Discusses the strengths and challenges facing two collaborative community programs aimed at improving family relationships among Southeast Asian immigrant families in order to prevent or reduce problem behaviors and violence. The Amherst H. Wilder Social Adjustment Program for Southeast Asians created these programs to address the needs of the high numbers of Hmong and Cambodian immigrant communities in St. Paul, Minnesota. Each program is built by a diverse collaborative team including the service providers, community leaders, parents, and youth using bilingual and bicultural staff members to bridge communication gaps. These staff members also help to ease the cultural differences in meeting styles by asking each member to be flexible and allow adequate time to ensure complete understanding and resolution of issues. Fidelity to the best-practice models for these programs required adaptations to fit the customs of the target communities including translation for all sessions and respect for the hierarchical nature of the Asian family structure during discussions. Funding problems and staff turnover create challenges to continue these collaborative programs. (IP)
