The present study documented and evaluated steps taken by public mental health administrators to recruit members of underrepresented ethnic minority populations into treatment. By surveying county-level ethnic program specialists in the decentralized California state system, the study identified strategies considered effective for reaching African…

Community Health Aides and Community Health Practitioners (CHA/Ps), the primary providers of healthcare in rural Alaska, share the importance of story as a culturally respectful way for creating meaning and broadening understanding. Story is woven into the fabric of cancer education courses for CHA/Ps. Between May 2004 and April 2007, 13 week-long…

The goal theory of achievement motivation maintains that the goals stressed by schools influence children's self-efficacy and willingness to try hard. This paper examines the applicability of goal theory to a Navajo school and community and widens the focus to encompass a range of potential culturally relevant goals. Interviews were conducted at…

This study examined the portrayal of the elderly within African American, Latino, and Native American cultures in picture books for children ages 3 to 8 years. Thirty books were selected from libraries and book stores and examined using guidelines from three sources: (1) "Ageism in Literature Analysis," a 15-item rating scale; (2)…

The Guilford Initiative for Training and Treatment Services (GIFTTS) Project is a collaborative effort between the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Guilford County Schools, the Department of Social Services, Juvenile Courts, the Health Department, and the Mental Health division of the local Mental Health/Development…

This chapter reviews the literature on substance abuse and prevention efforts in Native communities. The first section describes demographic characteristics of America's indigenous people, including tribal and government definitions, interaction and validation styles, and rural-urban differences. It concludes by warning that use of broad ethnic…

A 4-year case study examined how two second-career teachers' prior experiences, beliefs about knowledge, and schooling contexts influenced their ability to implement culturally relevant, constructivist classroom curricula. Interviews and observations highlighted important relationships between teachers' personal belief systems for teaching and…

Describes a musical created by third-grade students and their teachers in Colorado explaining Native American legends. Describes how teachers wrote songs for the program, students narrated and acted in the musical and painted scenery, costumes were brought from home and made at school. Discusses curricular areas addressed in the musical, including…

Traces trends in Aboriginal education in Northwest Territories (Canada) since the early 1980s when the territorial department of education committed itself to locally controlled, culture-based education. Examines local accountability, culturally relevant curriculum, role of elders, native language instruction, Aboriginal teacher education, dropout…

Investigates the effective decision-making theory's (EDMT) prediction that cultural individualism-collectivism, self-construal, and group composition influence turn-taking behavior and conflict behavior in small groups. Finds, for example, that independent self-construal is a predictor of the number of turns and competitive conflict tactics in…

To provide an array of perspectives on the future direction of foster care, five experts across various disciplines and backgrounds were asked to respond to this question: "How can the child welfare system be improved to better support families and promote the healthy development of children in foster care?" This article presents their responses…

This package contains four videotapes: "Process-Oriented Learning" (27 minutes); "Developing Cooperative Citizens" (23 minutes); "Culturally Sensitive Learning" (27 minutes); and "Technologically Competent Learning" (16 minutes). The videotapes are accompanied by a 23-page manual, "Guidelines for the…

A disproportionate number of Hispanic/LEP students are leaving school in the ninth grade. Although dropout programs exist in Florida county school districts, none addressed the special language and culture difficulties, often coupled with socioeconomic problems, of these students. This practicum was designed to reduce the number of Hispanic/LEP…

La Casita is a culturally relevant 6-month residential substance abuse treatment program in southeast Los Angeles County (California) for low income Latina women. Most participants are second and third generation Latinas who clearly identify themselves as being Hispanic but behave in a bicultural manner. The average La Casita resident is 30 years…

This study compares the responses of black and white preservice teachers as they engaged about a young adult novel which addressed racial and sexual diversity. Student teachers used young adult literature with protagonists from diverse backgrounds as one means of coming to understand and value children of all backgrounds. Small groups met to…