Introduction

In the final article in this group, "African American Families and HIV/AIDS: Caring for Surviving Children", Alma J. Carten and Ilene Fennoy present the preliminary findings of a national research project to examine the health, social service, and legal needs of African American children who experience the death of one or both parents as a result of HIV/AIDS. The theme that runs throughout all of the articles is our grave concern about the overrepresentation of African American children and families in the child welfare system and about the limited-if not missing-influence of the African American perspective on policy and practice. As we come together out of love for our people and with a desire to better the conditions of African American children and families who are involved with the American child welfare system, our aim is to build, not destroy to create, not tear down. The chapter also describes unique clinical techniques and treatment models.