Motivational Interviewing and Culture for Urban Native American Youth
Program Description
Motivational Interviewing and Culture for Urban Native American Youth (MICUNAY) is a three-workshop substance use program for American Indian/Alaska Native 14-18-year-olds that integrates traditional practices with motivational interviewing to support healthy choices about brain, body, and spirit. Each workshop lasts two hours, with one hour focusing on motivational interviewing activities and one hour focusing on cultural activities. MICUNAY uses the concept of the Medicine Wheel, an image familiar to most American Indian/Alaska Native youth, to guide interactive discussions, which include conversations about substance use’s impacts on the brain, the pros and cons of substance use, and ways for participants to think ahead and plan for risky situations using motivational interviewing techniques. Key cultural practices integrated into MICUNAY sessions include opening prayers, beading, and smudging ceremonies.
Prevention Category
Practice Level
Strategies
Practice Components
Risk and Protective Factors
Population Age
Populations of Focus
Settings
Parental/Caregiver Involvement
Substance Use Prevention Focus
Recommended Staffing
Empirical Evidence of Impact
| Substance | Substance-Related Behavior | Population Age | Evidence Strength and Study Populations of Focus |
| Alcohol | Changes in Knowledge, Attitudes, or Beliefs | 12-17 | Practice-Based Evidence (American Indian or Alaska Native, Urban)1 |
| Alcohol | Reduced Use or Delayed Initiation | 12-17 | Practice-Based Evidence (American Indian or Alaska Native, Urban)1 |
| Cannabis | Changes in Knowledge, Attitudes, or Beliefs | 12-17 | Practice-Based Evidence (American Indian or Alaska Native, Urban)1 |
| Cannabis | Reduced Use or Delayed Initiation | 12-17 | Practice-Based Evidence (American Indian or Alaska Native, Urban)1 |
| Tobacco | Changes in Knowledge, Attitudes, or Beliefs | 12-17 | Practice-Based Evidence (American Indian or Alaska Native, Urban)1 |
| Tobacco | Reduced Use or Delayed Initiation | 12-17 | Practice-Based Evidence (American Indian or Alaska Native, Urban)1 |
| References
1 D’Amico, E. J., Dickerson, D. L., Brown, R. A., Johnson, C. L., Klein, D. J., & Agniel, D. (2020). Motivational interviewing and culture for urban Native American youth (MICUNAY): A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 111, 86–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2019.12.011 |
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Training and Technical Assistance
The MICUNAY website site offers a free two-hour course training. Topics covered in the training include motivational interviewing techniques, the integration of culture and substance use prevention, and specific cultural practices. Also available on the site are the MICUNAY Manual, notes on the Manual, and activity handouts. Visit the site for more information on Continuing Education approvals.
Adaptations
MICUNAY can be adapted to meet the needs of local communities.
Program Costs
Required training and implementation materials are available at no cost.
What California Providers Are Saying
What They Like About MICUNAY
- The program is fun for participants.
- Its relatively short duration of three sessions makes it easy to implement and convenient for participants to join.
- The program effectively integrates cultural components with motivational interviewing and discussions about substance use.
- It utilizes cultural connections to promote resiliency.
- The curriculum is excellent, easy to follow, and can be taught to peers through a three-hour online course.
- Participants and parents report that they like the program and find it effective in improving knowledge about substances while opening the door for families to have productive conversations about alcohol and drug use.
Tips and Recommendations for Implementing MICUNAY
- The program can be tailored for different age groups, including middle school, high school, post-high school, and transitional-age youth up to age 26.
- It can be effectively adapted for virtual implementation through platforms like Zoom, with the only in-person activity being the beading exercise.
- Virtual implementation allows for flexible scheduling to accommodate participants’ availability, removes transportation barriers, and enables participation from different geographic areas.
- Sessions can be adapted to be shorter as needed.
- The program works well in small groups, providing youth with space to talk and share.
Labels
Universal,
Individual,
Information dissemination,
Education,
Alternatives,
Cultural/Religious Focus,
Education,
Motivational Enhancement,
Pro-Social Connections and Activities (prosocial adults, peers, organizations),
Psychoeducation,
Self-efficacy/self-esteem enhancement,
Skills Training,
Favorable attitudes towards substance abuse,
Emotional self-regulation,
Positive social orientation (e.g. engaging in health activities, accepting of rules and community values, positive social engagement),
Strong coping skills (e.g. problem-solving skills, ability to stand up for beliefs and values),
Accessibility of substances,
Norms favorable towards substance use,
Substance use among peers,
Age 13-17, Ages 13-17,
Age 18-20, Ages 18-20,
American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), American Indian, Alaska Native,
No parent/caregiver involvement,
Substances Use - General, substance use-general, substance use general, general substance use,
Community-based program, community based program, community/based program,
Health/social work counselor, therapist or professional (unlicensed), health social,
Health/social work counselor, therapist or professional (licensed),
Prevention Staff,
Teachers/Educators, teachers educators,