ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an overview of the history and development of social work programs designed for Black students attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) and shows how these programs can serve as effective educational models for graduate level social work programs at Traditionally White Institutions. Social work professionals struggle with meeting the mental, behavioral, and emotional needs of individuals from ethnically and linguistically diverse populations. Racist and discriminatory practices in education during the early 20th century contributed to the lack of trained social workers of color available to serve Black communities. The Council on Social Work Education Office of Social Work Accreditation is responsible for developing the accreditation standards, policies, and procedures for bachelor’s and master’s programs in social work. The primary focus of social work education programs at HBCUs historically and today was to create courses that reflected issues prevalent within the Black community.
