As the United States is in the midst of a proclaimed time of economic distress it is essential to identify the methods which families demonstrate skills of survival. This study is based on the premise that African-Americans have a self-made kin support system and culture which provide resources and skills for the betterment of the family unit. A quantitative methods design is used to identify and prioritize the resources and behaviors utilized by African-American families in time of declared economic crisis. Through the Africultural Coping Skills inventory this study identifies that African-American families within the Metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia area use a great deal of the identified cultural-specific coping mechanisms. In addition, results from the modified version of the Satisfaction with Life Scale demonstrate that the study participant, who served as their African-American family representative, perceived their well-being as positive. A thorough analysis of the study's resulting data and a discussion are provided alongside review of concepts from Afrocentric theory and resource exchange theory. Several recommendations are provided as a result of this analysis and discussion. Recommendations are also provided in hopes of ensuring that continuous efforts are made to document and expose the positive attributes found within African-American family and culture are noted as a natural form of resilience.

The purpose and focus of this work is to seek practical means by which local African-American congregations can minister to persons living with AIDS (PLWAs), and to institute an educational awareness model which emphasizes prevention of the HIV virus. The impetus for the study was a pastoral clinical education program which brought the researcher in contact with HIV/AIDS patients and their families. The study and resulting model for ministry is designed to inspire clergy and laity to institute sharing and caring ministries for PLWAs. Members of the faith community are challenged to respond to the Biblical mandate of Jesus Christ by developing compassionate outreach programs in their local communities. Having studied the literature, the time has come to demonstrate the practice of this ministry issue at the Antioch African Methodist Episcopal Church (A.M.E.C.) in Decatur, Georgia.

This work seeks to construct and implement in two Baptist churches a viable congregational model for doing youth ministry, which can be used to improve positive self-esteem in Black children, ages ten thru eighteen. Positive self-esteem is examined in the congregational settings by posing and answering six (6) questions: What is Self-Esteem? Who is God? Who am I? Who are you? Who are we in Christ? and What ought we do? These six (6) questions form the essence of positive self-esteem. The model uses family relationships between adult presenters and the intended youth, adult presentations on Christian identity and action in the congregation, field trips, Black history materials in the homes, and visual aids as the vehicles to accomplish the improvement in the positive self-esteem of the youth. The model responds to the threat to positive self-esteem of many of the youth as evidenced by racism and discrimination in American society, the presence of several indicators of negative or low self-esteem, problems in the very institutions that influence positive self-esteem, and adult perceptions of the social environment. It is based on the premise that the church must provide the family with the tools to help our children survive in this society. This will be accomplished by preparing our youth to affirm positive actions that build and affirm positive self-esteem and to reject the negative actions that counter it. This project seeks to use the extended family system and the conjugal family system of the children in their quest for positive self-esteem because of its potential as a positive influence. Finally, this work seeks to place the responsibility of the children in the hands of the entire church family, which is called to actively work to nurture them in this crucial and critical time in their lives.

