Afrocentric Approaches to Working with African American Families

Developing interventions that produce positive results for African American individuals and families continues to be a priority in the field of human services. This article begins with a review of the literature regarding Afrocentrism and the underlying tenets of Afrocentric thought. The work continues with a discussion of the cultural connections between African Americans and their African roots. It is those long-held traditions, behaviors, and values that make Afrocentric interventions relevant and appropriate for use with African Americans today. Descriptions of successful interventions that use Afrocentric methods to work with African American populations and suggestions for ways in which further intervention could be put into practice are given. Finally, implications for human services practice and policy are outlined.