Priscilla A. Gibson – författare

This book addresses an international human rights issue: women's economic enfranchisement, specifically, their equal access to property using Akan widows from Ghana as a case study. The insidious effects of European colonialism contribute to the devaluation of Akan women beginning with gender roles imposed in childhood and continuing through inheritance practices that leave widows destitute. A close examination of Akan widows in their everyday, sociocultural contexts through ethnographic methods reveals the impact of property rights violations not only on the economic conditions of women and their children but also their psychosocial, spiritual, and moral well-being. Despite progressive national laws, many Akan widows lose access to the homes and farms they shared with their husbands, leaving them and their children destitute. According to customary law, those properties belong not to individuals, but to the husband's maternal family line of which his wife and children are not a part. Yet the Akan people are not without compassion, and Akan women without resilience. Some community leaders and in-laws do assist the widow and her children. In addition, some Akan widows do resist, persevere, and even thrive. Some gain peace through spiritual practices, and stability through innovative economic ventures with other widows and allies including international social workers. By deepening our understanding of the impact of property rights violations on women's lives as well as the ways in which some communities support them, and they actively resist such domination, we can extend the range of possible remedies to those who remain mired in challenges and in need of support.

This book addresses an international human rights issue: women's economic enfranchisement, specifically, their equal access to property using Akan widows from Ghana as a case study. The insidious effects of European colonialism contribute to the devaluation of Akan women beginning with gender roles imposed in childhood and continuing through inheritance practices that leave widows destitute. A close examination of Akan widows in their everyday, sociocultural contexts through ethnographic methods reveals the impact of property rights violations not only on the economic conditions of women and their children but also their psychosocial, spiritual, and moral well-being. Despite progressive national laws, many Akan widows lose access to the homes and farms they shared with their husbands, leaving them and their children destitute. According to customary law, those properties belong not to individuals, but to the husband's maternal family line of which his wife and children are not a part. Yet the Akan people are not without compassion, and Akan women without resilience. Some community leaders and in-laws do assist the widow and her children. In addition, some Akan widows do resist, persevere, and even thrive. Some gain peace through spiritual practices, and stability through innovative economic ventures with other widows and allies including international social workers. By deepening our understanding of the impact of property rights violations on women's lives as well as the ways in which some communities support them, and they actively resist such domination, we can extend the range of possible remedies to those who remain mired in challenges and in need of support.

This book addresses an international human rights issue: women's economic enfranchisement, specifically, their equal access to property using Akan widows from Ghana as a case study. The insidious effects of European colonialism contribute to the devaluation of Akan women beginning with gender roles imposed in childhood and continuing through inheritance practices that leave widows destitute. A close examination of Akan widows in their everyday, sociocultural contexts through ethnographic methods reveals the impact of property rights violations not only on the economic conditions of women and their children but also their psychosocial, spiritual, and moral well-being. Despite progressive national laws, many Akan widows lose access to the homes and farms they shared with their husbands, leaving them and their children destitute. According to customary law, those properties belong not to individuals, but to the husband's maternal family line of which his wife and children are not a part. Yet the Akan people are not without compassion, and Akan women without resilience. Some community leaders and in-laws do assist the widow and her children. In addition, some Akan widows do resist, persevere, and even thrive. Some gain peace through spiritual practices, and stability through innovative economic ventures with other widows and allies including international social workers. By deepening our understanding of the impact of property rights violations on women's lives as well as the ways in which some communities support them, and they actively resist such domination, we can extend the range of possible remedies to those who remain mired in challenges and in need of support.

Over the course of an African American’s lifetime, mental health care needs change according to an individual’s unique interactions with his or her environment. Mental Health Care in the African-American Community uses this perspective to provide a deeper analysis of factors and issues affecting the mental health of African Americans. This comprehensive text provides a current and historical analysis of the impact of mental health research, policy, community, and clinical practice from a life course perspective. Stressing evidence-based practice as an expanded way to think and talk about individualizing and translating evidence into a given practice situation, this valuable book provides a social work context for all helping professions. Mental Health Care in the African-American Community provides the helping community with non-traditional, expanded ways of thinking and intervening in the mental health needs and care of African Americans. Organized logically, this complex subject presents data in a user-friendly way that engages the reader, and provides chapter summaries and suggested group/classroom activities to facilitate understanding. This text is extensively referenced and includes figures and tables to clearly illustrate data. Topics in Mental Health Care in the African-American Community include:a historical overview of African Americans’ mental health care a conceptual and theoretical framework for African Americans’ mental health current issues affecting mental health intervention for African Americans mental health in group homes and foster care depression substance abuse poverty ADHD suicide mental health in elderly African Americans mental health policy rural African American mental health needs kinship care multiethnic families and children much, much more! Mental Health Care in the African-American Community is a valuable textbook for practitioners; administrators; researchers; policymakers; educators; and students in social work, psychology, mental health services, case management, and community planning.

Over the course of an African American’s lifetime, mental health care needs change according to an individual’s unique interactions with his or her environment. Mental Health Care in the African-American Community uses this perspective to provide a deeper analysis of factors and issues affecting the mental health of African Americans. This comprehensive text provides a current and historical analysis of the impact of mental health research, policy, community, and clinical practice from a life course perspective. Stressing evidence-based practice as an expanded way to think and talk about individualizing and translating evidence into a given practice situation, this valuable book provides a social work context for all helping professions. Mental Health Care in the African-American Community provides the helping community with non-traditional, expanded ways of thinking and intervening in the mental health needs and care of African Americans. Organized logically, this complex subject presents data in a user-friendly way that engages the reader, and provides chapter summaries and suggested group/classroom activities to facilitate understanding. This text is extensively referenced and includes figures and tables to clearly illustrate data. Topics in Mental Health Care in the African-American Community include:a historical overview of African Americans’ mental health care a conceptual and theoretical framework for African Americans’ mental health current issues affecting mental health intervention for African Americans mental health in group homes and foster care depression substance abuse poverty ADHD suicide mental health in elderly African Americans mental health policy rural African American mental health needs kinship care multiethnic families and children much, much more! Mental Health Care in the African-American Community is a valuable textbook for practitioners; administrators; researchers; policymakers; educators; and students in social work, psychology, mental health services, case management, and community planning.

Over the course of an African American’s lifetime, mental health care needs change according to an individual’s unique interactions with his or her environment. Mental Health Care in the African-American Community uses this perspective to provide a deeper analysis of factors and issues affecting the mental health of African Americans. This comprehensive text provides a current and historical analysis of the impact of mental health research, policy, community, and clinical practice from a life course perspective. Stressing evidence-based practice as an expanded way to think and talk about individualizing and translating evidence into a given practice situation, this valuable book provides a social work context for all helping professions. Mental Health Care in the African-American Community provides the helping community with non-traditional, expanded ways of thinking and intervening in the mental health needs and care of African Americans. Organized logically, this complex subject presents data in a user-friendly way that engages the reader, and provides chapter summaries and suggested group/classroom activities to facilitate understanding. This text is extensively referenced and includes figures and tables to clearly illustrate data. Topics in Mental Health Care in the African-American Community include:

a historical overview of African Americans’ mental health care a conceptual and theoretical framework for African Americans’ mental health current issues affecting mental health intervention for African Americans mental health in group homes and foster care depression substance abuse poverty ADHD suicide mental health in elderly African Americans mental health policy rural African American mental health needs kinship care multiethnic families and children much, much more!

Mental Health Care in the African-American Community is a valuable textbook for practitioners; administrators; researchers; policymakers; educators; and students in social work, psychology, mental health services, case management, and community planning.