The Five Feathers Healthy Families Project is a Native American community-based project to help build family strengths. Part of the national cross-site Children of Substance Abusing Families Project, it is funded by the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (# 8260). The goal of the project is the development of new empirical knowledge on substance abuse prevention models that enhance protective factors and minimize risk factors for children who are exposed to substance abuse among their parents and other close role models. The project also seeks to reduce the risk of developing substance abuse and other behavioral, emotional, social, cognitive, and physical problems among 9- to-11-year olds and their families. Participants are 9- to 11-year old children and their families. Program services included: family strengthening, academic tutoring, cultural activities, resiliency training, case management, and/or counseling. Sixty-two treatment families and 22 comparison families were enrolled in the study. Services were also provided to extended family members. Data were collected at baseline, 3 months (program exit), and 9 months. Dosage data was collected to track services received. Participants received an average of about 2 1/2 hours of services per week. Project participants tended to reach out for community members for support and were likely to participate in cultural activities. Possible protective benefits of these behaviors were examined. Results suggested that prevention activities should be grounded in traumatic stress theories as well as substance abuse prevention theories. Preliminary findings and resulting recommendations for future programs, implementation strategies, and research designs will be presented.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participants in this session will be able to: 1. Identify the conceptual framework of the Five Feathers Healthy Families Project and describe the parent, family, and children services of the project. 2. Describe the demographic characteristics of project participants. 3. Describe the protective benefits of the intervention as determined by the project findings. 4. Apply the recommendations for designing future programs, program implementation, and evaluation within other Native American communities.
Keywords: Community Research, Child Health Promotion
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Funded by Center for Substance Abuse Prevention Grant # 8260
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Funded by Center for Substance Abuse Prevention # 8260