Preventing Child Maltreatment in the U.S.: The Black Community Perspective

Child maltreatment occurs in the Black community at higher rates than any other racial group. Given the prevalence of child maltreatment risk factors in the Black community, such as being in a low-income family, single parent family, greater exposure to physical discipline, and less access to services and resources, it is not surprising but nonetheless concerning that Black children are at greater risk for abuse and/or neglect. Unearthing the cause and effect between the challenges faced by the Black community and the life outcomes for Black children is key to making positive changes happen. Through a feminist and womanist lens, the authors unpack the range of factors that intersect and impact the Black community that are necessary to address to effectively protect Black children. Understanding how to prevent maltreatment and promote health and wellness are essential to adequately address maltreatment so as to protect and empower Black children.

Child maltreatment occurs in the Black community at higher rates than any other racial group. Through a feminist and womanist lens, the authors unpack the factors impacting the Black community that lead to maltreatment of Black children. This book offers resources and guidance for preventing maltreatment, promoting health and wellness, and to empower Black children. 

MELISSA PHILLIPS is a psychologist in clinical practice. She identifies as a bi-cultural Black American woman who is a second generation Caribbean immigrant, which has shaped her professional development in clinical practice, teaching, and research. She is an advocate for diversity, social justice, gender equity, and immigrant issues.
 
SHAVONNE MOORE-LOBBAN is an an African American woman, raised in a womanist-value driven family, who identifies as spiritual, and whose experiences are influenced by the intersection of these identities. She is a psychologist who specializes in trauma, promotes social justice, and advocates for mental health care in communities of color.
 
MILTON A. FUENTES is a professor of psychology at Montclair State University in New Jersey and a licensed psychologist in New Jersey and New York. His scholarship focuses on equity, diversity and inclusion and he has authored several peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and books in this area.

Introduction
1 Understanding Black Families
2 The Epidemiology of Maltreatment of Black Children
3 Exploring the Child Welfare System
4 Child Maltreatment Prevention and Intervention
5 Promoting Health and Wellness
6 Advocacy and Child Welfare Reform
7 Application of Prevention and Intervention: A Case Study
8 Conclusion: What the Future Should Hold
Recommended Readings and Resources
References
Index

"Phillips, Moore-Lobban, and Fuentes splendidly deliver a detailed and excellent conversation regarding the maltreatment of Black young bodies in the US. Their holistic lens truly captures the barriers and systems of oppression that impact these youths, and their approach to the topic is rooted in cultural humility. This approach, if used properly, could lead to both a better understanding of the dynamics involved in US Black child maltreatment, and a decrease in the number of Black youths mistreated."

"Practical and comprehensive, this is an invaluable resource for the child welfare community and all human service professionals. The causes, effects, and prevention efforts associated with maltreatment of Black children are meticulously addressed. Historical underpinnings and social structures that speak to unique challenges Black families face, and strengths inherent within the Black community are appropriately chronicled. With this book, the authors make a significant contribution to the literature base."

"Phillips, Moore-Lobban, and Fuentes splendidly deliver a detailed and excellent conversation regarding the maltreatment of Black young bodies in the US. Their holistic lens truly captures the barriers and systems of oppression that impact these youths, and their approach to the topic is rooted in cultural humility. This approach, if used properly, could lead to both a better understanding of the dynamics involved in US Black child maltreatment, and a decrease in the number of Black youths mistreated."

"Practical and comprehensive, this is an invaluable resource for the child welfare community and all human service professionals. The causes, effects, and prevention efforts associated with maltreatment of Black children are meticulously addressed. Historical underpinnings and social structures that speak to unique challenges Black families face, and strengths inherent within the Black community are appropriately chronicled. With this book, the authors make a significant contribution to the literature base."