Culturally Responsive Programs to Reduce Substance Misuse and Promote Mental Health in American Indian and Alaska Native Populations is a guide designed to inform strategic prevention planning by helping tribal communities identify and select culturally responsive programs that have been shown or have the potential to reduce substance misuse and foster holistic well-being. Programs or practices for tribal communities featured in this guide have been evaluated using both prototypical Western evaluation methods as well as those that have been developed and refined using practice-based evidence. Program descriptions are divided into two sections—those with documented evaluation findings and those without such documentation. Among those 85 programs reviewed, we found that:
- Fifty-five were evaluated using evaluation documentation, and 30 refined using practice-based evidence derived from local traditions that have been modified over time through real-world experiences of what works best.
- Programs primarily focused on tribal youth (n = 43), the whole tribal community (n = 15), tribal families (n = 20), or tribal adults (n = 5).
- Tribal communities designed and evaluated many programs and infused cultural elements specific to tribes, such as traditional tribal ceremonies and dances.
- Programs focused not only on reducing substance misuse, but also on improving emotional, mental and/or physical health with the goal of creating a more resilient community.
- A few programs met the needs of special populations, such as adults who have experienced trauma, teen mothers and their children, incarcerated youth, and homeless populations.
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