|
Participants
in the two meetings came from around the country, representing diverse
experience and perspectives on cultural competence and evidence-based
practices. Distinguished advocates like Ms. Holly Echo-Hawk, mental
health consultant and Secretary of the First Nations Behavioral
Health Association, and influential researchers like Dr. Guillermo
Bernal, Professor of Psychology at the University of Puerto Rico,
provided thought-provoking insights into the interface of these
complex issues. The first expert panel grappled with defining elusive key concepts such as culturally competent care, evidence, and mental health, contrasting the perspectives of traditional researchers with those of community advocates. Discussants challenged the assumption of many mental health services researchers that widely researched psychological treatments are appropriate for people of color regardless of whether those populations have been adequately represented in the research. The second panel picked up the first group's discussion threads, providing a critique of the various approaches to adapting mental health services for populations of color and evaluating the outcomes of adapted models. An important context for the discussion was a frank assessment of the existing research literature on using mental health treatments considered evidence-based (e.g., cognitive-behavioral therapy) with people of color. A central theme of both panel discussions was the importance of involving the target community at all stages when developing a treatment program for people of color and its evaluation. Without the community's input, discussants asserted, attempts to develop culturally appropriate services will not be valid and will ultimately fail. Findings from the expert panel have been used to guide the development of the Foundation's Request for Proposals on Cultural Adaptation: Providing Evidence-Based Practices to People of Color. In the coming months, the Foundation will continue drawing upon the expertise of expert panel participants as it selects the Cultural Adaptation Initiative grantees and launches the grant program. For more information, please click on the following links: Expert Panel #1 November 8-9, 2005
Expert Panel #2 November 29-30, 2005
Grant
Program •
Expert Panels • Assessment
Tools • Evidence-Based
Practices |
|||
|
©
2006 Hogg Foundation for Mental Health
The University of Texas at Austin |
|||
