Southwest Tribal NARCH V
Mescalero Apache – “Listening to Each Other” Project
Primary Investigators: Dr. Nina Wallerstein, Dr. Lorenda Belone
The overall goal of this NARCH V application, through the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board, is to support a partnership between Mescalero Apache and the University of New Mexico (UNM) Masters in Public Health Program and Center for Participatory Research, by collaborating on an intergenerational family prevention research project to address substance abuse disparities with a tribal community that has not previously been funded under NARCH and to reduce distrust of research with this American Indian and Alaska Native community. The research project aims will integrate empirically-tested Evidence-Supported Intervention (ESI) with Culturally Supported Interventions (CSI) in Mescalero Apache (Hall 2001); and will develop stronger cultural relationships, communications and shared cultural practices between elders, parents, and youth in the tribe. The purpose of the research project will be to collaborate with Mescalero Apache in the adaptation of the ESI/CSI Jemez Pueblo/Ramah Navajo Family Listening Project (FLP) curriculum development process and to pilot the curriculum. In addition, the proposed research project has four specific goals. The first goal is to use a community-based participatory research (CBPR) process to shape early research interest, develop a new tribal research team within the Mescalero Apache around prevention of substance abuse disorders and overcome barriers to working collaboratively on a family research project. The second goal is to adapt evidence based Family Listening Project based on lessons learned and new models created at Jemez Pueblo and Ramah Navajo (funded by NARCH III) to the cultural-centered values and practices of Mescalero Apache. The third goal is to pilot the co-developed curriculum and facilitator’s manual and materials with 10 families, revise and finalize for later implementation and institutionalization. The fourth goal is to share findings with other Apache tribes and with consortium of NARCH III and NARCH V who have adapted the Mescalero Apache Family Listening Project.