A MULTICULTURAL FIVE-YEAR MASTER PLAN FOR THE REDUCTION OF ALCOHOL AND OTHER DRUG PROBLEMS IN SAN MATEO COUNTY

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C. Multicultural Groups

Key informants were asked to identify members of multicultural groups in San Mateo County who might be willing, to participate in the Master Plan process, and contacts were made with those individuals. Most made commitments to attend one or more of the focus groups. The focus groups did receive participation from all in very mixed proportions, and some of the challenge, goal, and recommendation statements in the plan reflect the level of participation. Of particular note is the perception that planning groups need to be ongoing in nature, smaller in size, and more geographically distributed if they are to have significant impact on bringing about change in San Mateo County. Large, centrally located meetings often do not meet the needs of the various and several groups that have historically been unserved, underserved, or nonimpacted by the services that are in place. In fact, the design of such meetings may be irrelevant to the culture, traditions, and values of the people on whose behalf they are being held.