Family Spirit® Meets HHS Criteria Meets HHS criteria for an evidenced based model in tribal populations

Model effectiveness research report last updated: 2022

In brief

Evidence of model effectiveness

Title General population Tribal population Domains with favorable effects
Family Spirit® Yes, Meets HHS Criteria Meets HHS criteria Meets HHS criteria for an evidenced based model in tribal populations Meets HHS criteria for an evidenced based model in tribal populations
  • Child development and school readiness,
  • Maternal health,
  • Positive parenting practices,

Model description

Family Spirit is designed for American Indian pregnant women and families with children younger than age 3. It can also be used with non-Native populations with high maternal and child behavioral health disparities. It aims to promote mothers’ parenting skills while assisting them in developing coping and problem-solving skills to overcome individual and environmental stressors. The curriculum, which incorporates traditional tribal teachings, consists of 63 lessons organized into six domains: (1) prenatal care, (2) infant care, (3) child development, (4) toddler care, (5) life skills, and (6) healthy living. Family Spirit recommends initiating the program with weekly visits by at least 28 weeks of gestation and tapering to bimonthly visits until the child’s third birthday. Paraprofessional home visitors conduct the visits, which typically last 45 to 90 minutes. Family Spirit recommends that home visitors be members of the participating community and have familiarity with the local or tribal culture, traditions, and language(s).

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Extent of evidence

Results of search and review
Number of manuscripts
At least one finding was eligible for review…
6
  …and at least one finding rated high
2
  …and at least one finding rated moderate (but none rated high)
2
  …and all findings that were eligible for review rated low or indeterminate2
1
  …but manuscript is additional source3
1

For more information, see the research database. For more information on the criteria used to rate research, please see details of HomVEE’s methods and standards.

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Summary of findings

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Criteria established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Information based on comprehensive review of all high- and moderate-rated manuscripts
CriterionCriterion descriptionCriterion met?
1High- or moderate-quality impact study?Yes
2Across high- or moderate-quality studies, favorable impacts in at least two outcome domains within one sample OR the same domain for at least two non-overlapping samples?Yes
3Favorable impacts on full sample?Yes
4Any favorable impacts on outcome measures sustained at least 12 months after model enrollment?
Reported for all research but only required for RCTs.
Yes
5One or more favorable, statistically significant impact reported in a peer-reviewed journal?
Reported for all research but only required for RCTs.
Yes
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