Strength-Based Approaches in Supporting African-American Families
School
Institute of Education Main Campus , Khairpur**We aren't endorsed by this school
Course
ENV 100
Subject
Communications
Date
Dec 11, 2024
Pages
1
Uploaded by HighnessTeam364
Elissa ToumaReview of Briscoe, R., McClain, G., & Smith, A. (2003). Implementing culturally competentresearch practices: Identifying strengths of African-American communities, families, and children. Focal Point: A National Bulletin on Family Support and Children's Mental Health, 17(1), 10-16.When I read Mrs. Miller's story in this research article, I was deeply moved by how it challengedmy own preconceptions about family structures. This strength I have seen in many of the African-American families that I have come across whereby grandmothers end up being parents to their grandchildren with so much energy and strength. What strikes me most is how Mrs. Miller, despite claiming she had no strengths, demonstrated extraordinary capabilities in mobilizing church resources, engaging with schools, and maintaining high expectations for her grandchildren.I find myself particularly drawn to the researchers' approach to cultural competence. To my best understanding, their approach to consider the community members not only as specimen but as partners in their research perfectly reflect how academic research should be conducted. That is why I noticed that the participation of communities as passive subjects in too many studies and itwas impressive to see how this team included residents in the generation of research questions aswell as success factors.The seven global strengths identified in the study align closely with what I've observed in my own experiences. I'm especially intrigued by how "neighborhood solutions" and "power of the church" emerged as key findings. I believe these strengths reflect a deep-rooted tradition of self-reliance that I've always admired in African-American communities. When I consider how these communities have historically been underserved by formal institutions, I find it remarkable how they've developed such effective support systems.I'm particularly impressed by the consistency of findings across different geographical locations in the second study. When I see characteristics like emphasis on education, extended family support, and spirituality emerging repeatedly, I can't help but think about how this knowledge should reshape our approach to family support services. I believe strongly that social workers, educators, and other professionals need to radically shift their perspective from deficit-based thinking to strength-based approaches.The research methodology has profoundly influenced my thinking about community-based research. I find myself questioning traditional academic approaches that maintain distance from their subjects. In my view, the researchers' success in building trust and ensuring community ownership of data provides a powerful model for future studies. I'm convinced that this type of collaborative approach not only produces better research but also creates meaningful change in communities.Looking ahead, I believe this work carries crucial implications for how we support African-American families. I'm certain that by recognizing and building upon these identified strengths, we can develop more effective and culturally responsive support systems.
