Crow Indian justice: Strategies of informal social control

This study presents ethnographic findings based on fieldwork conducted on the Crow Indian Reservation in Southeast Montana. Special focus is placed on patterns of informal social control which help preserve a condition of communal harmony among reservation Indians. Aspects of kinship obligation, religion, ceremony, and personality are introduced as strategies influencing early socialization and adherence to rules. Off‐reservation problems of assimilation regarding alcohol abuse and adjustment to non‐Indian judicial systems are discussed.     

Suicidality Among Adolescent Alberta Indians

A high rate of suicide attempts and suicide ideation characterized a sample of 229 grade 7 to 9 adolescents resident on seven reserves in central Alberta. The prevalence of suicidality for these adolescent Indians was very similar to rates reported for Navajo youth and for 8th- and 10th-grade American non-Indian students. Comparison of Indian and non-Indian suicidality risk factors showed somewhat elevated levels of family disruption and psychological problems among Indian adolescents. Compared to Canadian nonadolescents, substance abuse levels were high, and conditions necessary to modeling were virtually omnipresent. Suicide ideation was significantly elevated for Indian adolescents with low psychological well-being, no father in the home, and a prior suicide in the household. Controlling for age, risk factors for suicide attempts were heavy alcohol use, no father in the home, sleeping problems, and low psychological well-being. The high rates of adolescent Native suicide imply that a much higher proportion of their suicide attempts succeed. Targeted, community-based counselling and educational programs are needed to address these problems.     

Taking the Bull by the Horns: A Family Therapy Case of an East Indian Adolescent Substance Abuser

The cultural clash between traditional East Indian cultural values and US values often leads to parent–child conflicts, which increases East Indian adolescents’ risk for substance abuse. This is demonstrated in theory and through a case presentation of an East Indian adolescent substance abuser who was treated through an approach that coincided with the core principles of multi-dimensional family therapy. Family therapy interventions that coincided with East Indian cultural values were generally effective and resulted in decreased parental substance abuse, decreased family conflict, and improved parenting skills. Family therapy interventions that conflicted with East Indian cultural values were not effective. Further study is needed to ascertain the extent of parental and adolescent substance abuse in East Indian immigrant families and the effectiveness of a multi-dimensional family therapeutic approach to treatment.     

Preventing substance abuse in American Indian and Alaska native youth: promising strategies for healthier communities

Substance abuse has had profoundly devastating effects on the health and well-being of American Indians and Alaska Natives. A wide variety of intervention methods has been used to prevent or stem the development of alcohol and drug problems in Indian youth, but there is little empirical research evaluating these efforts. This article is an overview of the published literature on substance use prevention among Indian adolescents, providing background epidemiological information, a review of programs developed specifically for Indian adolescents, and recommendations for the most promising prevention strategies currently in practice.     

Impact of substance abuse and child maltreatment training on service utilization in a rural setting

Substance abuse and child maltreatment have been recognized as co-morbid problems encountered in families presenting in the child protective services (CPS) system. Nonetheless, utilization rates of substance abuse treatment services have generally lagged well behind what the research would suggest are prevalence rates for substance abuse disorders in this population, suggesting problems in recognition and referral practices among CPS workers. In response to this, 25 training programs were funded by the National Center on Child Abuse and Neglect. This study reports data from one program. Trainees indicated a high level of satisfaction and demonstrated significant knowledge gains. More importantly, utilization of substance abuse services increased significantly across time in a multi-county region receiving training relative to a comparison region receiving none. The gain was limited, suggesting that while increased knowledge may translate into increased service utilization, additional barriers to accessing needed services must also be addressed.     

Predictors of Successful Completion of a Postincarceration Drug Treatment Program

Using secondary analysis, this study compared the characteristics of 1,763 parolees with substance abuse problems who successfully completed a post incarceration drug treatment program with those who did not. Those who completed the program were more likely to be women who had not used drugs 30 days before program admission, had fewer prior treatment experiences, remained in the program longer, and had secured employment and stable living arrangements by the time of discharge. Implications for treatment and program development are discussed.     

