Improving Access and Reducing Barriers to Depression Treatment for Latino Elders: Un Nuevo Amanecer (A New Dawn)

Cultural adaptations to evidenced-based practices have the potential to bridge scientifically rigorous interventions to underserved populations. Un Nuevo Amanecer (A New Dawn) is a depression treatment program for Latino older adults and elders (age 60 years and older) with depressive disorders (i.e., major depression, minor depression, and dysthymia). We have implemented an evidence-based practice, originally designed for older adults in a primary care setting, into a community center setting serving Latino elders. Implementation of the evidence-based practice involved relatively little adaptation of the clinical protocol, which facilitated fidelity to the evidence-based model. The major adaptations were cultural adaptations in response to the target population and the community center setting. Treatment outcomes provide preliminary support for a significant reduction in depressive symptoms for Un Nuevo Amanecer clients. In this article, we introduce the presenting concerns and the implemented evidence-based practice; delineate key cultural adaptations to the evidence-based practice specific to our population and setting; offer a case example; and provide preliminary outcome data.