Online Program

278881
Community participatory evaluation of the native aspirations project: Concept mapping and community knowledge, attitudes and behavior survey


Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 2:30 p.m. - 2:50 p.m.

Gretchen Clarke, MPH, ICF International, Sitka, AK
Robin Davis, PhD, ICF International, Atlanta, GA
Christine Walrath, PhD, ICF International, New York, NY
Carrie Petrucci, MSW, PhD, EMT Associates, Inc., Corona, CA
Michelle Carnes, PhD, Division of Prevention, Traumatic Stress & Special Programs, SAMHSA - Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), Rockville, MD
Much of the research that has been published about American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations conforms to a top-down model where outsiders report on the activities of “others;” describe prescriptions for community change that are drafted without community input; or, at worst, conducts research without individuals' consent. Culturally-based and culturally competent ways of approaching evaluation with AI/AN communities is the focus of this paper. We describe the findings of community participatory evaluation in the Native Aspirations Project, a community and culturally-based program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to provide training and technical assistance to American Indian and Alaska Native communities to prevent youth bullying, violence and suicide. In addition, the process and implementation of this participatory approach are examined. Using “concept mapping” and a community, knowledge, attitudes and behavior survey (CKABS) in six AI/AN communities, we report on how community-level intervention pioritites align with survey data in those communities. This comparison illustrates that community members are well aware of their strengths, challenges and weaknesses; that community initiated and based solutions are valid; and provides a starting place for individuals seeking to work with AI/AN communtities. This paper confirms the importance of community participation in program planning, implementation and evaluation by highlighting that community members do, in fact, “know best”.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Program planning

Learning Objectives:
Explain the importance of community-participatory process in identifying community strengths, challenges and opportunities. Describe the concept mapping process and how it is used to gain community buy-in and consensus. Demonstrate mixed-method evaluation techniques that validate community driven evaluation processes.

Keyword(s): Alaska Natives, American Indians

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I served as the project director for the Evaluation of the Native Aspirations project (funded by SAMHSA), worked as a liaison with tribal communities involved in evaluation of suicide prevention programs, and am leading a project to understand the implementation and outcomes of SAMHSA funded suicide prevention programming with American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.