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A Continuum of Approaches Toward Developing Culturally Focused Prevention Interventions: From Adaptation to Grounding

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Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe a conceptual model of methods used to develop culturally focused interventions. We describe a continuum of approaches ranging from non-adapted/surface-structure adapted programs to culturally grounded programs, and present recent examples of interventions resulting from the application of each of these approaches. The model has implications for categorizing culturally focused prevention efforts more accurately, and for gauging the time, resources, and level of community engagement necessary to develop programs using each of the different methods. The model also has implications for funding decisions related to the development and evaluation of programs, and for planning of participatory research approaches with community members.

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Acknowledgments

Resources used for preparation of this article were funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Drug Abuse (R34 DA031306, P.I.-Okamoto) and the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01 MD006110, P.I.-Kulis, and P20 MD002316, P.I.-Marsiglia). The authors would like to acknowledge Ms. Jessica Valdez and Ms. Michela Lauricella for their assistance in preparing this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, Hawai‘i Pacific University, 1188 Fort Street Mall, Suite 201C, Honolulu, HI, 96813, USA

    Scott K. Okamoto

  2. School of Social and Family Dynamics, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Stephen Kulis

  3. School of Social Work, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Flavio F. Marsiglia

  4. School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA

    Lori K. Holleran Steiker

  5. Southwest Interdisciplinary Research Center, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA

    Patricia Dustman

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  1. Scott K. Okamoto
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  2. Stephen Kulis
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  3. Flavio F. Marsiglia
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  4. Lori K. Holleran Steiker
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  5. Patricia Dustman
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Correspondence to Scott K. Okamoto.

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Okamoto, S.K., Kulis, S., Marsiglia, F.F. et al. A Continuum of Approaches Toward Developing Culturally Focused Prevention Interventions: From Adaptation to Grounding. J Primary Prevent 35, 103–112 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-013-0334-z

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