The Program
Familia Adelante (FA) is a culturally relevant prevention program developed by Richard Cervantes, Ph.D. It focuses on educating Latino families on managing adverse behavioral health outcomes. The curriculum addresses topics such as family and peer communication, positive school bonding, substance use, and sexual health. The program is based on Dr. Cervantes’ research and provides a multi-risk prevention approach that utilizes a family development model.
Intended Audience
The intended audience for this program is Latino youth between the ages of 11 to 14, as well as their parents or caregivers, who have risk factors for behavioral or emotional problems.
Implementation
Familia Adelante is designed to be delivered to both youths and their parents in separate but concurrent 90-minute sessions over 12 weeks in- person or 8 weeks virtually. Community health workers and other non-certified paraprofessionals can implement this program in their communities. In-person programs can be conducted with up to ten youths and ten parents, while virtual programs can accommodate up to six youths and six parents. This program is not intended to be a treatment program and may not be suitable for youths with severe behavioral or emotional issues that require clinical care.
Outcomes
- Enhance youths’ communication with family and peers.
- Enhance psychosocial coping and life skills for youths and parents.
- Reduce cultural stress.
- Increase knowledge of substance abuse and its perception of harm for youths and parents.
- Decrease substance use among youths and parents.
- Decrease emotional problems for youths and parents.
- Increase knowledge of HIV and its perception of harm for youths and parents.
- Improve youth’s behavior in school.
Evidence
A study utilizing a pre-, post-, and follow-up research design was conducted to determine Familia Adelante’s effectiveness. The study, which involved 153 Hispanic/Latino youths, found significant improvements in family and peer communication, perceptions of substance use harm, education of social norms around sexual behavior, and reduced use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs (ATOD) over six months. An independent evaluation of 161 parent-child dyads using pretest-posttest comparisons found positive improvements in family cohesion, children’s non-use attitudes toward ATOD, parent-child communication, and parental involvement in child activities. The differential effects of Familia Adelante based on family nativity showed that immigrant families exhibited the most significant reduction in cultural stress compared to U.S.-born families. Additionally, over 99% of Familia Adelante participants reported high satisfaction with the program, and 100% of the parents stated they would recommend the program to others.
Key Strategies to Implementation & Sustainability
Organizational Factors
Organizations implementing this program must have experience working with Latino youth and families, understand acculturation and migration stress, and be aware of the local community-level stressors that families face. Enthusiasm and commitment to understanding the needs of their community from those implementing the program are equally important. Organizations must have linkages to schools or other agencies that can identify and refer families to their programs. Two of the most important sustainability factors include securing funding and the commitment of organizational leaders. Seeking funding through external sources such as foundations, state, and local grants, as well as partnerships with local school districts, can ensure the program’s sustainability. Additionally, committed leadership can assist in allocating internal resources and making decisions regarding stakeholder partnerships.
Cultural Factors
Familia Adelante was developed by and intended for the Latino community, addressing issues such as acculturation, cultural pride, and discrimination from the perspective of this culture. The program’s curriculum emphasizes the family unit, aligning with Latino cultural values, and addresses cultural relevance as part of a behavioral health intervention. Regardless of the participants’ ethnic subgroup (e.g., Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, etc.), whether they are U.S.-born or not, or the length of residency in the U.S., this program is appropriate for all families. Additionally, it is essential to have bilingual facilitators, as some participants may be more comfortable speaking Spanish.
Adaptations
Minor adaptations can be made to this program to accommodate the needs of parents’ schedules and customize the information for local communities. Tailoring examples and providing relevant role-play scenarios is important to ensure the program is relatable to the intended audience. For example, the program can be conducted after school for youth and on weekends for working parents.
Implementation Challenges and Solutions
Organizational factors previously mentioned may pose challenges when implementing this program. Another factor is that agencies with a long history of established programming may be more resistant to adopting new program models, especially those focused on specific ethnic groups. Familia Adelante was designed as a prevention rather than a treatment program, so it may not apply to participants who require treatment. Selecting participants who will benefit from the program is vital to avoid incongruence between the need and the model’s fit.
Additional Resources
Trainer and Developer
Richard Cervantes, Ph.D., is the president and CEO of Behavioral Assessment, Inc., with special expertise in cultural competency and cross-cultural instructional development. Dr. Cervantes was the principal investigator for the NIH-funded study “Development of the Hispanic Stress Inventory-2,” and he has extensively published his research in peer-reviewed journals, books, and special reports.
Contact Information
Richard Cervantes, Ph.D. | Familia Adelante Developer
Email: basssement@aol.com
Donna Camacaro | Familia Adelante Training Coordinator
Email: fam.adelante@gmail.com