Adapting Evidence-Based Interventions for Latino Communities

Last month, the Latino Network Group gathered to discuss implementing and adapting evidence-based interventions in Latino communities. Guided by implementation best practice theory, grantees shared their practical experience implementing EBIs within Latino communities.

Adaptation guidelines from the research and from grantee experience include:

1. Select programs with the best initial fit to local needs and conditions - one grantee mentioned that in hindsight perhaps they should have done more research into the Spanish-language components of their chosen EBI. After selecting and committing to a particular program they found that the components were not well translated nor culturally aligned with their community.
   
2. In advance of implementation, be certain that your organization or school has the capacity to implement the cultural adaptation of the EBI you select. One grantee located in a rural setting mentioned that they struggle to recruit culturally matched staff, and also have had difficulties with finding committed male volunteers. Another stated that it is important to support children or parents who prefer speaking in their native language, especially when it helps them to feel more comfortable, and leads to greater receptivity.
   
3. Enlist the program developer when adapting your program. The program developer will know what parts of the intervention are essential and guide your adaptation efforts. One grantee mentioned that though some of the components of the program were not culturally relevant for their community, they worked closely with the developer to create more appropriate exercises.
   
4. To maintain the fidelity of a program it is better to add to a program than it is to subtract from it. One grantee mentioned that they decided to adapt a program to an evening and weekend schedule, rather than offering it as a school-based intervention. This way they are better able to attract families with working parents. Another grantee site asks the children to come up with their examples based on their own life experiences to illustrate the concepts being presented.
   
5. Most importantly, retain the core components of any intervention. All the grantees agreed that finding the balance between delivering the elements that contribute the most to the program, while making it as culturally appropriate as possible, is the key to the success of their programs.