Cultural and ethical issues concerning research on American Indian youth

A study of American Indian youths illustrates competing pressures between research and ethics. A stakeholder-researcher team developed three plans to protect participants. The first allowed participants to skip potentially upsetting interview sections. The second called for participants to skip potentially upsetting interview sections. The second called for participants flagged for abuse or suicidality to receive referrals, emergency 24-hr clinical backup, or both. The third, based on the community's desire to promote service access, included giving participants a list of service resources. Interviewers gave referrals to participants flagged as having mild problems, and reported participants with serious problems to supervisors for clinical backup. Participants seldom chose to skip sections, so data integrity was not compromised. However, participants did have more problems than expected (e.g., 1 in 3 had thought about suicide, 1 in 5 had attempted suicide, and 1 in 4 reported abuse), so service agencies were not equipped to respond. Researchers must accept the competing pressures and find ethically appropriate compromises that will not undermine research integrity.     

Time out from Stress: Camp Program and Parenting Groups for Homeless Mothers

This paper describes a camp program for homeless families and parenting groups aimed at discussing issues related to parenting while homeless. In groups and individual interviews, the women shared stories about multiple problems that negatively impacted parent/child relationships and their ability to maintain employment and residential stability. These problems included domestic violence, sexual abuse, and substance abuse. Evaluation of the camp program indicated that services available in the community and those provided by shelters were limited and mothers often had difficulties utilizing services.     

Group Cognitive Behavior Therapy Program with Troubled Adolescents: A Learning Experience

ABSTRACT

Group CBT programs are widely used for assisting teenagers with anxiety, depression and other psychological problems. The majority of reported programs have targeted school or clinical populations, however, few have specifically targeted adolescents from highly troubled and disadvantaged backgrounds. This paper describes a group CBT program that was developed for teenagers who have not responded well to the formal structures of school and traditional models of classroom management. Problems such as low levels of motivation, poor attention span, learning difficulties, poor impulse control, substance abuse, and other mental health problems are common within this population. A number of challenges arose in running the program and several modifications were made in order to make it more relevant to participants. These changes resulted in more rapid engagement with the program, improved cooperation within the group, fewer interruptions, and improved rapport. The clinical outcomes associated with the program could not be measured due to difficulties with completing administering self-report questionnaires.     

Diverting multi-problem youth from juvenile justice: investigating the importance of community influence on placement and recidivism

In the U.S., diversion has increasingly become one of the most utilized alternatives to detention of delinquent youth. Programs providing diversion can vary greatly. Variations in program design make it difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of program outcomes. Utilizing hierarchical linear modeling, this study examines variations in outcome for ten program sites of the New York State MH/JJ Diversion Project. Program and youth predictors were evaluated on two outcomes: out-of- community placement and recidivism. At the individual level, significant mental health and substance abuse problems, age, prior placements, and use of wraparound funds were predictive of youth placements, while significant substance abuse problems were predictive of recidivism. Program variations were found to have a significant impact on youth outcomes. Specifically, sites providing direct (or "in house") care had significantly reduced rates of placement. Study results and implications for future research are discussed.     

Ethical Challenges Inherent in the Evaluation of an American Indian/Alaskan Native Circles of Care Project

This article provides first‐person accounts of ethical issues inherent in an evaluation of the Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio (NAICCO) Circles of Care project. Circles of Care is a three‐year, infrastructure development program funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) which is part of the federal Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The grant program is for American Indian and Alaskan Native (AI/AN) tribes and urban Indian communities and includes a strong emphasis on community engagement and community ownership. The Native American Indian Center of Central Ohio received a Circles of Care grant in the fifth cohort of the program. The first author (Project Evaluator) presents views that typically represent a western approach to evaluation, while the second author (Project Director) presents a Native perspective. Ethical issues are defined as well as the authors’ efforts to address these concerns.     

Psychological Trauma Among American Indian Families: A Two-Generation Study

The findings presented in this article come from a two-generation study exploring the psychological impact of trauma among American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) families and its perceived relationship to substance abuse across generations. Psychological traumas and stressors found to be pervasive across generations included physical and sexual abuse as well as persistent discrimination and racism, such as fear of having children removed from the home. A noteworthy finding was a decrease in reports of childhood traumas across the two generations within this sample. Implications and recommendations for clinicians and researchers working with AI populations are discussed in light of the findings.     

Maternal correlates of 2‐year‐old American Indian children's social‐emotional development in a Northern Plains tribe

The developmental experiences of very young American Indian children today are not well documented in the current literature. The present study sought to explore the social‐emotional development of American Indian toddlers living on a Northern Plains reservation, as a function of maternal variables. Mothers completed self‐report questionnaires about their experiences and their children's development. Observer ratings of children's development also were conducted. Maternal stress, substance use/abuse, perceptions of stress in the mother–child relationship, social support, and American Indian cultural identity were significantly related to children's social‐emotional development. This study is the first to explore these relationships in a Northern Plains American Indian sample of young children and their mothers. Results suggest possible points of intervention for improving the developmental outcomes of very young American Indian children.     

