Measuring Implementation Fidelity for the Gathering of Native Americans (GONA)

Area of Science:

• Community Health
• Program Evaluation
• Indigenous Studies

Background:

• The Gathering of Native Americans (GONA) is a program designed for Indigenous communities.
• Existing tools may not adequately capture the nuances of GONA implementation.
• A need exists for a standardized yet adaptable fidelity tool for GONA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To release the GONA Fidelity Tool for public use.
• To describe the development and application of the GONA Fidelity Tool.
• To enhance the planning, implementation, and evaluation of GONA programs.

Main Methods:

• The GONA Fidelity Tool was developed over 10 years with input from Urban Indian Health Organizations.
• Participating organizations partnered with Indigenous evaluators to measure GONA implementation.
• Process evaluations and annual training forums informed tool revisions.

Main Results:

• The GONA Fidelity Tool is effective for planning, implementation, and quality improvement of GONA programs.
• Adapting the tool to local culture, context, and spiritual practices maximizes its utility.
• The tool is now used nationally as a resource for measuring evidence in GONA implementation.

Conclusions:

• The GONA Fidelity Tool is a valuable resource for Indigenous communities implementing GONA.
• The tool supports the measurement of both practice-based and community-defined evidence.
• Cultural adaptation is key to the successful application of the GONA Fidelity Tool.