Working with Indigenous Communities to Adapt an Evidence-Based Model

• In Event: Adapting to Your Audience, A SNAP Story

Abstract

Initial research into Aboriginal youth criminality suggests they are disproportionately marked by risk factors linked to criminality, including poverty, family conflict, lack of education, substance abuse problems, and mental health concerns (Corrado & Cohen, 2002; Corrado, Freedman, & Blatier, 2011). Risk factor profiles between incarcerated Aboriginal youth and Caucasian youth, show foster care and the family profile index show as significant risk predictors for Aboriginal youth (Corrado, Kuehn, & Margaritescu, 2014).

SNAP Youth Justice (SNAP YJ), adapted from the evidence-based SNAP strategy, is an intervention approach for male youth in custody, probation and community justice settings. Initial evaluation data shows youth from very remote Aboriginal contexts are not highly engaged in programming materials. As a result, SNAP YJ recently partnered with Indigenous communities to enhance the current programming modules to be culturally safe and reflect the needs of Aboriginal male youth. This paper will present best practices in partnering and conducting research honouring Indigenous ways of sharing and learning and share newly developed materials that reflect Indigenous ways of knowing and addressing real life scenarios from remote communities while still incorporating SNAP skills.

Authors

• Margaret Walsh, Child Development Institute

• Sarah Woods, Child Development Institute

• Leena K. Augimeri, Child Development Institute