovative Approach to Newcomer Settlement Services

Refuge ◽

10.25071/1920-7336.21898 ◽

1997 ◽

pp. 22-24 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Janet McLellan

Keyword(s):

Community Health ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Health Determinants ◽

Culturally Appropriate ◽

Outreach Programs ◽

Community Health Centres ◽

Health Centres ◽

Settlement Services ◽

Mental And Physical Health ◽

Culturally Appropriate Services

While NGO settlement agencies face increasing challenges to deliver bath ethnospecific and larger broad-based programs for immigrants and refugees, Community Health Centres (CHCs) in large urban areas of Ontario have developed innovative means to meet the health and settlement needs of newcomers. Positive mental and physical health through access to medical and social resources, recognition of health determinants and enhanced participation in decision making are integral elements of CHC settlement and integration programs and services, all within the context of medical care. Through extensive outreach programs to newcomer communities, CHCs enhance the efectiveness of ethnospecific groups to define culturally appropriate services. CHCs provide an example of desired social change through a mainstream institutional basis.

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UNDERSTANDING PASIFIKA MENTAL HEALTH IN NEW ZEALAND: A review of the literature

MAI Journal A New Zealand Journal of Indigenous Scholarship ◽

10.20507/maijournal.2020.9.3.7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Sarah A. Kapeli ◽

Sam Manuela ◽

Chris G. Sibley

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

New Zealand ◽

Health Perceptions ◽

Culturally Appropriate ◽

Health Prevention ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Community Activities ◽

Research Themes ◽

Mental Health Disparity ◽

Culturally Appropriate Services

Pasifika mental health continues to be a growing concern in New Zealand. This article reviews and presents online available research concerning the mental health of Pasifika in New Zealand. A comprehensive online literature search was conducted. In total, 967 online articles were identified, and 58 met the criteria to be included in the final review. The review identified overarching research themes related to Pacific mental health in New Zealand, specifically regarding mental health prevalence, mental health services, mental health perceptions, mental health prevention or intervention, and suicide. Further, this review explores the role that education, culturally appropriate services, and engaging community activities can play in preventing further mental health disparity among Pasifika in New Zealand.

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Psychosocial research with children in Iraq: current health practice and policy in a context of armed conflict

International Psychiatry ◽

10.1192/s1749367600003921 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 72-74 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Abdul Kareem Al Obaidi ◽

Tim Corcoran ◽

Leslie Scarth

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Armed Conflict ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Psychosocial Issues ◽

Culturally Appropriate ◽

Population Parameters ◽

Health Practice ◽

High Quality ◽

Current Health ◽

Research With Children

There is a need to show how psychosocial issues affect children in conflict areas like Iraq. Raising knowledge and awareness of children's mental health status in Iraq has been difficult and the knowledge base has been limited by the shortage of resources, international sanctions and the isolation of Iraqi scholars. Many obstacles to research in Iraq exist but an agenda should be developed emphasising the need for high-quality contextualised psychosocial research. Health researchers in the country need to clarify basic population parameters and to provide culturally appropriate, evidence-based interventions for practitioners.

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