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

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”.