Review of LiteratureĪ genogram is a graphic representation of family members and their relationships over at least three generations. These family strengths have been applied to a Family Integrated Genogram (FIG) as an effective approach for understanding African American families.

They are identified as some of the major strengths of African American families (Billingsley, 1992, 1999 Hill, 1997 Hines & Boyd-Franklin, 1996 Pipes, 1997). This article describes and promotes the use of the family genogram with African American families as a means of adapting identified family strengths and family resources of spirituality, religion, and extended family networks. Such a perspective also involves the ability of practitioners to recognize and employ resources and strengths of African American families. Effective practice with African American families requires understanding family strengths, resources, and dimensions of African American past and present family life. With families from diverse backgrounds, practitioners must be culturally competent to avoid culturally oppressive practices with clients (Chin, De La Cancela, & Jenkins, 1993 Montague, 1996 Sue & Sue, 1990). The genogram can be especially useful when working with diverse cultural groups-especially African American families-to promote cultural knowledge (Bean, Perry, & Bedell, 2002 Thomas, 1998). It represents a large quantity of complex family information (Stanion & Papadopoulos, 1997) and can effectively illustrate family data, family history, family systems, and intergenerational transmission (Hardy & Laszloffy, 1995 Hartman & Laird, 1983 Kilpatrick & Holland, 2003 McGoldrick, Gerson, & Shellenberger, 1999). Diagrammatically, the genogram is an intergenerational map of three or more generations of a family and a primary assessment tool that focuses on intergenerational patterns and relationships among family members (Goldenberg & Goldenberg, 2000 Hartman, 1995 McGoldrick, Gerson, & Shellenberger, 1999). Electronic mail may be sent via the Internet to genogram is a valuable assessment tool used by social workers, therapists, counselors, and practitioners (Hartman & Laird, 1983 Hartman, 1995 McGoldrick & Gerson, 1985). Key Words: Genogram, African American families, family strengths, extended family network, spirituality, religion, family resources, intergenerationalĪnnie McCullough Chavis, Ed.D., CMSW, ACSW is Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, Fayetteville State University, 1200 Murchison Road, Fayetteville, NC, 28301. Finally, a specific example of an intergenerational family genogram illustrates how practitioners can focus on extended family networks, spirituality, and religion as family strengths and resources in African American families. Next, she describes an integrated genogram model that may help social workers and practitioners recognize and employ recognized culturally connected family strengths and resources for work with African American families. First, the author discusses how genograms are useful when depicting significant cultural patterns, beliefs, values, traditions, and family strengths in African American families. This article explores how genograms can serve as a multigenerational assessment for understanding family functioning and family processes. Blume, editorial advisor, for their help with constructing the genogram.

Author's Note: I would like to thank Sabrina McKeithan, Teaching & Learning Instructional Technologist at Fayetteville State University, and Thomas W.

Cultural genogram in family social work