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Genograms and African American Families:
Employing Family Strengths of Spirituality,

Religion, and Extended Family Network

Annie McCullough Chavis1

Abstract

This article explores how genograms can serve as a multigenerational assessment for
understanding family functioning and family processes. First, the author discusses how genograms
are useful when depicting significant cultural patterns, beliefs, values, traditions, and family
strengths 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. 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.

Key Words: Genogram, African American families, family strengths, extended family network,
spirituality, religion, family resources, intergenerational

1Annie McCullough Chavis, Ed.D., CMSW, ACSW is Assistant Professor, Department of
Social Work, Fayetteville State University, 1200 Murchison Road, Fayetteville, NC, 28301.
Electronic mail may be sent via the Internet to [email?protected]

Author?s Note: I would like to thank Sabrina McKeithan, Teaching & Learning
Instructional Technologist at Fayetteville State University, and Thomas W. Blume, editorial
advisor, for their help with constructing the genogram.

The genogram is a valuable assessment tool used by social workers, therapists,
counselors, and practitioners (Hartman & Laird, 1983; Hartman, 1995; McGoldrick &
Gerson, 1985). 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). It
represents a large quantity of complex family information (Stanion & Papadopoulos,
1997) and can effectively illustrate family data, family history, family systems, and

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intergenerational transmission (Hardy & Laszloffy, 1995; Hartman & Laird, 1983;
Kilpatrick & Holland, 2003; McGoldrick, Gerson, & Shellenberger, 1999). 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).

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). Effective practice with African
American families requires understanding family strengths, resources, and dimensions of
African American past and present family life. Such a perspective also involves the
ability of practitioners to recognize and employ resources and strengths of African
American families.

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. They are identified as
some of the major strengths of African American families (Billingsley, 1992, 1999; Hill,
1997; Hines & Boyd-Franklin, 1996; Pipes, 1997). These family strengths have been
applied to a Family Integrated Genogram (FIG) as an effective approach for
understanding African American families.

Review of Literature

Genograms

A genogram is a graphic representation of family members and their
relationships over at least three generations. As a visual assessment tool, the genogram
can be used to trace family influences in various contexts as well as in the broader system
(McGoldrick & Gerson, 1985). Genograms have been used to help practitioners
understand the family context, to trace behavior and problems of family members, and to
identify patterns and issues within families. While understanding dysfunctional patterns
is essential to treatment, identifying strengths is also the foundation that directs
intervention. Genograms present a mechanism of identifying strengths and resources of
individuals and families within a life cycle framework.

Genograms provide an exceptional mechanism to encourage insight and

awareness by focusing on strengths, beliefs, and traditions in families. For example,
genograms often provide a useful means of exploring religious and spiritual issues and
their impact on clients? lives. Spiritually focused genograms have been suggested as an
effective means for tapping the spiritual resources of families as well as cultural factors in
the context of family dynamics (Dunn & Dawes, 1999; Hodge, 2001). For example,
Dunn and Dawes (1999) have illustrated how spiritual genograms with African American
families are used to provide graphic representation of complex expressions of spirituality

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over three generations for assessment and intervention. A spiritually focused genogram
allows therapists to understand clients? worldviews and the meaning they make of the
world from a spiritual perspective. It also provides an excellent tool for exploring
dimensions of human experiences and the spiritual dimensions of those experiences
intergenerationally.

Genograms have been used successfully in assessment, counseling, marriage and

family therapy, college teaching, and as mechanisms for increasing awareness in
individuals and families concerning family history and family events. For example,
McGoldrick and Gerson (1985) discussed the use of genograms in the field of marriage
and family therapy as a tool for understanding individual development in the context of
family dynamics. White and Tyson-Rawson (1995) described the use of genograms to
assess gender dynamics in couples and families. Estrada and Haney (1998) and Thomas
(1998) provided examples of how to use genograms to assess multicultural contexts with
diverse families. Finally, Carter and McGoldrick (1998) have found genograms to be
useful across the life span and encourage genograms use with all ages.

