From Social Services to Social Empowerment: A Holistic Empowerment Model for Supporting the African-American Community
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Authors
Turner, Nicco
Issue Date
2010
Type
Capstone
Language
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Social services programs in the United States were constructed by the dominant culture and not the populations they were designed to address. Many African-Americans are directly impacted by the theoretical differences between the dominant culture and the populations served by social services programs. African-Americans have not only become dependent upon social services to meet basic needs but have also become disempowered by the social services model. This disempowering model implemented has had a negative effect on social services, the individuals, the community, and society as a whole. The African-American Empowerment Model (AAEM) draws upon theories from holistic health education and coaching techniques to empower the African-American community. The holistic health approach includes the individual, behavior, cultural, and collective to address individuals in each aspect of their life. The AAEM incorporates coaching methods to reframe the social services model, the deliverers of social services, and the individuals directly impacted. The AAEM seeks to change four aspects of social services programs: language, delivery of service, perspective, and outcome.
The AAEM also employs community coaching techniques that will allow African-American communities to use self-assessment, behavior, community, and society to create a healthy living environment.