A culturally based wellness program for urban American Indian youth


Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

4005.0: Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 9:30 AM

Abstract #103867

Norma Gray, PhD¹, Mary Mays, PhD², Janice Jirsak¹, Nicole Koschmann³, and Bradley Rappa². (1) Health Promotion Sciences, University of Arizona Mel & Enid Zuckerman Arizona College of Public Health, 48 N. Tucson Blvd., Suite 101, Tucson, AZ 85716, (520) 795-1898, ngray@u.arizona.edu, (2) Family and Community Medicine, University of Arizona College of Medicine, 48 N. Tucson Blvd., Suite 101A, Tucson, AZ 85716, (3) Media Arts, University of Arizona, P.O. Box 210158, Tucson, AZ 85721-0158

This culturally based youth wellness and substance use prevention program was developed with participation of Tribal elders and community members. Six four-hour group sessions focus on increasing wellness, self-concept, and creative expression within the context of Tribal culture and history. The primary expressive modality involves the youth in creating videos regarding their identity and health promotion public service announcements. Two cohorts of participants (N = 128) have completed the program. Age of participants range from 11 to 18. Both girls (51%) and boys (49%) are enrolled in the program and all are American Indian. Participants complete a structured interview before and after participating in the six sessions. One-year post-baseline follow-up interviews are also completed. The interviews focus on risk and protective factors including symptoms of depression, self-concept, social support, exposure to negative life events, exposure to adults and peers using alcohol and drugs, and participants' attitudes about alcohol and drug use. Analyses of the first cohort's data (n = 44) indicate change from baseline to follow-up showed statistically significant decreases in symptoms of depression (p = 0.001) and increases in social support (p = 0.03). This presentation will describe the participants and program development and implementation in detail. Videos created by the youth will be shown. Results of the one-year follow-up for the first two cohorts will be described and discussed.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

· Identify risk and protective factors for substance use in preteens and adolescents.
· Describe the implementation process of a community based participatory research wellness program for American Indian youth.
· Discuss the importance of addressing evidence-based risk factors in developing prevention programs.

Keywords: American Indians, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

American Indian and Alaska Native Youth

The 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition (December 10-14, 2005) of APHA