The African-Centered Worldview

Abstract

Social work interventions with black families and children have been source of controversy, conflict, and disquiet for many decades. Research evidence continues to indicate that Black communities are overrepresented in those services that involve social control functions such as juvenile justice system in its dealings with young Black people, compulsory admissions to psychiatric units, and child protection. Black families are underrepresented in receiving preventative and supportive aspects of service delivery (Barn, 1993; Clarke et al., 1993; Roys, 1993; Lambert and Rowe, 1982; Skellington and Morris, 1992). Black communities and Black professionals in field continue to voice their general dissatisfaction with social work interventions and with disabling effects of social work process (Harris, 1991). The Association of Black Social Workers and Allied Professions (ABSWAP) provided compelling evidence to House of Commons Social Services Committee in 1983 highlighting plight of Black children in care system and was active in identifying need for a legislative framework that addresses race, culture, and language in provision and delivery of services (ABSWAP, 1983). Despite introduction of 1989 Children Act, and in particular Section 22(5)(c), which clearly requires local authorities to give due consideration to the child's religious persuasion, racial origin and cultural and linguistic background in provision of services and service delivery, Black children of all ages and both sexes continue to be overrepresented in public care system