Case Study of a Native American-Public Health Partnership

To help achieve the goal of promoting alcohol and drug prevention messages that resonates with all Massachusetts communities, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS) funded a study of tribal issues and contracted with ARGUS, a health communications firm. Valuable input was received from University of Massachusetts Boston’s Institute for New England Native American Studies, and tribal leaders who were invited to offer thoughts on relevant prevention and cultural issues. 

ARGUS hired a Native part-time consultant to help orchestrate and co-write an adaptation of the Massachusetts publication 7 Ways to Protect Your Teen from Alcohol and Other Drugs. She co-facilitated discussion groups of parents, elders, and interested parties from various tribes and geographic locations in Massachusetts.  The discussion groups’ report made it clear that a new booklet was needed to resonate with Native culture, values, and parenting styles. These discussions produced moving quotations from elders, parents, and youth that were incorporated throughout the booklet. A Native illustrator was hired to create locally meaningful images. The BSAS collaboration with the Native Community to integrate evidence-based principles of prevention with their own cultural values resulted in the resource, “Coming Home.”

The Native representatives are very pleased with the final booklet. Over 40 people celebrated the booklet’s completion, and are bringing it to Native cultural events and agencies throughout the Commonwealth.