Foreword
Other clinicians/researchers have begun to adapt existing evidence-based practices to reflect the values of the Latino community. One example is the cultural adaptation of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). The adaptation retains the main focus and structure of the program but introduces words, phrases, and engagement strategies that draw from values in the Latino community.* The adaptation was developed through clinical experience working with Latino families and lessons learned from the literature and through focus groups and interviews. The TF-CBT adaptation incorporates values that are mentioned elsewhere in literature addressing Latino culture, including the concepts of familismo, pesonalismo, respeto, simpatia, and spirituality. Many questions remain to be answered regarding the prevalence of mental health disorders for Latino subgroups, whether incorporating cultural values increases desired outcomes for evidence-based treatment (reduced dropout, stronger engagement, improved youth and family behaviors), and what culturally appropriate strategies will increase mental health service use and reduce
*
youth problem behaviors. As part of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Models for Change initiative to enact system reform in juvenile justice, the Division of Public Behavioral Health and Justice Policy at the University of Washington is involved in examining some of these issues. We are working with Benton/Franklin County in Washington State, which has a sizeable Latino community, to assess the needs and perceptions of this community in regards to evidence-based practices, as well as issues encountered when attempting to access mental health and juvenile justice services. This process will likely proceed in a few phases. First, we plan to assess community needs and perceptions through key informant interviews, focus groups with targeted Latino populations, and a mass community survey. The survey and interviews will particularly focus on what the Latino community’s experience has been in accessing various social agencies, including schools, mental health organizations, and the juvenile court. The results of this needs assessment will inform the community’s broader efforts to identify gaps in service for Latinos and provide strategies for more successful engagement.
M. de-Arellano, Trauma Among Hispanic/Latino Populations. Presentation for the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (2007).
NCLR
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