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This first symposium of the Work Group on American Indian Research and Program Evaluation Methodology (AIRPEM) explored American Indian and Alaska Native cultural considerations in relation to "best practices" in research and program evaluation. These cultural considerations include the importance of tribal consultation on research projects and the need for attention to Native cultural factors in general and to the great cultural diversity of Indian nations. Following an introductory section, part 2 contains five papers: "A Brief History of and Future Considerations for Research in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities" (Jamie D. Davis, Kelly Keemer); "Research in Indian Country: Challenges and Changes" (Walter Hillabrant); "Cultural Competence Approaches to Evaluation in Tribal Communities" (Paulette Running Wolf, Robin Soler, Brigitte Manteuffel, Diane Sondheimer, Rolando L. Santiago, Jill Shepard Erickson); "Community-Based Research and American Indians with Disabilities: Learning Together Methods That Work" (Catherine A. Marshall, Sharon R. Johnson, Elizabeth Kendall, Howard Busby, Robert Schacht, Calvin Hill); and "Learning from and Working with Yup'ik Professionals" (Jennifer Olson, Philip D. Olson, Teresa Pangaea, Katherine W. Sterling, Lenea K. M. Pierzchanowski). Part 3 contains cross-cutting critiques and discussions: "Focus on Research Methods" (Spero M. Manson) and related discussion; "Summary and Overview for Day One" (Holly Echo-Hawk); "Focus on Cultural Issues in Research: Developing and Implementing Native American Postcolonial Participatory Action Research" (Joseph B. Stone) and related discussion; "Focus on Implications for Policy Practice" (Velma Garcia Mason) and related discussion; and "Final Discussion and Summary Comments" (Holly Echo-Hawk). Appendices contain lists of symposium participants and AIRPEM network participants, a symposium chapter review coding sheet, and "A Model for Conducting Research with American Indian Participants" (Justin D. McDonald). Papers contain references. Author profiles are included. (SV)

This brief paper summarizes three papers and a response presented at a symposium examining longitudinal comparison studies of federally funded community mental health services (CMHS) for children and their families. Emphasis was on comparing the system of care approach to a more traditional approach. The symposium provided an update on the status of the studies by: (1) addressing the policy implications of these studies; (2) providing an update on outcomes study data collected; (3) reporting on data collected on families' services experiences; and (4) comparing service system development between CMHS-funded and comparison communities. The paper provides summaries of the following presentations: an introduction by E. Wayne Holden, Chair; an overview on the current status of the longitudinal comparison studies by Rolando L. Santiago, Director of Program Evaluation in the Child, Adolescent and Family Branch at the Center for Mental Health Services; a report by Mario Hernandez, University of South Florida, on the development and results of the Systems of Care Practice Review, a measure implemented in the Phase I comparison studies to evaluate families' experiences with care; and a report by Ana Maria Brannan of ORC Macro on preliminary results of systems level assessments conducted in early 1999 across the six communities participating in the longitudinal comparison study. Discussion by Trina W. Osher, a parent and advocate, raises questions about the generalization of the findings (which supported the system of care approach) and urges greater refinement of evaluation systems. (DB)