Promoting First Relationships®: Implementing a Home Visiting Research Program in Two American Indian Communities

Abstract

Background Few, if any, home visiting programs for children under the age of three have been culturally adapted for American Indian reservation settings. We recently adapted one such program: Promoting First Relationships®. Objectives To culturally adapt Promoting First Relationships® while maintaining program fidelity, we used a community-based participatory approach to elicit input from two American Indian partners. Methods University-based researchers, reservation-based Native project staff, and Native tribal liaisons conducted collaborative meetings, conference calls, and focus groups to adapt Promoting First Relationships® to reflect local community needs and values. Lessons Learned Working closely with onsite Native project staff, being flexible and open to suggestions, and attending to the logistical needs of the community are imperative to developing and implementing adaptations. Conclusions Several adaptations were made based on the collaboration between researchers and Native project staff. Collaboration is critical for adapting programs so they can be tested in ways that respect both American Indian culture and research needs.