Genograms can also increase awareness and provide better insight into the

personal family issues of graduate students. For example, genograms have been used as
an educational tool by clinical sociologists to introduce and help students understand the
sociological basis of family therapy and to deepen awareness of social transmission of
families (Reed, 1994). Doughhetee (2001) demonstrated how genograms have been used
successfully as teaching tools with graduate students in university settings as a method to
connect systemic concepts to their family systems. Granello, Hothersalt and Osborne
(2000) have even described the use of the academic genogram with doctoral students to
trace academic lineage.

In summary, the literature indicates that genograms are useful tools that can be

adapted to many different settings and circumstances. They can trace family influences in
various contexts and explore diverse aspects of family strengths, resources, and cultural
influences. The genogram provides an excellent means for exploring the African
American family strengths of extended families and of religious and spiritual issues in a
family context. Although genograms are useful for obtaining information on the complex
family systems of African American families (Hines & Boyd-Franklin, 1996), very little
information is currently available on how to explore this tool to accurately understand
African American families and their world.

Historical Overview of African American Families

An appreciation of African American families requires an understanding of the

unique realities that have shaped their experiences (Chavis & Waites, 2004). Unlike other
immigrant groups, most African Americans were brought to this country in bondage and
were cut off from their ethnic groups, beliefs, traditions of family life, and cultural
heritage (Bennett, 1975). However, to understand African American families, it is
important to note that despite being cut off from Africa, most draw from their West

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African roots and American roots. Therefore, within the African American family,
cultural and historical contexts often serve as a close connection to the past, to the course
of social change within the family system, and to the ecological systems in our society.

Billingsley (1992) incorporated the African concept in his definition of the

African American family as follows: “The African American family is an intimate
association of persons of African descent who are related to one another by a variety of
means, including blood, marriage, formal adoption, informal adoption or by
appropriation; sustained by a history of common residence in America; and deeply
embedded in a network of social structures both internal and external to itself?
(Billingsley, 1992, p. 28). Despite glaring oppression, racism, and invasive cutoffs from
cultural heritage, traditions, and original languages, some African cultural values and
heritage have survived within African American families in America. For example,
values and traditions of spirituality, extended family, strong kinship ties, unity, and
reverence for children and elders have roots in the African past (Hill, 1972, 1997; Nobles,
1974, 1991; Billingsley, 1992; Barnes, 2001). Through resilience, much of this heritage
has evolved into many of the strengths and resources of present African American
families.

Family Strengths and African American Families

A careful review of the literature suggests that the strengths perspective is ?a way
of viewing the positive behaviors of all clients by helping them see that problem areas are
secondary to areas of strength?? (Glicken, 2004, p. 3). Saleebey (1997) suggested that
to practice from a strengths perspective demands a different way of seeing clients, their
environment and their current circumstance. Building on the strengths perspective to
incorporate African American family strengths is a strategy and a technique that
practitioners can use to work more effectively and adaptively with African American
families and other families of color.

Family strengths are often linked to cultural traditions, and the family is the

major context for ethnic or cultural reflections. McDaniel (1994) considers family
strengths to be cultural assets that are transmitted through socialization from generation
to generation and are merely adaptations or coping responses to contemporary racial or
economic oppression. Hill (1992, 1997) provided practitioners and social workers with
an excellent definition of strengths in Black families: Family strengths are those ?traits
that facilitate the ability of the family to meet the needs of its members and the demands
made upon it by systems outside the family units? (Hill, 1997, p. 50).

For African American families, family strengths are necessary for the survival,

maintenance, and advancement of family network, family dynamics, and family
functioning. Recognizing and making use of the family strengths of African American
families has the potential to help practitioners understand and solve many of the problems
that families present. Although there are many family strengths cited in the literature
(e.g., Hill, 1992, 1997; Boyd-Franklin, 2003), I have used the three strengths of

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spirituality, religion, and extended family kinship network because of their historical and
intergenerational association with African American families.

