Adapting a Best Practice Program to Reach Latino Families

1. Adapting a Best Practice Program to Reach Latino Families Washington State University Extension Diana Castro and Ann Diede 2006 Prevention Summit

2. Best Practice Model • Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14 Years • Developed in Iowa, studied original cohort intensively. 113 families mostly rural, mostly white in program, similar controls matched. Famous for its research base. • Imported to Washington State in 1999. 2006 Prevention Summit

3. Implementation of the Strengthening Families Program • Began on a pilot basis by WSU Extension in 1999. • By the end of 1999, two WSU Faculty had completed training as trainers and began to offer training across the state to WSU Extension and its partners. • Found that community based trainings were the most effective in establishing the model as one that could be implemented. 2006 Prevention Summit

4. WSU Extension 426 facilitators trained statewide 2006 Prevention Summit

5. Statewide Efforts • Early efforts focused on training, implementation and tracking WSU efforts and partners at the local level. • Establishing a statewide evaluation system was a significant achievement. • Early data gathering showed significant gains in the participants. 2006 Prevention Summit

6. 2154 parents/caregivers and youth in 17 counties served by WSU trained facilitators 2006 Prevention Summit

7. Statewide Interagency Effort • WSU Extension led the effort to create an Interagency Team that would support implementation and statewide evaluation effort. • Team created in 2003 as an Advisory Group. • First recommendation: Bring the Spanish program to Washington! 2006 Prevention Summit

8. Initiation of Spanish Program • By 2002, need for Spanish program was obvious. • Advisory Group affirmed the need. • Pan American Health Organization Spanish version was developed in 2003 in cooperation with the program developers. • WSU sponsored a training for Spanish program in February 2004. Eight (8) teams were trained to conduct the program in Spanish. 2006 Prevention Summit

9. Spanish Program Development Strategies • Unanimous support from internal and external partners for expansion to underserved Latino families. • WSU Extension resources were available at a critical time that allowed for both facilitator training and to develop “in-house” trainers for Spanish program. • Put our resources into training, team development and curriculum improvements to support local programs. 2006 Prevention Summit

10. Curriculum • User Friendly • Readable • Easy to follow • Schedule • Allowing extra time • Materials • English/Spanish Bilingual 2006 Prevention Summit

11. Program Delivery Strategies • Hold programs in places where families feel safe • Facilitators are connected to other services • Trusting relationships • Partnerships • Provide a meal 2006 Prevention Summit

12. Recruitment • Families • Human Service Providers • Schools • Churches • Local Community Agencies • Facilitators • Connected to families by other community programs • Bilingual • Program Leader (Coordinator) • Session Leader 2006 Prevention Summit

13. Programs in Action 2006 Prevention Summit

14. Keys to Success • Recruit and train bi-lingual Latino facilitators to deliver the program • Develop and adapt program materials to meet facilitator, parent and youth needs • Develop and maintain positive working relationships with program partners • Be willing to make program adaptations based on cultural values and needs • Partnerships with community agencies 2006 Prevention Summit

15. When You Don’t Speak Spanish • Learn about the Latino culture • Get to know Latinos on an personal level • Examine your personal attitudes and beliefs about working with Latinos and illegal immigrants • Get acquainted with staff of programs serving Latino families and youth in your community 2006 Prevention Summit

16. Go the Extra Mile • Attend as many program sessions as possible to provide support for facilitators and establish a relationship with Latino family participants • Treat Latino facilitators as colleagues and valued members of your Extension teaching team • Make yourself available and willing to put in extra time and effort 2006 Prevention Summit

17. Strengthening Families Program Works • Washington evaluation data show significant improvements from pretest to posttest. • Overall, parents report significant improvement in: • Rules About Substance Use • Positive Involvement With Youth • Family Harmony • Communication With Youth 2006 Prevention Summit

18. Parent Changes from Pre to Post 2006 Prevention Summit

19. Spanish Language Evaluation • We have translated the evaluation into Spanish and use it for the Spanish-language programs • Latino parents report significant changes from before to after the program • Evaluation results reported by Latino parents/caregivers are equivalent to those reported by non-Latino parents/caregivers 2006 Prevention Summit

20. Latino Parent Changes from Pre to Post 2006 Prevention Summit

21. Future Research • Our statewide evaluation data helped us to get research funding from the National Institute of Health (NIH) • Our next proposals for grants include: • Explore differences in responses to evaluation • Demonstrate effectiveness of Spanish-language program in large-scale longitudinal study 2006 Prevention Summit

22. In Summary… • Build partnerships that facilitate access to families and create structures for shared evaluation • Invest in building capacity, including qualified trainers and culturally appropriate curricula • Connect with “cultural guides” at state and local levels to advise on program design and delivery 2006 Prevention Summit

23. For More Information Visit our website: http://sfp.wsu.edu/ Order Spanish Teaching Manuals & Magnets from: WSU Extension Publications Phone: (509) 335-2857 Toll-free: (800) 723-1763E-mail: bulletin@wsu.edu Website: http://pubs.wsu.edu 2006 Prevention Summit