Future Directions for Family-Based Prevention and Treatment Research: Challenges and Emerging Issues

Abstract

This chapter reviews the emerging issues in family-based prevention ­programs and future research directions. Despite the fact that there are many ­universal family attributes, there are some important cultural and contextual issues that require “tailor made” approach for some issues. However, the culturally ­tailored intervention must be grounded in core behavior change principles or they will not have the intended benefit for families. This chapter reviews the challenges of family-based combination and multilevel intervention which combine biomedical and behavioral approaches that optimize the HIV prevention benefits for families. There are some challenges in research strategies that must be addressed. For example, the current studies have a short follow-up period and if we are going to learn how the family impacts the long-term protective factors, we must have cohorts that are followed while children age into more risky periods of social development. Strategies need to be identified that ensure sustainability of effective family-based programs. If family based programs are going to be adopted by public health agencies, it is important to generate cost effectiveness data. There are also challenges in new ­settings that need to be explored; for example, foster care and juvenile systems, African American and Hispanic churches, and workplaces. There are also some populations that would benefit from family-based prevention program such as ­mentally ill children, young men who have sex with men (YMSM), rural families, and children in blended families. Researchers are challenged by the promising new directions of the third decade of the HIV epidemic.