Spirituality and Religion

Spirituality and religion have historically played important roles in the lives of
African Americans (Mendes, 1982; Nobles, 1991; Taylor, Thornton & Chatters, 1987,
and many African Americans have been reared with a strong belief in God or a higher
being (Boyd-Franklin, 1989, 2003). Spirituality and religion are generally understood to
be distinct, but overlapping concepts (Carroll, 1998; Pellebon & Anderson, 1999).
Spirituality is defined as ?experiences and expressions of one?s spirit in a unique and
dynamic process reflecting faith in God or a supreme being; connectedness with oneself,
others, nature, or God; and an integration of the dimensions of mind, body, and spirit?
(Meraviglia, 1999, p. 29). It is this belief in the sacredness and interconnectedness of
mind, body, and spirit?and all life manifested in a quest for goodness?that practitioners
must understand in working with spiritually connected African American families and
other people of color. These spiritual beliefs and practices are usually connected to the
survival system of families.

African Americans tend to express their spirituality through high levels of

religious participation (Chatters, Taylor, & Lincoln, 1999). Religion flows from
spirituality and expresses the internal subjective reality of the two concepts (Hodge &
Williams, 2002). The term religion is defined for this article as the aspects of spirituality
that are in the context of a formalized religious framework such as the church (Dunn &
Dawes, 1999) or other religious institution. Thus, religion is the formal institution that
provides for the expression of spiritual beliefs and practices. An affiliation with a certain
spiritual or religious ideology is viewed as a very important component of the emotional
health of African Americans (Ellison, 1993; Lukoff, Turner, & Lu, 1992).

In the context of African American culture, religious denominations and groups

provide frameworks from which to practice specific beliefs, rituals, and rites (Mbiti,
1991). Common African American rituals include devotional reading, prayer, scripture
study, and singing hymns (Hodge & Williams, 2002). The Black Christian church is the
primary means through which many African Americans express their religious and
spiritual beliefs and values (Richardson & June, 1997), but other sacred institutions are
also prevalent. The church or other sacred institution is at the nucleus of many activities
and is viewed as central to the functioning of the community (Boyd-Franklin, 1989;
Moore, 1991).

Religious institutions in the African American community provide a spiritual

foundation, offer a context for living, and represent a means of coping with adversity and
preserving family patterns (Brashears & Roberts, 1996; Cook, 1993; McAdoo &
Crawford, 1991). Prayer is often used by African Americans as a coping strategy; many
African American women use prayer in response to interpersonal, emotional, and death-
related problems. Religion and spiritual beliefs provide a foundation of inner strength and

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continue to be important and major strengths among African American families (Barnes,
2001; Hodge & Williams, 2002).

Extended Family Kinship Network

One of the most enduring strengths and values of significance concerning
African American families is the extended family and its strong kinship network
(Billingsley, 1992; Hill, 1997). Values reflected in social practices based on the extended
family and kinship network include strong values placed on children; strong, protective
mothers; respect for elders and family unity (Boyd-Franklin, 1989, 2003; Hill, 1972,
1997); reciprocity; and family loyalty. Harvey (1985) emphasized the cultural continuity
of kinship networks. ?Kinship is the mechanism which regulates social relationships
between people and almost all of the concepts pertaining to and connected to human
relationships can be understood and interpreted through the kinship systems? (Harvey,
1985, p. 13).

The African American extended family often extends beyond a family circle and
may include significant persons who are not related by blood or marriage. It provides
emotional, social, and financial support in the form of advising, parenting, childcare,
caretaking, and informal adoptions (Hill, 1972, 1997; Boyd-Franklin, 1989, 2003;
Billingsley, 1992). Within the African American family system, family takes precedence
over the individual (Boyd-Franklin, 1989) and when performing at an optimal level the
extended family and kinship support network assist family members to adapt and survive
throughout the family life cycle (Chavis & Waites, 2004). The extended family kinship
network can be a remarkable adaptive strength that practitioners can utilized to help
families function and change despite obstacles, issues, and problems within the family
systems.

Family Integrated Genograms with African American Families

The Family Integrated Genogram employed with African American families
takes into account family strengths and intergenerational family history, values, beliefs,
patterns, and communication. It builds on three identified strengths and several key
questions adapted from Chavis and Waites (2004). The three areas correspond to the
identified family strengths as follows:

? Spirituality and spiritual beliefs
? Religion and religious beliefs and practices
? Extended family kinship networks.