This dissertation offers an interdisciplinary model of pastoral counseling with 'interdependence' as its organizing principle. This interdisciplinary model relies on the theological concept of Community, according to Howard Thurman, and the psychological issue of dependence as articulated in the Object Relations theory of W. R. D. Fairbairn. Interdependence as a norm for this interdisciplinary Community/Mature Dependence model of pastoral counseling is helpful in that it responds to a need in the field of pastoral counseling for relevant input concerning norms, values and criteria for effective pastoral counseling with persons, particularly those from bi-cultural communities, such as African Americans. In this respect, the African American cultural values of Collective Identity, Family life and Resiliency in Struggle and Suffering form an integral part of this interdisciplinary model. Interwoven with the theological and psychological concepts and the African American cultural values are the clinical cases of two African Americans, a female and a male. These concepts and the cultural values chosen to bring to bear on the counseling relations with these persons are especially helpful due to their focus on the value of communal interrelating and the processes of whole-making. Prominent issues raised in conjunction with the clinical cases are: (1) the fragmentation, splitting and distorted self images that can occur due to improper nurturing in childhood and/or as a result of racism and oppression, (2) the effects of racism and discrimination on personal and familial value systems, and (3) the pain and suffering caused by unresolved conflict involved in the status of being bi-cultural. Howard Thurman, as an African American theologian who, from outside the majority culture and some of its theoretical and cultural constrictions brings to this discussion his unique perspective of Community which grounds all persons and all dimensions of personhood in an Ultimate unity. Thurman, speaking with the insights of one who has suffered racial oppression and discrimination, lifts his voice of sensitive concern and caring to all persons bound in the human condition and outlines the task for the reconciliation of all of creation. Unity, Actualization of Potential, Love and Reconciliation are the four major components of Thurman's concept of Community addressed in this dissertation. My analysis also brings the object relations theory of W. R. D. Fairbairn into dialogue with Thurman, the cultural factors and the clinical data from the two case studies. Fairbairn, deviates from psychoanalytic tradition in that he formulated an alternative interpretation of the core of personality than that advocated by Sigmund Freud. Fairbairn's assertion is that the libidinal ego is first and foremost in need and in search of an satisfying object, i.e., a meaningful and positive relationship with another person. With the help of Thurman, Fairbairn, the clinical cases and African American cultural factors, I highlight the illusory or at best transient nature of independence and the process I demonstrate the need for an appreciation of the nature of dependency, particularly in the context of Interdependence. A three dimensional model of pastoral counseling is presented which elaborates upon the importance of (1) the client's historical situation and cultural values; (2) identification, a proper sense of self and differentiation; and, (3) shared suffering, actualization of potential and liberating and reconciling love.

The main thrust of this dissertation is the development and effectiveness of a pastoral counseling center in an African-American church. Prior to the development of this pastoral counseling center, there were none in an African-American church in the southeast. This document seeks to link the need for pastoral counseling centers to the rich history of care offered by the African-American Church. A consideration of theological issues regarding pastoral counseling and developing pastoral counseling centers is offered in this dissertation. Also, a look at liberation as being the aim of theology is presented. In addition, the theology of the pastoral counselor who developed this center can be found in this dissertation. The factors to be considered when developing a pastoral counseling center in an African-American church are offered in this dissertation. The organizational structure and methodology of this center are also elaborated upon in the document. Included is a description of the various individuals who were directly involved in the development of the pastoral counseling center. Additionally, a description of the church where the center was developed is given which includes a demographic study of the community, a historical view of the host church, and a description of the city where the church is located. To ascertain the effectiveness of the pastoral counseling center, interviews with the senior pastor, the ministerial staff, the advisory committee, and selected clients were conducted. A summary of services rendered at the center over a one-year period is presented in the dissertation. Finally, a comprehensive look at the training and the process of certification of a pastoral counselor is documented. The training of a pastoral counselor is linked to the development and effectiveness of the pastoral counseling center. There is also given a general theory of the development of a pastoral counseling center in an African-American church.

Doctor Of Philosophy / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Farrell J. Webb / The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that influenced African American pastor’s perceptions of mental health issues and to explore how those perceptions influenced the propensity of the pastor to counsel, consult, and or refer to mental health professionals. This study is divided into two parts. Part one examines the perceptions of the pastors and their beliefs about mental health. Part two concretized these perceptions by employing the Contextual Model of Family Stress as a guide for structuring the relationships between a pastor’s perception and their attitudes toward mental health issues. Data for this investigation were gathered from a sub-sample of African American pastors originally generated from a listing of churches throughout the country. Initially 300 locally based institutions were identified. A survey was mailed to the churches explaining the purpose and goals of the study. Nearly one-third of the pastors completed the sixty-one item questionnaire. Of those who returned the original questionnaires (102), nearly three-quarters were from African American pastors (73) all of whom were included in this study. There were four hypotheses developed for this exploratory investigation: they examined the pastor’s propensity to make mental health referrals; the tendency to spiritualize mental health issues; pastor’s lack of support for congregants with mental health problems; and the influence of mental health training on the willingness to refer to mental health professionals. None of the hypotheses were directly supported. The application and adaptation of the Contextual Model of Family Stress to how African American pastors perceived, utilized, and responded to mental health issues was explored via path analysis. Overall, the final model explained 39% of the variance in why pastors chose to make referrals to mental health professionals. The findings suggested that the African American pastors are concerned with the mental health of their congregants. Moreover, these pastors exhibited uncommon knowledge about mental health and displayed greater willingness to work with mental health professionals than originally believed. These findings reveal that African American pastors are in touch with their congregants on multiple plains—spiritual, soul, and body—three vital dimensions, according to church doctrines and beliefs.