Childhood abuse as a possible locus for early intervention into problems of violence and psychopathology

Reviewed research on abuse in childhood. Physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, as well as children witnessing parents abuse each other, were all found to be associated with later problems with violence and psychopathology. No causal conclusions could be drawn because of the correlational nature of the research. Also, research into possible interventions was reviewed. At least somewhat effective interventions for stopping abuse once it begins are available for all of the types of abuse. However, there are no data on the effects of these interventions on long-term problems of violence or psychopathology. It is recommended that psychopathologists and therapists collaborate in long-term studies which utilize intervention as a tool for experimentally investigating the relationships between childhood abuse and later problems of violence or psychopathology.     

Evaluation of an Air Force Child Physical Abuse Prevention Project Using the Reliable Change Index

Three hundred and seventy-nine parents at 25 Air Force bases participated in a collaborative child physical abuse prevention project designed by the United States Air Force Family Advocacy Program and Father Flanagan's Boys' Home (Boys Town). These participants were active duty or civilian employee parents and their spouses who completed the Boys Town Common Sense Parenting ® program as part of a comprehensive prevention effort. We hypothesized that participants would report decreased child behavior problems, improved relationships with family members, and reduced risk for child physical abuse after attending parenting sessions. Results supported this hypothesis. The data were also analyzed to determine the frequencies of individual parents who made statistically reliable changes on the dependent measures using Jacobson's Reliable Change Index. Nineteen to 30% of the participants reported significant improvement in the areas assessed. Parents who improved in abuse risk were at a higher level of risk and were less satisfied with family relationships prior to their participation than those who did not change. Implications for prevention of child physical abuse and future directions for research are discussed.     

Substance Abuse Prevention:

Components of a successful substance abuse prevention program are discussed. Substance use and abuse trends in school-aged populations are briefly reviewed. Prevention program strategies deemed desirable through recent research efforts are incorporated in describing a model program. Educational approaches and substance abuse intervention strategies are differentiated. Program planning guideliens are presented and discussed. These guidelines are designed to establish and maintain school and community support for prevention programs.     

Mental health and North American Indian/Native communities: Cultural transactions,education, and regulation

Critical issues in the delivery of mental health services to North American Indians/Natives residing in rural areas are discussed by describing Indian populations/communities; briefly summarizing available literature concerning the nature of mental health problems within Indian communities; examining Indian belief systems relevant to participation in mental health service delivery processes; exploring community expectations for structuring participatory interactions which may inhibit utilization of mental health services; and describing transactions between Indian consumers and non-Indian professionals which have become typical over time. The rural context was examined as it interacts with individual and community characteristics to affect Indian mental health. Relations between geography and culture, important in understanding the mental health problems of Indian people, are discussed in regard to expanding community healing resources through empowerment, and viewing "education as transformation" as a key concept in enhancing community healing processes.     

Applying Cluster Analysis to Test a Typology of Homelessness by Pattern of Shelter Utilization: Results from the Analysis of Administrative Data

This study tests a typology of homelessness using administrative data on public shelter use in New York City (1988–1995) and Philadelphia (1991–1995). Cluster analysis is used to produce three groups (transitionally, episodically, and chronically homeless) by number of shelter days and number of shelter episodes. Results show that the transitionally homeless, who constitute approximately 80% of shelter users in both cities, are younger, less likely to have mental health, substance abuse, or medical problems, and to overrepresent Whites relative to the other clusters. The episodically homeless, who constitute 10% of shelter users, are also comparatively young, but are more likely to be non-White, and to have mental health, substance abuse, and medical problems. The chronically homeless, who account for 10% of shelter users, tend to be older, non-White, and to have higher levels of mental health, substance abuse, and medical problems. Differences in health status between the episodically and chronically homeless are smaller, and in some cases the chronically homeless have lower rates (substance abuse in New York; serious mental illness in Philadelphia). Despite their relatively small number, the chronically homeless consume half of the total shelter days. Results suggest that program planning would benefit from application of this typology, possibly targeting the transitionally homeless with preventive and resettlement assistance, the episodically homeless with transitional housing and residential treatment, and the chronically homeless with supported housing and long-term care programs.