The FIG discloses family patterns and traditions that are often means that promote family
resiliency and strengths and can be very useful in facilitating the helping process with
clients. These questions (see Table 1) may assist practitioners in gathering relevant
information for the FIG and a better understanding of family strengths utilized during
assessment and intervention with African American clients and their families.

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Interview Questions for African American Families

1. What is the structure of your family?

o Who lives in your household?
o Who do you include in your extended family network?
o What are the roles of adult members?

2. How are elders and children viewed in your family?

o What role do elders play in your family?
o Who are considered the recognized leaders in your family?
o Who are the family members you admire? Please explain.
o How is caregiving to elders handled in your family?
o How are children cared for in your family?

3. How would you describe your family?s and extended family?s sense of unity?

o How would you describe your family?s sense of ?home??
o Where do your family members reside geographically?
o How do you and your family members communicate with each other?
o How are thoughts and feelings expressed?
o What happened during time of crisis?
o How would you describe intergenerational relationships in your family, extended

family?

4. What were significant transitions and/or critical life events in the history of your family,
extended family?

o What events or situations have been stressful for you and your family?
o When these events take place how do you or family member respond?

5. How do you and family members seek help and support?

o Where and to whom do you turn for support?
o What social supports are available to you?

6. What is the meaning of spirituality and religion for each member of your family going
back three or more generations?

o How do different family members express religious and spiritual beliefs?
o How significant and important is prayer in your family and extended family?
o What is the level of involvement in organized religious institutions, i.e. church?
o What role does spirituality or religion play in the everyday lives of family members?

7. What are some of your family strengths and resources?

o What makes you feel proud about your family strengths?
o How have these strengths been passed on to you and others in your family?
o What are your family?s resources?
o What are resources or supports available in your community?
o How do you and your family use these resources?

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The Genogram Approach

The first step in constructing a FIG is to introduce the genogram as a device for
visually exploring family history and family patterns in a manner that is culturally
sensitive (Chavis & Waites, 2004). During a standard genogram interview, the
practitioner collaborates with the family to explore family history, family events, and
significant family experiences. By participating in the drawing of the genogram, the
individual and family can gain insight and understanding of their family history and
patterns. Some of the information concerning demographics, chronologies, vertical, and
horizontal repetitive information may be recorded within the genogram. Drawing the FIG
with the family during the interview facilitates better interpretation and processing of the
information. The interview process for the standard genogram is about 45 minutes, but
adding additional questions to the interview could take longer.

Standard genogram symbols are drawn to indicate family structure, history and

relationships for at least three generations. The index person (client or family) is drawn
first. Parents, grandparents, great grandparents, siblings, spouses, children, and other
family members are drawn next. Information is then gathered and recorded on significant
family life cycle events such as births, deaths, causes of deaths, marriages, separations,
divorces, remarriages, adoptions, abandonment, and cutoffs. The FIG incorporates other
information such as occupations, education, religious affiliations, spiritual beliefs,
extended family networks, family migrations, emotional and medical history, traditions,
family practices and values, and other transitional life events. As illustrated in Table 1,
items 2, 6, and 7 focusing on the importance of the extended family and the meanings of
spirituality and/or religion to that family are contributions from the FIG. This information
is written in proximity to the appropriate family member. A variety of lines are used to
indicate communication patterns and the quality of relationships, such as close, fused, or
distant.

A Case Example

Figure 1 provides an example of utilizing the FIG with an African American
client family. Ella is a 56-year old African American woman. She is married and has
three adult children. She sought counseling because of difficulties in accepting the recent
death of her father. She identified strong spiritual and religious beliefs, close family
bonds, and a sense of responsibility to her family and extended family. An FIG was
chosen as a helpful tool in addressing the client?s therapeutic goals. The practitioner
began the interview and process by explaining the purpose and procedures of creating a
genogram. Ella was shown a sample of a completed genogram and the list of questions
(refer to Table 1). The practitioner and Ella explored information concerning the family
and extended family, the suggested questions, and the three areas of strengths described
previously. Information from the interview was graphically presented and recorded in the
family integrated genogram (see Figure 1).

