Full Description
Critical analyses of policies that significantly affect African-American families and communities!
African-American Social Workers and Social Policy is the first book of its kind to combine the voices of African-American social work professionals on social policy in one volume. You'll learn about the impact of health, child welfare, and aging, the implications of welfare reform, and the harsh statistics about race and imprisonment from respected practitioners in the field. Each chapter ends with recommendations for policy advocacy, giving you the tools you need to help reform the system.
The issues addressed in African-American Social Workers and Social Policy include:
how proposed Social Security reforms can help or hinder efforts to bridge the wealth gap
the role of grandparents as caregivers
the implications of child welfare policies, including the Multi-Ethnic Placement Act of 1994
the effects of race, class, and gender discrimination on African-American women's health
the significance of the Human Genome Project
how social workers can stand up to the biases of the criminal justice system
African-American Social Workers and Social Policy also presents an eye-opening review of the history of mental health policies for African Americans and an action agenda focused on knowledge and empowerment as a solution to pervasive institutional racism. This book is a welcome forum for policy educators, advocates, and those committed to social justice.
You will value African-American Social Workers and Social Policy for its clear identification of issues, thorough analysis of the social policy arena and its impact, and comprehensive description of new goals, directions, and possibilities. This book will help you better understand vital social policies that affect African Americans today.
Contents
About the Editor
Contributors
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1. The Role of African-American Social Workers in Social Policy
Literature Review
Methodology
Findings
Discussion
Implications
Conclusion
Chapter 2. Implications of Social Security Reform for Wealth Development Among African Americans
Wealth in the African-American Community
Social Security Reform and African-American Wealth
Meeting the Shortfall
Implications for Social Work Practice
Conclusion
Chapter 3. Elderly African-American Grandparent Caregivers: Eliminating Double Jeopardy in Social Policy
Guardians of Generations: African-American Grandparents
Grandparent CaregiversEmerging Public Policy
The Increase in Grandparent Caregivers: A Combination of Individual and Systemic Factors
Double Jeopardy
Predatory Practices and Policy Recommendations
Special Challenges for the African-American Community
Conclusion
Chapter 4. Child Welfare Policies and African-American Families
Background of Selected Problems
Prevalence of Foster Care
Adoption Assistance and Child Welfare Act of 1980
1994 Multiethnic Placement Act (MEPA)
Adoption Initiative of 1996
Adoption and Safe Families Act of 1997
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA)
Implications of Child Welfare Policies for African Americans
Conclusion
Chapter 5. From Paper to People: An Analysis of Critical Welfare Reform Issues Affecting the Black Community
Unequal Outcomes
The Black Perspective and the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA)
Multidimensional Policy Framework
Policy Implications
Conclusion
Chapter 6. The Policy Implications of the Surgeon General's Report on Mental Health, Race, Culture, and Ethnicity
Race and Mental Illness in Historical Perspective: 1763-1963
The Quantification and Psychiatric Misery
Prevalence and Incidence of Mental Illness by Race
Historic Patterns of Utilization of Mental Health Service by Race
The Surgeon General's Report 2001: Correcting the Past, Charting the Future
Policy Implications
Conclusion
Chapter 7. African-American Women and Health Disparities: Implications of Race, Class, and Gender
Income, Education, and Access
Health Care Practices and Policies
Health Policy and African-American Women: Opportunities to Advance Black Women's Health
Conclusion
Chapter 8. Policy Implications of the Criminal Justice System for African-American Families and Communities
Current Criminal Justice Statistics
Major Criminal Justice Issues for African Americans
Implications
Systemic Issues to Be Addressed
Public Policy Advocacy
Lessons from Our History
Conclusion
Chapter 9. Genetics: The Social Policy Implications for African Americans
Why African Americans Should Be Concerned About Genetics
Background
Emerging Opportunities
The Challenges
Implications
Conclusion
Chapter 10. A Policy Action Agenda (Tricia B. Bent-Goodley)
Index
Reference Notes Included
