THE ZUNI LIFE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CURRICULUM - A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO CURRICULUM-DEVELOPMENT

This article describes the development, implementation, and pilot eval uation of a skills-based suicide prevention curriculum for the Zuni Pu eblo. The Zuni Life Skills Development curriculum takes a skills train ing approach to reduce the risks factors for suicide among Zuni adoles cents. This article presents some background information about skills training and its applicability to Indian culures and suicide preventio n. The process by which curriculum development was initiated and maint ained is described, with an emphasis on the collaborative efforts betw een the Zuni community and Stanford researchers and the challenges fac ed by each to develop a culturally sensitive, effective curriculum. Re sults of the process and outcome evaluation of a pilot test are descri bed in detail as background for the reasoning behind modifications mad e in a revised curriculum and evaluation design that met the needs and concerns of the community, school, and researchers. An overview of ad ditional efforts in the community to develop a more comprehensive appr oach for suicide prevention that moves beyond a curriculum-only interv ention is presented.