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This article examines how structural racism amplified the direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 for African American, Asian/Asian American, and Latino/a/x and Hispanic social work students during the unplanned transition to synchronous and asynchronous education at three social work programs across the United States, creating additional educational barriers. The aim of the article is threefold. First, centering critical race theory, it discusses the experience of African Americans, Asian/Asian Americans, and Latino/a/x and Hispanic students at three different institutions across the country. Second, it highlights the structural challenges faced by social work students of historically, racially, and ethnically oppressed communities and the lessons learned from the social work programs' pandemic response. Third, social work faculty lessons learned suggest ways to better meet the needs of historically, racially, and ethnically oppressed social work students, and the integration of critical race theory to diminish the effects of structural racism in social work programs' future educational plans in response to COVID-19, or a similar health crisis.

This study explored the worldviews of social work educators and two groups of social work students (European Americans and African Americans) using the Scale to Assess World Views to examine similarities and differences between the three groups. Within-group comparisons revealed African American and European American students showed similar worldview patterns, which were different from the worldviews of social work educators. Between-group comparisons showed that both African American and European American students were more likely than educators to: (1) view human nature as bad, view relationships as lineal-hierarchical, believe in the power of nature, focus on the present, and believe in a doing activity orientation; (2) African American students were more likely than educators to possess a future time orientation and believe in a being-in-becoming activity orientation; and (3) educators were more likely than students to view relationships as collateral-mutual. The findings suggest that social work students might view the world differently than social work educators. Implications for cross-cultural social work education will be discussed.

This article addresses the need for therapeutic camps to support the disproportionate number of African-American children in out of home foster care and group home placements. A brief review of literature on camp interventions and their failure to adequately address the influence of ethnicity and culture is provided. A pilot of a small culturally centered therapeutic camp intervention for African-American boys in foster care is reviewed and the impressions of the African-American male facilitators are described and discussed. Although limited sample size prohibited statistical analysis, results suggest the need to further evaluate innovative culturally-centered interventions that are designed to target traditional values and factors that influence positive African-American male development. (Contains 1 table.)

Presents a new perspective on helping children promote independent functioning. Suggests a theory of instruction for teachers who wish to develop with their students an understanding and appreciation of the concept of integral setting when reading fiction. (MG)

Identifies works of historical fiction from various periods that can help teach middle school students about family relationships. Suggests having students draw sociograms to help them visualize relationships among characters. Argues that such readings can spur student interest in the causes, effects, and consequences of the need for family love. (SG)

Research on the effect of arrests or convictions on college admissions decisions, while limited, suggests that college admission is a major hurdle for applicants with criminal histories. The purpose of this study was to examine admission application policies and practices at undergraduate social work programs in the South for justice-involved individuals or persons with criminal backgrounds. The qualitative study design recruited program directors through professional relationships for interviews and selected programs in urban cities in the South using the Council on Social Work Education's Accredited Program Directory. The surveys consisted of three questions and the interviews consisted of eleven semi-structured questions focusing on the policies and practices associated with the application process. Study results reveal that slightly more than one half of all programs asked questions about criminal backgrounds, firm policies are not in place, and practices vary from institution to institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines how structural racism amplified the direct and indirect effects of COVID-19 for African American, Asian/Asian American, and Latino/a/x and Hispanic social work students during the unplanned transition to synchronous and asynchronous education at three social work programs across the United States, creating additional educational barriers. The aim of the article is threefold. First, centering critical race theory, it discusses the experience of African Americans, Asian/Asian Americans, and Latino/a/x and Hispanic students at three different institutions across the country. Second, it highlights the structural challenges faced by social work students of historically, racially, and ethnically oppressed communities and the lessons learned from the social work programs' pandemic response. Third, social work faculty lessons learned suggest ways to better meet the needs of historically, racially, and ethnically oppressed social work students, and the integration of critical race theory to diminish the effects of structural racism in social work programs' future educational plans in response to COVID-19, or a similar health crisis.AQ>your abstract is 162 words; the maximum allowed is 120 words. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African American are at risk for adverse emotional health. However, due to the intersection of their racial and gender identities which heightens their masculinity, emotional wellness is not always considered a priority by and for these men. This study aimed to examine African American men's emotional and physical health in relation to their overall health. An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted to examine self-reported responses regarding emotional and physical health as predictors of overall wellness among a convenience sample of 115 African American men. The Wellness Self-Perception Questionnaire (WSPQ), a 15-item scale, was used to assess emotional and physical wellness. Overall health was assessed by a single item. Of the 115 study participants, the majority reported a positive perception of their overall health. Linear regression analyses revealed that both reported emotional wellness and physical wellness predicted better overall wellness, even when controlling for men's education and income. A review of the literature indicates this is the first study to assess emotional and physical wellness as predictors of overall health for African American men. Since African American men tend to utilize physical health services even for mental health concerns, implications for physicians are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To measure effect of posters on children's selection of books from display table, two displays (one with poster) were placed in visible area of one public library and five elementary school media centers. Children selected 10% (public library) and 27% (media center libraries) more books from poster table. (14 references) (EJS)

