The book describes an overarching framework for understanding and practicing urban social work, including definitions and theories that have critical implications for working with people in such communities. It encompasses the contributions of African American pioneers regarding a response to such challenges as poverty, oppression, and racism. Focusing on the theory, practice, and policy aspects of urban social work, the book examines specific subsets of the urban African American population including children, adults, families, and older adults. It addresses the challenges of urban social work in relation to public health, health, and mental health; substance abuse; criminal justice; and violence prevention.

Table of Contents

• About the Authors
• Contributors
• Foreword by Sandra Edmonds Crewe, PhD, MSW, ACSW
• Preface
• Acknowledgment
• SECTION I: CONCEPTUALIZING URBAN SOCIAL WORK
• 1. Urban Social Work With African Americans: Critical Perspectives, Concepts, and Theories - Anna R. McPhatter
• Underlying Assumptions, Beliefs, and Principles
• Critical Concepts, Perspectives, and Theories
• Conceptualizing a Social Work Curriculum: Case Study
• School of Social Work Goals
• Implications
• For Further Study
• References
• 2. African American Pioneers of Urban Social Work - Iris Carlton-LaNey
• Women's Club
• The Politics of Reform
• Settlement Houses
• The National Urban League
• Housing in the Cities
• Taking Care of Children and Youth
• Discussion
• Implications
• For Further Study
• References
• SECTION II: CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES
• 3. Child Welfare in Urban Environments - Kimberly Y. Johnson and Sandra S. Chipungu
• Recent Trends in Foster Care
• Demographic Trends in Foster Care
• Demographic Trends in Maryland
• Disproportionality: Child Welfare
• Financing Child Welfare: Penetration Rates
• Trauma: Child Welfare
• Workforce Issues
• Trauma Typologies
• Trauma and Attachment Issues for Children
• Trauma and Mental Health
• Trauma and Well-Being
• Trauma: Helping the Child Welfare Professional
• Trauma-Informed Practice and Interventions
• Implications for Policy
• Implications for Social Work Education
• Implications for Practice
• For Further Study
• References
• 4. Engaging Urban African American Adolescents in Treatment - Michael M. Sinclair and Belinda Davis Smith
• Culturally Competent Practice With Urban Adolescents
• The Urban Adolescent
• Poverty
• Family Structure
• Community Violence
• Substance Abuse
• Engaging the African American Adolescent
• Rap Therapy
• Implications
• For Further Study
• References
• 5. Coming to America: Black Immigrants in Urban Communities - Belinda Davis Smith, Isiah Marshall Jr., Dana Burdnell Wilson, and Errol S. Bolden
• Black Immigrants Defined
• Black Caribbean Immigrants
• African Immigrants
• Urban Black Immigrants: Immigration and Social Policy
• Historical Analysis
• Contemporary Policies
• Ecological Framework in Understanding Black Immigrant Families
• Black Immigrant Family Systems and Child Rearing
• Crime and Police Interaction
• Education
• Mezzo- and Macro-Level Environments
• Help-Seeking Behaviors
• Formal and Informal Support Systems
• Implications
• Cultural Competence
• Advocacy
• For Further Study
• References
• 6. That Is So Queer: Building a Foundation for Working With African American Lesbian, Gay, and Transgender Individuals in the Community - Laurens G. Van Sluytman, Denise Torres, and Saanjh Aakash Kishore
• Relevant Core Competencies (Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards)
• In the Life: Black Gay and Lesbian Lives
• Black Gay Male Case Study—Evaluation Research
• Youth and Older GLT Lives
• GLT Youth Case Study—Advocacy and Policy
• BGLT Older Lives
• GLT Elder Case Study—Program Development
• Transgender Lives
• Transgender Population Case Study—Individual Practice
• Implications
• For Further Study
• References
• SECTION III: PUBLIC HEALTH, HEALTH, AND MENTAL HEALTH
• 7. Social Work and Health—Understanding the Contexts for Social Work and Public Health - Paul Archibald and Kim Dobson-Sydnor
• The Social Work Public Health Framework
• Healthy People 2020
• The ACA
• The Social Determinants of Health and Health Disparities
• A Plan for Action
• Social Work Public Health Analysis: African American Mental Health Status
• Implications
• For Further Study
• References
• 8. Exploring Urban Faith-Based–Social Work Community Collaboration for Mental Health Promotion in Urban African American Communities - Paul Archibald, Kevin Daniels, and Sandra Austin
• UAA Spirituality
• Urban Faith-Based Organizations’ and Urban Social Work Practitioners’ Health Promotion
• Implications for Social Work Practice in Urban Environments
• Case Study
• For Further Study
• References
• 9. Urban Health: Four Issues of Concerns - Linda Darrell and LaPricia Lewis Boyer
• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Diabetes
• Coronary Heart Disease
• Hypertension
• Implications for the Future
• For Further Study
• References
• 10. Inner City Blues: Social Work Practice With Urban Communities Impacted by HIV/AIDS - Denise McLane-Davison and Warren W. Hewitt
• AIDS: The Great Maafa
• Reframing an Old Problem: Seminole Frameworks
• Community and Government Responses
• Social Work Front and Center
• Implications for the Future
• For Further Study
• References
• 11. Mental and Emotional Wellness Among African Americans in Urban Environments: What Do We Know? How Can We Improve Outcomes? - Rhonda Wells-Wilbon, Kenya Jones, and Thelma Rich
• Defining Mental and Emotional Health and Well-Being
• A Cultural Lens
• A Historical Perspective
• The Urban Environment
• Implications
• For Further Study
• References
• SECTION IV: GERONTOLOGY AND AGING ADULTS
• 12. The Magic of Aging in the Urban Environment - Margaret E. Pittman, Leeza M. Scheidt, Merissa R. Munford, and Halaevalu F. Ofahengaue Vakalahi
