Prevention of the behavioral health inequities faced by many Indigenous communities can be strengthened by centering Indigenous ways of knowing in the development and adaptation of prevention programs designed to mitigate the impact of intergenerational trauma on health. This webinar will provide insight into the importance of culturally-based, trauma-informed early intervention for families, an introduction to a culturally grounded prevention program developed within one tribal community, and an opportunity to reflect on how a decolonizing approach can be applied to prevention science in Indian country.
By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:
Alvina Marris, PhD, is an enrolled member of the Colville Tribe and a clinical psychologist working in the outpatient Colville Tribe Behavioral Health Program. She has interests in the incorporation of traditional teachings, cultural practices, and beliefs of Native people into the treatment and prevention of mental health disorders. Dr. Marris is committed to developing therapy models grounded in traditional Native practices and beliefs and examining the effectiveness of current “evidence based treatments” for adaptation if needed.
Sara Waters, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Human Development and member of the Prevention Science faculty at Washington State University. Dr. Waters brings her expertise in the child-caregiver attachment relationship and the impacts of toxic stress and trauma in early life to the development, evaluation, and implementation of interventions that leverage early relationships to ameliorate experiences of early trauma. Over the past 5 years Dr. Waters has built relationships with members of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation and collaborated on several funded projects focused on the development of culturally grounded caregiving interventions in that community.
