Evidence-based Practice as It Relates to Indigenous Families and Communities (From Symposium on Evidence-based Practice in Child Protection, P 21-27, 2001, -- See NCJ-187318)

• NCJ Number: 187322
• Author(s): Nerida Saunders
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 7 pages
• Corporate Author: Families, Youth and Community Care Queenland; University of Queensland, Dept of Social Work and Social Policy
• Sale Source: Families, Youth and Community Care Queenland
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: Paper from the Symposium on Evidence-based Practice in Child Protection, Brisbane, Australia, November 28, 2000

Annotation

This paper explores examples of current models for working with indigenous communities as well as options for evaluating their effectiveness in creating and sustaining positive changes for children and families.

Abstract

Regardless of whether indigenous people live in metropolitan areas or remote communities, they are influenced by distinctive subcultural values that stem from a cultural heritage that is practiced in varying degrees. When introducing evidence-based practice to indigenous communities, the effort must focus on such issues as the history of the community in terms of systems; models initiated; consultation processes; and the historical context of communities in relation to welfare agencies, police, judicial systems, and the wider community. From within this orientation, this paper addresses four key areas: issues that arise from current practice trends, community capacity-building, community standards-setting, and the devolution of responsibilities to communities (what this means and how it is working). In discussing issues that arise from current practice trends, the focus is on child protection responses and issues that pertain to out-of-home care services. In discussing community capacity building, the author advises that for indigenous and remote communities there is a need to be attentive to not just community capacity but cultural and family capacity. This means considering individual and community esteem levels and how to underpin cultural links and ties to community functioning. Supporting communities in accepting responsibility for their own members includes supporting and assisting the community in identifying their community standards. Further, a community must identify what information, skills, and knowledge the community has to deal with issues that affect individuals and family units, the levels of support required, and how these supports are to be delivered.