Michele Allen

The Relationship Between Spanish Language Use and Substance Use Behaviors Among Latino Youth: A Social Network Approach

PURPOSE Greater acculturation is associated with higher rates of substance use among Latino adolescents, but the reasons are poorly understood. One potential explanation is that social networks change with acculturation, leading to decreased protection and increased risk. Our objective was to identify Spanish language-sensitive individual and social network attributes associated with substance use in Latino adolescents. METHODS Latino eighth-grade students in a Los Angeles public middle school completed a computerized, self-administered survey about tobacco, alcohol, drug use, and parental monitoring; and description of 30 social network members. Regression analyses were used to estimate the independent associations of network-level Spanish language use and other factors with a substance use behavior scale. Mediation analysis identified Spanish language-sensitive attributes. RESULTS Network-level Spanish language use was associated with a substance use scale in bivariate but not multivariate models. Protective Spanish language-sensitive attributes included greater numbers of extended family members in the network, less substance use among network members, and greater perceived parental monitoring. Risky Spanish language-insensitive attributes include more high school aged network members. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that parental monitoring and some characteristics of social networks account for the relationship between Spanish language use and substance use among Latino adolescents. Clinic- or community-based interventions that enhance protective characteristics of social networks in Latino adolescents may be effective.

Facilitating Research Faculty Participation in CBPR: Development of a Model Based on Key Informant Interviews

Community‐based participatory research (CBPR) may enhance the translational research process; however, this would require increased institutional capacity for community engaged research. In this paper, we first present results of key informant interviews with academic health center faculty regarding facilitators to faculty participation in CBPR partnerships and then propose a model arising from these results describing how increased capacity may be achieved. Participants were 13 key informant faculty of varying levels of expertise in CBPR at a large university academic health center. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. A thematic content analysis of each interview was conducted by research team members. Facilitators reported by faculty representing five health science schools were grouped into five thematic areas: (1) researcher personal attributes including an innate orientation toward working with community, (2) positive attitudes toward collaboration, (3) a partnership‐building skill set, (4) community partners who are ready and eager to collaborate, and (5) supportive institutional policies and procedures. We propose a model describing the relationship between personal attributes, learned/environmental factors, and community facilitators that may be utilized to promote increased institutional capacity for CBPR and thus increase the likelihood of the successful translation of research findings into community settings. Clin Trans Sci 2010; Volume 3: 233–238.

A Capacity Building Program to Promote CBPR Partnerships between Academic Researchers and Community Members

Introduction: Community‐based participatory research (CBPR) adds community perspectives to research and aids translational research aims. There is a need for increased capacity in CBPR but few models exist for how to support the development of community/university partnerships.

Feasibility of a parenting program to prevent substance use among Latino youth: a community-based participatory research study.

Purpose. Family-skills training programs prevent adolescent substance use, but few exist for immigrant Latino families. This study assesses the feasibility of a family-skills training intervention developed using a community-based participatory research framework, and explores parental traditional values as a modifier of preliminary effects. Design. One-group pretest-posttest. Setting. Four Latino youth–serving sites (school, clinic, church, social-service agency). Subjects. Immigrant Latino parents of adolescents aged 10 to 14 years (N = 83). Intervention. Eight-session program in Spanish to improve parenting practices and parent-youth interpersonal relations designed with Latino parents and staff from collaborating organizations. Measures. Feasibility was assessed through retention, program appropriateness, and group interaction quality. Preliminary outcomes evaluated were (1) parenting self-efficacy, discipline, harsh parenting, monitoring, conflict, attachment, acceptance, and involvement, and (2) parent perception of adolescent internalizing, externalizing, and substance use behaviors. Covariates included sociodemographics and parental endorsement of traditional values. Analysis. Feasibility outcomes were assessed with descriptive statistics. Paired t-tests measured changes in parenting outcomes. Adjusted multiple regression models were conducted for change in each outcome, and t-tests compared mean changes in outcomes between parents with high and low traditional values scores. Results. Program appropriateness and group interaction scores were positive. Improvement was noted for eight parenting outcomes. Parents perceived that adolescent internalizing behaviors decreased. Parents with lower endorsement of traditional values showed greater pretest-posttest change in attachment, acceptance, and involvement. Conclusion. This intervention is feasible and may influence parenting contributors to adolescent substance use.

Immigrant family skills-building to prevent tobacco use in Latino youth: study protocol for a community-based participatory randomized controlled trial

BackgroundDespite declines over recent years, youth tobacco and other substance use rates remain high. Latino youth are at equal or increased risk for lifetime tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, and other illicit drug use compared with their white peers. Family plays an important and influential role in the lives of youth, and longitudinal research suggests that improving parenting skills may reduce youth substance use. However, few interventions are oriented towards immigrant Latino families, and none have been developed and evaluated using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) process that may increase the effectiveness and sustainability of such projects. Therefore, using CBPR principles, we developed a randomized clinical trial to assess the efficacy of a family-skills training intervention to prevent tobacco and other substance use intentions in Latino youth.Methods/DesignIn collaboration with seven Latino community-serving agencies, we will recruit and randomize 336 immigrant families, into intervention or delayed treatment conditions. The primary outcome is youth intention to smoke 6 months post intervention. The intervention consists of eight parent and four youth sessions targeting parenting skills and parent–youth relational factors associated with lower smoking and other substance use in youth.DiscussionWe present the study protocol for a family intervention using a CBPR randomized clinical trial to prevent smoking among Latino youth. The results of this trial will contribute to the limited information on effective and sustainable primary prevention programs for tobacco and other substance use directed at the growing US Latino communities.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01442753

