Developing the Asian Pacific Islander Caregiver Train-the-Trainer Program in the United States

Background: Asian Pacific Islander (API) caregivers in the U.S. reported having more mental health issues but using fewer support services than other racial/ethnic groups, which could hamper their efforts to provide a high-quality care. Research has shown that caregiver training could provide much needed knowledge, skills, and confidence for caregivers to perform their roles. This paper describes three studies conducted by the research team that aimed to 1) identify caregiver training programs in the U.S. that were specially designed for API caregivers, 2) explore the Community-Based Organizations’ (CBO) API caregiver training needs in the U.S., and 3) develop the API caregiver training curriculum and format based on the feedback from API CBO professionals and caregivers.

Methods:Three studies were conducted, including inventory mapping of API caregiver training programs in the U.S., CBOs’ API caregiver training needs assessment, and Chinese and Korean caregiver focus groups. Existing caregiver training programs were identified through “Google”, major databases, caregiving related websites, and referrals. CBO caregiver training needs assessment included an online survey (80 participants) and a group consultation (four participants) to assess CBOs’ interests and needs of participating in our future API caregiver training program. CBO survey participants were solicited from the Yellow pages and referrals in Los Angeles County. CBO group consultation participants were recruited among local CBOs that indicated an interest in the program. Chinese (seven participants) and Korean (five participants) caregiver focus group participants were recruited with the help from two agencies serving API caregivers in LA County.

Results:1) 38 caregiver training programs were identified through inventory mapping, while only seven provided trainings in certain API languages in 2016, two of which were in LA. All seven programs were in-person training. 2) Among 80 survey participants, 32 reported having provided prior caregiver training, and 29 reported a further staff training need in order to deliver API caregiver training services. Both the survey and the consultation group provided suggestions on training language, length, schedule, location, and format. CBOs not interested in the training reported that it was not their mission or vision to provide API caregiver training, or a lack of resources (e.g., funding, material, staff) for providing the training. 3) Focus group participants reported that proposed topics were all necessary and important, while expecting more culturally sensitive content in the curriculum, such as dealing with intergenerational and intercultural conflicts, and balancing culturally inspired meals and U.S. nutrition standards.

Implications: Findings highlight the language, culture, and access gaps in current API caregiver training programs and a growing need to develop and promote culturally and linguistically appropriate caregiver training programs for API caregivers in the U.S. Additionally, findings suggest a need to utilize a train-the-trainer model, in order to enhance CBOs’ service delivery capacity. Based on those three studies, we developed the API Caregiver Train-the-Trainer program, a 60-hour comprehensive API caregiver training program with a combination of in-person and online training. Future research will need to examine the program’s efficacy and effectiveness, and feasibility and cost-analysis of disseminating the program through CBOs.