Growing stronger together: Implementing the Strengthening Families Program with Indigenous communities

Area of Science:

• Child welfare
• Indigenous studies
• Program implementation

Background:

• Child welfare agencies prioritize evidence-based programs (EBPs) for effectiveness.
• Adapting EBPs for Indigenous populations presents unique challenges.
• Relationality offers a promising framework for implementing EBPs with Indigenous families.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the culturally integrated implementation of the Strengthening Families Program (SFP), an EBP, with Indigenous families.

Main Methods:

• A collective implementation story was created using insights from program staff, project leadership, and a community steering committee.
• Thematic analysis employed a relational approach, focusing on responsibility, respect, and reciprocity to align with Indigenous knowledge organization.

Main Results:

• Cultural integration centered Indigenous and community identities through tailored meals, gifts, parenting examples, and discussions.
• Practices of responsibility, respect, and reciprocity were crucial for building relationships among caregivers, children, staff, leadership, and community supporters, leading to program success.

Conclusions:

• Culturally integrated implementation created a space reflecting Indigenous relationality and respecting family uniqueness.
• The study underscores the importance of Indigenous staff and leaders in guiding cultural integration within tribal communities.