Effective Parenting Interventions to Reduce Youth Substance Use: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT: Parenting interventions may prevent adolescent substance use; however, questions remain regarding the effectiveness of interventions across substances and delivery qualities contributing to successful intervention outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To describe the effectiveness of parent-focused interventions in reducing or preventing adolescent tobacco, alcohol, and illicit substance use and to identify optimal intervention targeted participants, dosage, settings, and delivery methods. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, PsycINFO, ERIC, and CINAHL. STUDY SELECTION: Randomized controlled trials reporting adolescent substance use outcomes, focusing on imparting parenting knowledge, skills, practices, or behaviors. DATA EXTRACTION: Trained researchers extracted data from each article using a standardized, prepiloted form. Because of study heterogeneity, a qualitative technique known as harvest plots was used to summarize findings. RESULTS: A total of 42 studies represented by 66 articles met inclusion criteria. Results indicate that parenting interventions are effective at preventing and decreasing adolescent tobacco, alcohol, and illicit substance use over the short and long term. The majority of effective interventions required ≤12 contact hours and were implemented through in-person sessions including parents and youth. Evidence for computer-based delivery was strong only for alcohol use prevention. Few interventions were delivered outside of school or home settings. LIMITATIONS: Overall risk of bias is high. CONCLUSIONS: This review suggests that relatively low-intensity group parenting interventions are effective at reducing or preventing adolescent substance use and that protection may persist for multiple years. There is a need for additional evidence in clinical and other community settings using an expanded set of delivery methods.

A tale of two community networks program centers: Operationalizing and assessing CBPR principles and evaluating partnership outcomes

Background: Community Networks Program (CNP) centers are required to use a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach within their specific priority communities. Not all communities are the same and unique contextual factors and collaborators’ priorities shape each CBPR partnership. There are also established CBPR and community engagement (CE) principles shown to lead to quality CBPR in any community. However, operationalizing and assessing CBPR principles and partnership outcomes to understand the conditions and processes in CBPR that lead to achieving program and project level goals is relatively new in the science of CBPR.Objectives: We sought to describe the development of surveys on adherence to and implementation of CBPR/CE principles at two CNP centers and examine commonalities and differences in program-versus project-level CBPR evaluation.Methods: A case study about the development and application of CBPR/CE principles for the Missouri CNP, Program for the Elimination of Cancer Disparities, and Minnesota CNP, Padres Informados/Jovenes Preparados, surveys was conducted to compare project versus program operationalization of principles. Survey participant demographics were provided by CNP. Specific domains found in CBPR/CE principles were identified and organized under an existing framework to establish a common ground. Operational definitions and the number of survey items were provided for each domain by CNP.Conclusion: There are distinct differences in operational definitions of CBPR/CE principles at the program and project levels of evaluation. However, commonalities support further research to develop standards for CBPR evaluation across partnerships and at the program and project levels.

Targeting single parents in preadolescent substance use prevention: Internet characteristics and information relevance

Aim: This study investigates the internet as a resource for parent-based preadolescent substance use prevention information for African-American single mothers receiving public assistance in the United States. Methods: Thirty-two mothers with at least one preadolescent child participated in in-depth semi-structured interviews and usefulness studies eliciting information about their perceptions of the internet as an information and online resource for parent-based preadolescent substance use prevention. Themes were generated qualitatively through an iterative process of comparative analysis. Findings: Findings reveal a consensus that the internet is convenient, comfortable to use and provides accessibility to broad information. However, as related to parent-based preadolescent substance use prevention, participants reviewing established prevention sites (e.g. NIDA) noted that several lacked personal relevance (e.g. did not relate to life experiences and circumstances). These personal considerations override cultural concerns, although issues of representation (i.e. information related to group membership) were still important. Conclusions: Online preadolescent substance use prevention information targeting African-American single mothers would be useful and utilized as a resource if messages make sense within the day-to-day experiences of this ethnic group.

Parents and family matter: strategies for developing family-centered adolescent care within primary care practices.

Healthy adolescent development and successful transition to adulthood begins in the family. Supporting families in their communities and cultures ultimately makes this support system stronger. Parenting adolescents is described as the most challenging life stage for parents. Primary care providers are in an ideal position to support families with teens. This article reviews stressors, recommends strength-based strategies, describes how health care delivery systems can be organized to address the needs of adolescents and their families, shares a case study of a family-oriented, youth-friendly primary care clinic, and provides practical strategies for developing family-centered adolescent care within primary care practices.

They Just Respect You for Who You Are: Contributors to Educator Positive Youth Development Promotion for Somali, Latino, and Hmong Students

Abstract Youth from immigrant communities may experience barriers to connecting with schools and teachers, potentially undermining academic achievement and healthy youth development. This qualitative study aimed to understand how educators serving Somali, Latino, and Hmong (SLH) youth can best promote educator–student connectedness and positive youth development, by exploring the perspectives of teachers, youth workers, and SLH youth, using a community based participatory research approach. We conducted four focus groups with teachers, 18 key informant interviews with adults working with SLH youth, and nine focus groups with SLH middle and high school students. Four themes emerged regarding facilitators to educators promoting positive youth development in schools: (1) an authoritative teaching approach where teachers hold high expectations for student behavior and achievement, (2) building trusting educator–student relationships, (3) conveying respect for students as individuals, and (4) a school infrastructure characterized by a supportive and inclusive environment. Findings suggest a set of skills and educator–student interactions that may promote positive youth development and increase student-educator connectedness for SLH youth in public schools.