Master of Science / Department of Family Studies and Human Services / Anthony Jurich / Adolescent pregnancy has been an ongoing concern in society for many years. This concern is even greater among the African American community. Girls who experience a pregnancy or childbirth during adolescence often experience difficulties in school and future careers, as well as financial and mental instability. This report will examine how the pregnancy and childbirth experiences of African American teens influence their younger female siblings.

Master of Science / Department of Marriage and Family Therapy / Joyce Baptist / Universities around the country are consistently focusing on increasing diversity among the student population, yet little is known about how minority graduate student populations fair academically and personally in predominately White institutions, specifically African American graduate students. This qualitative study examines the lived experiences of six African American graduate students. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide on their experiences in a predominately White graduate program. The findings support previous research that indicates that social conditions have not changed and minority students are still not well integrated into their programs. Findings also suggest that although Berry’s (1987) model of acculturation can be used to conceptualize the experience of African American undergraduate students, the experience of graduate students is more complex, and only partially supported by this model. Suggestions for how universities can better improve the environment for African American graduate students are included.

This study examines the perception of K-12 principals about school social work consultation, collaboration and program development in a large urban school district in Georgia. The primary survey participants consist of one hundred eight K-12 school principals selected using non-probability sampling. Twenty seven school social workers in the same school district also selected by convenience sampling responded to the survey questionnaire which is designed using a four point Likert scale. The fmdings of the study indicate that responding principals and school social workers perceive consultation, collaboration and program development as expected activities. Responding principals also perceive that it is the responsibility of the principal to ensure that these activities occur. A greater percentage of principals in schools with special education and/or homeless enrollments expect consultation with the school social worker. Principals in schools with special education and homeless enrollments are more likely to 1 include the school social worker as an integral partner in school leadership and decision making than principals in schools with Title I or English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) student enrollments.

Doctor of Education / Department of Educational Leadership / Trudy Salsberry / Institutional advancement is a constant challenge for leaders at institutions of higher education. The continued threat to historically black college and universities (HBCU) survival, due to the lack of resources they need to operate and compete, is at the forefront of concerns for many HBCU presidents and supporters. Research suggests that to have success in acquiring more resources, universities will need to work with their alumni associations and foundations. The purpose of this qualitative, multi-case study was to contribute to the limited research on the relationships among HBCU leaders responsible for growing resources. Numerous aspects contribute to increasing alumni giving and this study will contribute to that knowledge. The discussion of inter-organizational relationships and how the processes of cooperation, coordination, and collaboration transpire should be a part of the dialogue. Exploration of these relationships and processes can highlight possible solutions and deficiencies in the success of institutional advancement. Sites for this study were purposefully selected to examine these inter-organizational relationships. Data included in-depth interviews and related documents and artifacts. Thirty patterns and three themes emerged from the data analysis. The three themes include an understanding that (a) “working together” enacts cooperation, coordination, and collaboration; (b) human capital and organizational structures affect coordination and the ability to reach goals; and (c) the goal for increased resource capacity focuses the efforts of cooperation, coordination, and collaboration. This study extends the discussion to looking at inter-organizational relationships as another perspective to enhance resources. This investigation also introduces dialogue about alumni association and foundation volunteerism as an important component in developing effective solutions. The understandings portrayed in the identified themes will help university officials, practitioners, advancement volunteers, and supporters of higher education enhance their institutional advancement strategies and help set forth norms for productive behaviors.