1Evaluating the Cultural Appropriateness of Service Delivery in Multi-ethnic Communities

In many reports of evaluations carried out previously in New Zealand criteria for assessing the cultural appropriateness of the service being evaluated has not been mentioned. Over the past 5-10 years evaluators have been increasingly required to demonstrate their research approach is consistent with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and responsive to the needs of the indigenous Maori people and other non-dominant ethnic groups such as those of Pacific descent. This requires attention to at least two aspects of an evaluation: (1) the appropriate design of the research methods and conduct of the research team; and (2) assessment of the extent to which programmes and services operate in culturally appropriate ways. There has been relatively little discussion of how these aspects might be incorporated into the design of evaluations. This paper will focus on the second topic. General principles for the design of evaluations focussing on programmes that provide services for multi-ethnic communities are outlined. Specific topics for assessing culturally appropriateness will be illustrated using examples drawn from evaluation of “mainstream ” services in New Zealand. These topics will include: programme management practices, staff training and orientation, use of cultural advisers, networking with local communities and liaison with specialist service providers.