Lay summary
As a clinical psychologist specializing in addictions, my career objectives are to produce clinical evidence that supports the development of frontline-community based clinical mental health and addictions practice for Maori in rural communities. The objectives of the current research project are to produce exemplars of effective collaboration for and with Maori with substance use disorders and related health and social problems in rural Rangitikei. This study takes a qualitative Kaupapa Maori Research methodology, utilizing both individual and whanau interviews and clinician focus groups to gather the perspectives of collaboration between whanau and services, and across services in interventions for substance use and related problems. The health outcomes from this research will relate to the development of clinical guides and training material describing effective collaboration with whanau, and between clinical DHB, Maori providers and frontline social services; along with consumer information describing the best ways to collaborate with multiple services.