ACL Teen Centers School-Based Health Centers serving School-Based Health Centers serving Acoma, Laguna & To’Hajiilee since 1983

Assessment of the To’Hajiilee “Keeping Family Traditions” Middle School Family Program NNR Findings and Recommendations Presented to Na’nizhoozhi Center, Inc. October 29, 2010

To’Hajiilee KFT – Navajo IRB September The ACL Teen Centers Prevention Services submitted a study application to the Navajo Nation Human Research Review Board (NN HRRB). The NN HRRB sets forth "the conditions under which investigators, physicians, researchers, and others may perform research activities on living human subjects within the territorial jurisdiction of the Navajo Nation”. NN HRRB is under the auspices of the Navajo Nation Department of Health, Window Rock, AZ

To’Hajiilee KFT – Navajo IRB January 2007 – NN HRRB granted approval. Spring The To’Hajiilee KFT program was implemented. May 2008 – A re-direction of funding occurred from NM DOH – OSAP, thus, all KFT programs ended June 30, 2008 Evaluation results are from Spring 2008.

To’Hajiilee KFT - Program The “Keeping Family Traditions” (KFT) Program is a family health education program. The KFT Program utilizes the “DARE To Be You” family curriculum developed by the Colorado State University – Cooperative Extension. The program draws from an authoritative parenting typology and focuses on increasing self-efficacy, self- concept, self-worth, and self-esteem of the youth and parent participants.

To’Hajiilee KFT - Program The primary goal is: To strengthen parent-youth relationships in order to decrease early teen risk-taking behaviors. The emphasis of the program is on communication and parental skill-building.

To’Hajiilee KFT - Program A 10-week program for 6 th, 7 th and 8 th grade students from To’Hajiilee Community School (TCS) and their parents. Meals and childcare were provided. Monetary incentives were offered to participants who attended 9 out of 10 sessions; $ for youth and $ for parents. The program was held at TCS on a week night from 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

To’Hajiilee KFT - Program 13 individuals attended: * 8 adults * 5 youth Two Health Educators Data Analyst One Community Facilitator

To’Hajiilee KFT - Surveys “Keeping Family Traditions” Parent Questionnaire* Constructs: parental discipline, parenting efficacy and parenting self-concept. “Keeping Family Traditions” Youth Questionnaire* Constructs: parent/child communication, self-efficacy, self-concept and self-esteem. Due to small number of participants at the To’Hajiilee KFT program, the results are in aggregate with two other KFT programs based on data analysis criteria by the NM DOH – OSAP – as reported by Dr. Lisa Marr-Lyon, Evaluator. * Developed by Lisa Marr-Lyon, Ph.D., Evaluator

To’Hajiilee KFT – Highlights of Results from Youth Youth ~ There was a statistically significant increase in developmental efficacy from pre to post test. In other words, youth indicated a greater understanding of the changes others their age go through, being able to say “no” to friends, learning more about the risk of sex, etc.

To’Hajiilee KFT – Highlights of Results from Youth Youth ~ The increase in parent/youth communication is a positive finding among this age-group. Parent-youth communication is a protective factor for teens. To this end, if youth talk with parents/guardians about school, drinking alcohol, drugs, etc., this communication can enhance their knowledge of the risks associated with drugs and alcohol, etc. In turn, youth will be more likely to say “no” to experimenting with drugs and alcohol and feel they can talk with their parents about the other psycho-social stressors they experience during adolescence.

To’Hajiilee KFT – Highlights of Results from Parents Parents reported an increase in parental disciplinary practices, an increase in parenting self-concept and an increase in parenting efficacy from pre to post test. (however, none of these increases were statistically significant at p. <.05). The values that the “Keeping Family Traditions” middle school family program posits are consistent with an authoritative parenting typology.

Recommendations – Developing a Family Program Both parents and youth found the program helpful and results demonstrated that positive behavior changes were made. Low number of participants make the program expensive. Larger numbers of participants will make the program more cost effective and would increase the statistical power to detect a statistically significant change in parent and/or youth behavior.

Recommendations – Developing a Family Program From the To’Hajiilee Community Action Team (TCAT), a local Health Council ~ * Invite families from WIC and from area schools. * Incorporate the use of the Navajo language and culture within the family program. * Check when students are available to attend sessions (Are other school events scheduled?).

Recommendations – Developing a Family Program Con’t from TCAT ~ * Add an enrichment component to the program (such as values, morals, etc.) * Include a session that addresses setting goals after completion of middle and high school.

Questions? Thank you. UNM - ACL Teen Centers Prevention Research Center MSC Frontier N.E., Suite 120 Albuquerque, NM Tele / Fax