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Figure 1. Integrated Family Genogram Model

Ella described feelings of sadness, anger, pain, and anxiety as a result of the
death of her father and the fact that her sister is grieving extremely hard because their
father lived with her prior to his death. Ella stated that she is considered ?the strong one?
in the family and feels compelled to be strong for her family and sibling, but feels
overwhelmed, inadequate, and extremely sad concerning her father?s death. Until his
death, Ella?s father played a central role in the family and extended family. He was the
leader and provided family support, unity, and continuity. Until his death, his home was
the center for most family celebrations.

Ella indicated that accepting her father?s death is more difficult than expected
and that her grieving is complicated because other family members rely upon her for
emotional and spiritual support. The practitioner asked Ella to discuss her spirituality and
the role religion played in her life. Ella indicated that she was raised as a Methodist, but
changed to a Baptist after marriage. She is actively involved in her church and attends
Sunday school and Bible study. She has a large and supportive church family. She reads
her Bible, prays individually, and is part of a prayer group that includes her sibling, a
close friend, and a Sunday school member. She views praying as essential?especially
during times of stress and crisis. She believes in the interconnectedness of ?mind, body,
and soul.?

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The social worker reviewed the genogram with Ella. She was able to emphasize
Ella?s strong religious and spiritual belief systems and the network of extended family in
helping Ella and the family cope with her father?s death. Ella was encouraged to share
more of her feelings with her family and to consider how she could utilize her faith and
church to help her cope with this family crisis and change. Ella stated that praying,
scripture reading, and involvement in church activities strengthens her relationship with
God. It also helps to sustain her during difficult times.

By participating in the constructing of the genogram and focusing on the African

American family strengths of spirituality, religion, and extended family kinship networks,
the practitioner and Ella were able to gain insight concerning Ella?s family strengths and
coping resources. These factors may be helpful in providing services to Ella and her
family. Focusing on strengths offers solutions that can be instrumental in helping Ella to
appreciate how she and her family are coping together with their father?s death. The FIG
can bring a shared focus to the discussion and can help the practitioner to understand
Ella?s resources and strengths.

Conclusion

The family genogram has become a widely accepted and valuable tool in family

assessment and treatment. In addition, use of the FIG has important implications for work
with African American families and other families of color. The genogram can allow for
a clearer understanding of the client and the client?s world. Constructing an FIG with
African American families provides opportunities for often overlooked important family
issues and life cycle events to be discussed, noting their impact on family functioning. It
is important for social workers and practitioners to recognize that all ethnic groups,
cultures, and families have strengths and resources that can assist in the assessment and
treatment process. One of the most effective strategies for practice with African
American families is to enhance and build on their strengths, and the Family Integrated
Genogram (FIG) can assist in this process.

Accentuating positive aspects of African American families and utilizing family

strengths have great potential to help solve issues and problems faced by families.
Although weaknesses are not disregarded in this approach, the FIG process can help
families meet the challenges and issues they face from a strengths perspective. As noted
in the literature, families grow and build on strengths. Families can build on aspects
found to be strengths and improve their well-being. A limitation of the FIG and this
approach is that it may not fully explore all the strengths of Black families as noted by
Hill (1972, 1997), Boyd-Franklin (1989, 2003), and others. However, the FIG is a
culturally adaptable tool that can engage clients and help practitioners obtain significant
family information to assist in their assessment and treatment. The Family Integrated
Genogram was designed to focus on family strengths of extended family network,
spirituality and religion. When used adaptively, it can help practitioners and social
workers facilitate more appropriate assessment and treatment services for African
American families.

Genograms

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References

Barnes, S. (2001). Stressors and strengths: A ?

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Building on Strengths: Intergenerational Practice with African American Families
Waites, Cheryl
Social Work; Jul 2009; 54, 3; Social Services Abstracts
pg. 278

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Reproduced with permission