ACL Teen CentersACL Teen Centers

School-Based Health Centers School-Based Health Centers serving serving

Acoma, Laguna & To’Hajiilee since Acoma, Laguna & To’Hajiilee since 19831983

Assessment of the To’Hajiilee “Keeping Family Traditions”

Middle School Family Program

NNR 06-196

Findings and Recommendations

Presented toNa’nizhoozhi Center, Inc.

October 29, 2010

To’Hajiilee KFT – Navajo IRB

• September 2006 - 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 2008 - 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 6th, 7th and 8th 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; $ 50.00 for youth and $ 150.00 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

ProgramFrom 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

ProgramCon’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 11-6145

2703 Frontier N.E., Suite 120

Albuquerque, NM 87131

Tele. 505-272-4462 / Fax. 505-272-4857