NenŨnkUmbi/Edahiyedo-We Are Here Now: The Toolkit

Abstract

We Are Here Now is a holistic culturally centered intervention for American Indian youth. We Are Here Now focuses on cultural values and teachings and family, school, and community engagement to prevent substance use and sexual risk behaviors and promote positive mental health among American Indian youth. We Are Here Now includes four components: 1) a 18 module curriculum adapted from Native Stand; 2) parent education and outreach; 3) 6 cultural mentoring modules on cultural beliefs and values; and 4) systems level coordination to support young people accessing clinical health services. We Are Here Now demonstrates delayed onset of sexual intercourse, decreases in frequency of sex and alcohol and drug use drug sex, pregnancies, and increased condom use, caregiver-youth communication, and utilization of clinical services. We Are Here Now addresses: puberty and physiology, healthy relationships, prevention of pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and alcohol and drug use, how mental health influences choices, negotiation, refusal skills and decision making, effective communication, positive parenting, fostering positive school environments for personnel, youth, and families, cultural teachings and values, coordination and access of clinical services, community capacity building to promote positive health among youth, and effective community engagement. The toolkit for We Are Here Now provides detailed information on the content of the program’s four components for adaptation in tribal communities.