Bibliotherapy is one way of helping children who are victims of abuse. Some children's novels vividly describe situations of child abuse. Counselors may want to consider using recent junior novels in counseling abused children. Novels identified here describe the hesitancy of abused children in asking for help from teachers. (Author/BEF)

Reports on a study indicating that education students entering a beginning children's literature course have not read or heard read aloud many of children's literature classics and award-winning books. (RL)

Discusses examples of recent children's literature that provide positive images of the elderly. Provides a list of such literature. (FL)

Discusses well-written, moving children's stories that can be used to promote children's writing. (RL)

There is a dearth of information regarding African American males and their service to boys as unrelated, concerned adults. While rites of passage programs provide a strong space for the growth of young Black males to develop, there is a need for more literature on what motivates and how to recruit and retain African American men to mentor. This article discusses central components of traditional mentoring and rites of passage programs and the experiences of a group of African American men in Memphis, Tennessee, who have mentored for an after-school rites of passage project. The authors provide recommendations for recruiting and training African American men to utilize rites of passage activities to promote the healthy development of African American male youth. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

“Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” are supposedly “certain inalienable rights” that the Declaration of Independence claims have been gifted to all human beings by their Creator, and for which the U.S. government was created to protect. The issue of violence and brutality against African American males along with the police shooting of unarmed African American males has become a reality of the denial of these rights for some in America. Recent police shooting incidents of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and Tamir Rice in Cleveland, Ohio, in addition to the brutal murder by police of Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York, have sparked riots, looting, protests, “die-ins,” and national conversations. The subsequent civil unrest across the United States and abroad has attracted widespread public attention. In this article, three authors respond by providing a timely trilogy of uniquely diverse perspectives and viewpoints on these issues giving particular attention to (1) the view from a historical lens and Black Power political framework producing an analysis of the causative factors promoting and sustaining violence against African American males, (2) an examination of criminal justice law, and (3) a look at our way forward. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Using rapid ethnographic methodology, the study focused on the history and current responses of a Black Missionary Baptist church in northwest Mississippi to the myriad of social problems facing the African American community in both rural and urban settings. The aim of the study was to uncover and document the history and the role of the church in the implementation of social services and outreach ministries that promote the overall improvement of quality of life and wellness of it's members and the community. The results of this study suggest that the church's social service/outreach ministries are designed, developed, and implemented in ways that purposefully and positively improve and enhance the quality of life church members and residents of North Mississippi and the surrounding areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African American males continue to experience an unacceptable and disproportionate number of health disparities when compared with other racial and ethnic groups. Young African American males can expect to live the least amount of time when compared to any other ethnic minority or racial sub-group. Understanding the obstacles and barriers that impede access to health care and wellness services among young African American males is essential to begin the process of decreasing health disparities. The goal of this qualitative study was to explore and identify the barriers experienced by young African American males in accessing health care services while also creating a rare opportunity to give voice to young African American males. The study results indicate that young African American males have multiple perceptions of barriers to health care services. Their perceptions fell into three categories: the negative impact of environment or community, lack of finances or no insurance, and distrust of medical practices associated with race history resulting in accessing healthcare as a last resort. Additional research is needed to craft community-based programs to: a) educate young African American males on the importance of preventative strategies to maintain wellness; and b) ensure that the appropriate medical and wellness services are available and reaching young African American males in need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Record numbers of young African American males are released from juvenile detention, residential commitment, and prison facilities each year. Many challenges must be overcome for them to integrate back into their families and communities. Incorporating an Afrocentric cultural approach with concrete, comprehensive services such as education, training, employment housing assistance, substance abuse treatment, and family support could serve as a powerful tool for successful reentry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I describe the forces that influenced my decision to become a social worker and mentor. I detail the relationship between growing up as a "Y Kid" and my decision to become engaged in the life-long mentoring process. While telling my story, I explore value-driven role modeling, the process of selecting mentees and mentors through attraction rather than promotion, and the concept of developmental networks. Finally, I share the lessons learned from more than fifty years of involvement in the mentoring process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this narrative article, I share the story of two white female social work students from small predominantly white Midwestern towns, who were placed at the same site in an African American urban inner-city field assignment in Chicago, Illinois. Invariably, the students and I encountered challenges and obstacles while attempting to work with the youth, parents, and teachers at their site. In the process of supervising the students, we all learned valuable social work lessons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article addresses the need for therapeutic camps to support the disportionate number of African-American children in out of home foster care and group home placements. A brief review of literature on camp interventions and their failure to adequately address the influence of ethnicity and culture is provided. A pilot of a small culturally centered therapeutic camp intervention for African-American boys in foster care is reviewed and the impressions of the African-American male facilitators are described and discussed. Although limited sample size prohibited statistical analysis, results suggest the need to further evaluate innovative culturally-centered interventions that are designed to target traditional values and factors that influence positive African-American male development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A personal narrative is presented in which the author recalls participating in the TourDeSands cycling event to raise awareness for lymphoedema, a disease afflicting his wife.