Working With African-American Families

Issues relevant to working with African-American families, including State and local examples.

African American Children and Families in Child Welfare: Cultural Adaptation of Services

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Discusses the child welfare system as it pertains to African-American children and families and suggests strategies for improving interventions and policies based on a cultural framework.

Changing Course: Improving Outcomes for African American Males Involved with Child Welfare Systems (PDF - 1,188 KB)
Miller, Farrow, Meltzer, & Notkin (2014)
Outlines the experience of African-American males involved with the child welfare system and provides recommendations for specific policy and practice strategies to implement that show promise in supporting improved outcomes for African-American males.
 

Child Abuse, Social Support, and Social Functioning in African American Children

Journal of Family Violence, 29(8)

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Examines the relationship among child abuse, support from family and friends, and social functioning in a sample of low-income African-American children. The study suggests professionals work to increase the social support from family and friends when working with a child or youth who has been abused in order to promote healthier psychological and social functioning outcomes

Child Discipline in African American Families: A Study of Patterns and Context

The Family Journal, 22(2)

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Outlines the disciplinary strategies used by African-American parents to address repeated misbehavior by children

Parenting African American Children in the Context of Racism

Zero to Three, 35(4)

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Explores the impact of slavery on generations of African-Americans, especially parents who attempt to prepare their children for the challenges they may face as a person of color in the United States. The article discuses racism, White privilege, racial socialization, and parenting strategies that are advantageous for African-American children.

Single Parenting in the African American Community: Implications for Public Policy and Practice

Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 24(2)

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Examines factors related to the formation of the increased number of female-headed African-American families and the challenges associated with these households. The article also examines policies and programs implemented to effectively serve these families.

 

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State and local example

Fresno County Department of Social Services: Confronting Racial Inequities and Disproportionality to Improve Child Welfare Outcomes for Children & Families (PDF - 476 KB)
Weber (2015)
Center for the Study of Social Policy
Provides insight into Fresno County’s early and continuing efforts to address racial inequities in the California county's child welfare system, as well as improve outcomes for all children and youth involved.

Nurturing the Resiliency in Wayne County Families: Rethinking the Family Decision-Making Model as Community Centered Child and Family Work: Final Report: Funding Recipient: Homes for Black Children (PDF - 3,041 KB)
Nurturing the Resiliency in Wayne County Families (2014)
Describes the activities and accomplishments of a federally funded program designed to demonstrate the effectiveness of Family Group Decision-Making as a best practice model in reducing the number of urban children who enter foster care and to reduce foster care recidivism in Wayne County, Michigan.

A Practice Guide for Working with African American Families in the Child Welfare System: The Role of the Caseworker in Identifying, Developing and Supporting Strengths in African American Families Involved in Child Protective Services (PDF - 520 KB)
Rockymore (2013)
Minnesota Department of Human Services, Child Safety & Permanency Division
Serves as a reference guide that aims to help child protective services caseworkers identify and support strengths of African-American families on their caseloads as a means of effective engagement and family intervention.

Race for Results: Wisconsin's Need to Reduce Racial Disparities (PDF - 968 KB)
Taylor & Cornelius (2014)
Wisconsin Council on Children and Families
Describes results from the Race for Results index that indicates a large disparity between Wisconsin’s White children and their non-White peers. The report states the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families (WCCF) is committed to racial equity and outlines its efforts to reduce racial disparities in Wisconsin.
 

Racial Disproportionality in the Foster Care System in Texas (PDF - 278 KB)
Cheung & Leung (2014)
Journal of Family Strengths, 14(1)
Analyzes the demographic characteristics of foster care children under the care of the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) in Texas over 12 years. The authors explain that this data demonstrates the need to set up a national agenda on closing the gap in racial disproportionality in the child welfare system.

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