Evaluation of Thiwáhe Gluwáš'Akapi Substance Use Prevention Program

Summary

Researchers at the Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health in the Colorado School of Public Health at the University of Colorado completed an intensive community-engaged process to rigorously adapt the Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14 for the cultural context of a Northern Plains reservation community, creating a program optimized for American Indian families, Thiwáhe Gluwáš'akapi (TG, sacred home in which family is made strong). This study will test the effectiveness of TG for delaying the onset of substance use among young adolescents. In response to requests from participating families and community partners to help address suicide risk among their youth, and based on preliminary evidence that the program may impact risk behaviors beyond substance use, the study will also test suicide risk outcomes among youth. Finally, in recognition of the potential for reciprocal influence on the adults participating in the program with their children, capitalizing on their motivation to make concomitant positive changes in their own lives, the current study will also examine effects on adult substance use. In summary, this study will test the effectiveness of TG for reducing risk for: (1) substance use among youth; (2) suicide risk among youth; and (3) substance abuse among adults.

Conditions

• Substance Use
• Substance Abuse
• Suicide

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Thiwáhe Gluwáš'akapi

Thiwáhe Gluwáš'akapi (TG, sacred home in which family is made strong) is a cultural adaptation of the Strengthening Families Program for Parents and Youth 10-14 (SFP 10-14). TG, like SFP 10-14, is a 7-week family-based prevention program with separate youth and adult sessions followed by family sessions. Videos teach content and spark discussion; games and activities foster interaction and provide opportunities to practice skills. Four key adaptations were made to create TG: (1) cultural kinship teachings and tribal language kinship words were embedded throughout; (2) a parent session on coping with stress was enhanced to teach recognizing and responding to trauma reactions in youth; (3) a session on listening was moved earlier in the curriculum, given cultural oral tradition; (4) session videos were remade with local actors and adapted scenarios. A multiphase optimization strategy design was used to test potential adaptations, resulting in the optimized TG program.

BEHAVIORAL

Woyute Waśte

Woyute Waśte (WW) was adapted from the Colorado School of Public Health's Integrated Nutrition Education Program (INEP) for the culture and context of the reservation. Families will meet for 1 session to participate in hands-on activities - preparing healthy meals, family physical activity, and sugary drinks. They will discuss setting healthy goals and tracking progress, receive recipes and water bottles, and for 6 weeks after the session, will get text messages with additional program content.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

  collaborator NIH

• University of Colorado, Denver

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Nancy R Whitesell, PhD · University of Colorado, Denver

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

FACTORIAL

Eligibility

Min Age

10 Years

Max Age

85 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2020-02-26

Primary Completion

2025-02-28

Completion

2025-02-28

Countries

• United States

Study Locations