From Problems to Personal Resilience Challenges and Opportunities in Practice with African American Youth

• Published in: Journal of ethnic & cultural diversity in social work Vol. 11; no. 1-2; pp. 55 - 77
• Main Authors: Hopps, June Gary, Christler Tourse, Robbie Welch, Christian, Ollie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2002
• Subjects: Adolescents; African Americans; Black adolescents profiles; Black Youth; Church Role; Conflict Theory; Coping; Disadvantaged Youth; Educational Attainment; Empowerment; Group Therapy; groups; Intervention; justice-based orientation; Juvenile Justice; Marginalized Groups; Resilience; Resilience (Personality); Self Efficacy; Self Esteem; Social Justice; Stress Management; Youth Problems
• ISSN: 1531-3204; 1531-3212
• DOI: 10.1300/J051v11n01_03

This paper reviews data on select areas relevant to the status, functioning, and general well-being of African American Youth. Practitioners in both policy and clinical intervention must assert a greater role in helping these adolescents grow, develop, and become prepared to take their rightful place in American Society. Attention is afforded the African American Family, particularly Black youth and the threats, both historical and contemporary, which confront their ability to survive, cope, and sustain a resilient presence. Conflict theory is used to understand how this population interfaces with oppression, and a resilience framework, coupled with group as a method are presented as strategies for working with Black adolescents. The authors proffer that a justice-based model is useful in supporting this resilience framework within a group approach.