The American Indian Fatherhood Project is a two-year research project funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. The University of Oklahoma's Health Promotion Programs Department and the Department of Anthropology have partnered with four Oklahoma Tribal communities - the Kiowa, Ft. Sill Apache, Comanche, and Chickasaw Nations - to begin the first in-depth, ethnographic sutdy of Indian fatherhood. Interviews with over 200 Indian men and women from aged 18 to 82 have revealed how loss and stress are experienced by families in these communities, the impact of such experiences on parenting and child mental health, and the conditions that may enhance resilience in the face of psychosocial stress. By understanding more about stress in Indian country, we can assist counselors who work with Indian youth, particularly as they address issues related to posttraumatic stress disorders (PTSD) and substance abuse.
Learning Objectives: Poster session participants will be able to: 1. Identify perceived needs of American Indian fathers. 2. Recognize the importance of distinctive cultural features that affect response to and resilence against psychosocial stress. 3. Discuss how these cultural features might be taken into account in planning strategies for intervention
Keywords: American Indians, Family Involvement
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.