Behavioral Assessment, Inc. — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: NIMHD

Description

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant This Phase I study aims to begin the development of the Hispanic Family Assessment Inventory HFAI Recent NIH supported research of the PI has been successful in the development of new instruments to measure culturally based stress in adults and adolescents i e Hispanic Stress Inventory Adolescent Version Cervantes et al however research on the development of culturally relevant family based instruments that take the acculturative process family dynamics and outcome measures related to stress and resiliency in Hispanic families remain an area of much needed research National Research Council The proposed study will begin to fill this gap in knowledge by validating important domains of family resilience and strength that can then serve as an aide in the diagnostic and treatment planning process to improve family behavioral outcomes This study includes the recruitment of n Hispanic families Data will be collected in both Los Angeles and Miami to ensure a representation of a wide range of sub ethnic and racial Hispanic families A qualitative interview protocol will be used to identify areas of culturally relevant family resilience and family functioning factors Responses from the qualitative interviews will serve as the basis for developing items for the HFAI These items will then be tested and standardized in a Phase II study of over n Hispanic family members The HFAI will be widely distributed and marketed to health mental health school counselors and researchers PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE Relevance of Study The development of culturally relevant family based instruments that take the acculturative process and family dynamics and outcome measures related to stress and resiliency in Hispanic families remain an area of much needed research National Research Council The proposed Hispanic Family Assessment Inventory HFSI study will begin to fill this gap in knowledge by validating important domains of family resilience and strength that can then serve as an aide in the diagnostic and treatment planning process to improve Hispanic family behavioral outcomes Such a tool can increase the cultural and clinical competence of health care and mental health care providers working with Hispanic families All too often therapists focus only on the pathology or dysfunction of families and fail to see the strengths that when mobilized correctly can make behavior change within the family context successful The broad and long term objective of this proposed SBIR research is to develop an innovative and marketable Hispanic family resources and treatment planning tool the Hispanic Family Assessment Inventory HFAI This project will comprise a Phase I study to determine the feasibility of designing a Phase II SBIR study to fully develop the HFAI Upon successful completion of the Phase II SBIR study BAI aims at marketing the HFAI for commercial purposes to the mental health care research and service field