Dorothy Smith-Ruiz – författare

Intergenerational African families in which the grandmother is the primary caregiver of grandchildren and great-grandchildren are increasing rapidly in American society. Over the past decade, researchers and policy makers have shown considerable concern over the increases in grandparent-maintained households. This concern has stimulated a proliferation of research on grandparent caregiving on a wide range of issues. Among these are the impact of multiple roles on health, reasons for the rapid increase, problems and needs, social structure and extended family relationships, social support, role satisfaction, the impact of the AIDS and crack-cocaine epidemics, and emotional/physical well-being.In spite of social, economic, and health demands faced by African American grandmothers, many of them accept parental responsibility of children who might otherwise become wards of the state. This book is organized to give a broad perspective on social characteristics, health issues, and experiences of African American grandmothers who act in the role of custodial parents to their grandchildren. Ruiz highlights the increase in grandparent caregivers over the past three decades, provides an overview of historical roles of the grandmother in African American families, and shows how the extended family has acted as a social-emotional and financial support in times of need.

This handbook brings together crucial information related to mental illness among black Americans by examining the impact of social structures and conditions on the mental health of blacks. ChoiceWhile it is generally assumed that poverty, unemployment, and discrimination have a serious impact on the psychological well-being and functioning of black Americans, very little research has been directed to understanding or documenting the black experience from the mental health standpoint. This multidisciplinary study develops a broad perspective on the subject, with implications for both clinical practice and sociological research. In addition to examining important mental health issues, the authors look at the ways in which specific social, structural, and cultural conditions and practices affect the lives of individual Black Americans and their families.The first two parts of the book present demographic profiles of the black community and epidemiological analyses of mental disorders. The psychological stressors arising from racism are next considered, together with the social structures and coping skills that have enabled blacks to maintain networks of support. Two chapters are devoted to homicide and family violence in the black community. The remaining chapters cover psychiatric diagnosis and treatment, legal and social policy issues, and factors in positive mental health. Incorporating the contributions of sociologists, social workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists as well as mental health administrators, this book provides new data and expert analyses that will be of interest to anyone working in this rapidly expanding field.

Black Families and the Recession in the United States goes beyond the massive loss of property among African Americans during the Great Recession of 2007–2009. It connects the housing experience to broader systems of inequality in America. Following the Great Recession of 2007–2009, the US elections of 2008, the impact of COVID-19, and widespread demonstrations resulting from the murder of George Floyd by police, the sociopolitical and economic status of Blacks in the United States is at a critical point in history, with demand for major transformation. The authors reveal a history of racist practices against Blacks in many systems, including education, policing, incarceration, wealth transmission, voting restrictions, and housing segregation. The social costs of the recession are manifested in the daily lives of African American families. In addition to financial losses, African Americans are more likely to be plagued with issues related to poverty, chronic illnesses, and lack of trust of social and economic institutions. Research, policy, and practical implications of this research include identifying social and economic supports unique to African Americans and determining strategies to strengthen families; paramount to addressing racial disparities. The interdisciplinary focus of this book appeals to a wide audience and areas of study.

Black Families and the Recession in the United States goes beyond the massive loss of property among African Americans during the Great Recession of 2007–2009. It connects the housing experience to broader systems of inequality in America. Following the Great Recession of 2007–2009, the US elections of 2008, the impact of COVID-19, and widespread demonstrations resulting from the murder of George Floyd by police, the sociopolitical and economic status of Blacks in the United States is at a critical point in history, with demand for major transformation. The authors reveal a history of racist practices against Blacks in many systems, including education, policing, incarceration, wealth transmission, voting restrictions, and housing segregation. The social costs of the recession are manifested in the daily lives of African American families. In addition to financial losses, African Americans are more likely to be plagued with issues related to poverty, chronic illnesses, and lack of trust of social and economic institutions. Research, policy, and practical implications of this research include identifying social and economic supports unique to African Americans and determining strategies to strengthen families; paramount to addressing racial disparities. The interdisciplinary focus of this book appeals to a wide audience and areas of study.

For decades the black community has been perceived, both in the United States and around the world, as one which thinks alike, acts alike and lives alike - in poor and downtrodden environments. Following the persistent effects of the great recession and the American elections of 2008, now more than ever the political and socio-economic state of America is crying out for this deficient and prejudiced conception to be dispelled.Focusing primarily on black families in America, Contemporary African American Families updates empirical research by addressing various aspects including family formation, schooling, health and parenting. Exploring a wide class spectrum among African American families, this text also modernizes and subverts much of the research resulting from Moynihan’s 1965 report, which arguably misunderstood the lived experiences of black people during the movement from slavery to freedom in a Jim Crow society.A timely subversion of the myth that America is successfully in a post-racial era, this new anthology on the Black Family in America will appeal to advanced undergraduate students and research scholars interested in black studies, Africana studies, women and gender studies, sociology, political science, anthropology, criminal justice, education, psychology, public policy, healthy policy and social work.

African American women have disproportionally high prevalence, incidence, and mortality rates for most health conditions in comparison to White women. This book will explore some of the reasons for these disparities including problems within the health care system and societal institutions.The disproportionally high number of COVID-19 deaths in the African American population, especially among African American women, have brought renewed attention to historical racial inequality and the role it plays in the daily lives of American women and black families in general. Recommendations incorporate practical implications of this research including identifying social and financial supports unique to older African American women and determining strategies to strengthen the health needs of African American families, which is also paramount to addressing economic, social and racial disparities of this population.Drawing on data from a variety of sources, this book applies a systematic racism and intersectionality approach to how various social, demographic, economic, and health variables influence the outcomes and the overall health status of older African American women. As such, it will appeal to scholars in Sociology, Social Work, Nursing, Gerontology, Social Policy, Racial and Inequality Studies, African American Studies, Justice Studies, Culture, Ethnicity and Health Studies, and Public Health.

African American women have disproportionally high prevalence, incidence, and mortality rates for most health conditions in comparison to White women. This book will explore some of the reasons for these disparities including problems within the health care system and societal institutions.The disproportionally high number of COVID-19 deaths in the African American population, especially among African American women, have brought renewed attention to historical racial inequality and the role it plays in the daily lives of American women and black families in general. Recommendations incorporate practical implications of this research including identifying social and financial supports unique to older African American women and determining strategies to strengthen the health needs of African American families, which is also paramount to addressing economic, social and racial disparities of this population.Drawing on data from a variety of sources, this book applies a systematic racism and intersectionality approach to how various social, demographic, economic, and health variables influence the outcomes and the overall health status of older African American women. As such, it will appeal to scholars in Sociology, Social Work, Nursing, Gerontology, Social Policy, Racial and Inequality Studies, African American Studies, Justice Studies, Culture, Ethnicity and Health Studies, and Public Health.