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Article
Advances in research with Latino families: Cultural adaptations of evidence-based interventions
Family Process
  • Guillermo Bernal, University of Puerto Rico
  • Melanie M. Domenech-Rodriguez, Utah State University
Document Type
Article
Publisher
Wiley
Publication Date
5-19-2009
Abstract

The stark contrast between frequent calls for research and practice that are applicable across a broad spectrum of cultural and ethnically diverse groups and the dearth of empirical knowledge about Latino families provided the impetus for this special issue on advances in Latino family research. A focus on empirically based practice frames the issue, focusing specifically on how concepts (expressed emotion, parenting style) can be used within interventions, how Latino parents perceive efforts to deliver evidence-based interventions, and how pilot projects that delivered culturally adapted interventions in three separate cities impacted family functioning. In all, the introduction highlights the complexities for researchers in meeting the needs of the field to ensure that effective interventions are applicable across cultural groups. Meeting the challenges is important to address the need of the growing Latino population. Advances in intervention research with ethnic minorities also stand to contribute to the advancement of intervention research broadly. This special issue provides examples of efforts that are underway to better understand what treatments work for Latino families, provided by whom, for what specific problems, and in which specific circumstances, paving the way to begin attempting to answer a challenge posed more than 40 years ago by Gordon Paul.

Citation Information
Bernal, G. & Domenech RodrĂ­guez, M. (2009). Advances in research with Latino families: Cultural adaptations of evidence-based interventions. Family Process, 48, 169-178.