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Cultural Adaptations

Going beyond a linguistic translation by incorporating culturally based values, norms, and ways of knowing

As the U.S. continues to face both a mental health crisis and a maternal health and mental crisis Elevate is dedicated to identifying and addressing address identified gaps in mental health services for underserved populations. 

Working from two existing models, Elevate has developed an iterative stakeholder process for cultural adaptation. Elevate’s community-based process involves consumers (mental health clinicians and consumers) and community collaborators in forming a collaboration and setting shared goals and plans, initial intervention adaptation, reviewing and revising based on consumer feedback, pilot-testing the adapted intervention, and finalizing the adapted intervention.  

Cultural adaptations of the MOMS Stress Management Course include:

  • A Chinese language translation and cultural adaptation for immigrant mothers of Chinese descent, conducted in a collaboration with the Charles B. Wang Community Health Center in New York City.
  • An English language, cultural adaptation for Asian American mothers, with content tailored for mothers of Asian descent who were born or grew up in the U.S. The work is a collaboration with Charles B. Wang Community Health Center in NYC.
  • A Spanish language cultural adaptation for Spanish-speaking mothers who are largely asylum seekers or recent immigrants living in homeless shelters in New York City. The work is a collaboration with New York City Department of Homeless Services at BronxWorks Shelter.

MOMS Stress Management Course adaptations are evaluated for feasibility of delivery, acceptability of the intervention, and promise effectiveness in the new demographic population. Throughout the process, further modifications/adaptations are identified and noted to improve the program's future success.

This work is supported by the Robin Hood Foundation.