Using Participatory Culture-Specific Consultation with Asian American Communities: Identifying Challenges and Solutions for Asian American Immigrant Families

Abstract

ABSTRACT This qualitative case study illustrates the application of the participatory culture-specific consultation model in building university–community partnership between a university research team and four Asian American community organizations. It also describes a collaborative data collection process through the “Hear Me Out” essay contest and workshop to identify needs and challenges experienced by Asian immigrant families. Essays were collected from 27 Asian American adolescents (77.8% female) and 11 immigrant parents (63.3% female). This culture-specific formative research resulted in themes relating to the challenges faced by Asian families, family strengths, and solutions. Based on the themes, we developed the culture-specific hypothesis: it is important for consultants and school staff to recognize Asian immigrant families’ strength, but also develop empathy for and openness about their challenges, improve parent-youth communication and positive parenting, and promote parents’ awareness of mental health to promote positive youth development. Results will inform intervention development with Asian immigrant families.