• Our Responsibility
• The Urban Context and Major Aging Issues
• Supports and Resources in the Urban Environment
• Working With the Aging Population
• Making a Difference
• Meeting Urban Needs
• Implications for the Future
• For Further Study
• References
• 13. On Urban Ground: An Integrated Framework for Working With African American Grandparent Caregivers - Gaynell M. Simpson, Belinda Davis Smith, and Dana Burdell Wilson
• Multigenerational and Skipped-Generation Households
• Grandfather Caregivers
• Historical Traditions of African American Caregiving
• An Integrated Framework: Ecological Perspective, Strengths Perspective, and Empowerment Theory
• A Collective Response to Urban Grandparent Caregiving
• The Faith Community
• Family Ties Project
• Implications for the Future
• For Further Study
• References
• 14. Coping With Loss and Grief in Urban Communities - Tanya L. Sharpe and Margaret E. Pittman
• Loss
• Grief
• Coping With Urban Traumatic Loss and Grief
• Implications for the Future
• For Further Study
• References
• SECTION V: SUBSTANCE ABUSE, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION
• 15. Youth Violence—An Overview: Prevalence and Intervention Strategies to Address Violence Among Urban African American Youth - Rhonda Wells-Wilbon, Von E. Nebbitt, and Margaret Lombe
• Conceptualizing Youth Violence
• Prevalence of Exposure to Youth Violence
• Youth Violence Across Domains
• Preventive Interventions
• Implications
• For Further Study
• References
• 16. Providing Culturally Sensitive Intervention With Urban African American Victims of Intimate Partner Violence - Yvonne V. Greene and Marni N. Seyyid
• Overview of Intimate Partner Violence
• Culturally Competent Practice
• Societal Perceptions of African American Women and Men
• Unique Cultural Challenges Faced by African American Women in Violent Intimate Relationships and Barriers to Reporting
• Implications for Social Work Practice
• Case Study
• For Further Study
• References
• 17. Substance Use Prevention in the Urban Environment - Anthony Estreet
• Substance Use Prevention
• Models of Substance Use Prevention
• Substance Abuse Prevention Frameworks
• Promising Culturally Specific Prevention Framework: Afrocentric Theory
• Substance Use Prevention Moves Toward Evidence-Based Practices
• Prevention Programs That Work
• Prevention Program Highlight
• Implications for Social Work
• For Further Study
• References
• 18. Substance Use Treatment Approaches in the Urban Environment - Anthony Estreet
• Treatment for Substance Use Disorders
• Levels of Substance Use Disorder Treatment
• Detoxification Programs
• Inpatient Treatment
• Residential Treatment
• Partial Hospitalization Treatment
• Intensive Outpatient Treatment
• Traditional Outpatient Treatment
• Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches
• Motivational Enhancement Therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
• Afrocentric Paradigm as an Emerging Treatment Approach for African Americans
• Implications for Social Work Practice
• For Further Study
• References
• 19. Educating Social Workers in a Client-Centered Defense Practice - Lori James-Townes and Marquis Chandler
• Two Professions: Serving Those Disproportionately Impacted by Over-Incarceration
• The Maryland Office of Public Defender: Serving the Urban Community
• MOPD: A National Model
• Training the Defense-Based Social Worker
• Implications for the Future
• For Further Study
• References
• 20. Urban Gangs: Epidemiological Criminology as a Theoretical Framework for Social Work Practice - Kevin Daniels, Stacy A. Smith, Paul Archibald, and Timothy Akers
• African American Urban Settings and Criminal Behavior
• The Geospatial and Global Origins of Gang Activity
• Contextualizing the Dynamics and Complexities of Urban Gangs
• Evolution of the Hybrid Gang Family
• Epidemiological Criminology as a Theoretical Framework in Social Work Practice
• Evidence-Based Practice Within Urban Settings
• Case Study: C-Gangs
• Implications for Social Work
• For Further Study
• References
• SECTION VI: NAVIGATING THE URBAN BUILT ENVIRONMENT
• 21. Research With Urban African American Adolescents and Emerging Adults: Implications for Quasi-Community-Based Participatory Research and Community Action Research - M. Taqi Tirmazi, Von E. Nebbitt, Kim Dobson Sydnor, and Dawn Thurman
• Context for Conducting Research Among African American Urban Youth
• Socioecocultural and Acculturation Theory
• Community-Based Participatory Research and Participatory Action Research
• Implications
• For Further Study
• References
• 22. Leadership and Administration of Systems in Urban Settings - Colette Walker Thomas and Jarrell J. McRae
• Definitions
• Macro Practice as an Urban Social Work Leader
• Guiding Organizational Change
• Working Within Systems: Quality Service Delivery Versus Organizational Expectations
• Urban Leaders Leading With Grace
• Organizational Culture and Leadership
• Navigating Resources in an Urban Community
• Implications for the Future
• For Further Study
• References
• 23. Urgency and Advocacy for Organizational Change in Urban Public School Settings: A Social Work Perspective on Meeting the Needs of African American Children - Claudia Lawrence-Webb
• Structure of Public U.S. Education System
• Historical Evolvement of Education in the United States
• Urban Populations and Educational Policies
• Perception of Teachers in Urban Environments
• Building Educational Capacity
• Implications for the Future
• For Further Study
• References
• 24. Policies That Impact Urban Communities - Tricia Bent-Goodley
• Policies That Impact Urban Communities
• Framework
• Education, Violence, and Families: Intersections and Resistance
• Building on Strengths, Resiliency, and African American Cultural Values
• Implications
• For Further Study
• References