Participatory Evaluation of the Sisseton Wahepton Oyate Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program Demonstration Project in the United States, 2006-2007

A participatory evaluation model was used to evaluate the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate (SWO) Indian Alcohol Substance Abuse Program (IASAP) project. The Community Survey (Part 1, Community Survey Quantitative Data) was used to obtain tribal members' perceptions related to the welfare of the community and their perceived levels of satisfaction with how their challenges and problems were being addressed. Data were collected between August 2006 and April 2007 using a convenience sample (n=100). Focus groups (Part 2, Focus Group Interview Qualitative Data) were held with key stake holders from five groups: past adult clients (n=6), parents of juvenile probationers (n=4), service providers and key project staff (n=4), elders (n=5), and policy-makers (n=2). The focus groups were held during three site visits between October 2006 and April 2007. Part 1 (Community Survey Quantitative Data) includes demographic variables such as gender, age, tribal enrollment status, number of years in the community, and experiences with criminal justice systems (both on and off the reservation). Other questions asked the respondent about major problems within the community (i.e., alcohol and drug use, violent crime, child and elder abuse or neglect, gang activity, and property crime) and what was being done to address the problem. Part 2 (Focus Group Interview Qualitative Data) variables were developed based on the type of focus group. Questions for past drug court participants and parents of the juvenile probationers focused on their experiences with the Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program (IASAP). Questions for policy-makers, service providers, and program staff focused on the impact and sustainability of the IASAP. Questions for elders focused on issues related to culture, traditional practices, and the barriers to providing cultural and/or traditional services.