Clinical Social Work Practice with Urban African American Families

Abstract

Clinical social work practice with urban African American families requires approaches that account for clients' sociocultural and sociopolitical contexts and are responsive to their particular needs and resources. A contextual model which reflects a strengths-oriented and competency-based paradigm is most pertinent for this practice. This article reviews the theoretical and research work on the strengths and issues significant for contemporary urban African American families and presents a competency-based approach (CBA) for practice. It covers six central components: 1) competence; 2) attachment; 3) process; 4) recontextualization; 5) manageability; and 6) use of self including an example of their application in clinical social work practice with one such family.