Caregiver, Youth, and Community Partner Perspectives on the Impact of COVID-19 on African American families

• Published in: Children and youth services review Vol. 162; p. 107707
• Main Authors: Sullivan, Terri N., Walsh, Colleen S., Leslie, Carine E., Ross, Katherine M., Radabaugh, Skylar A., Winter, Marcia A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2024
• Subjects: African American families; Community; COVID-19; Qualitative methods; Systemic inequities; COVID-19; Qualitative methods; African American families; Systemic inequities; Community
• ISSN: 0190-7409; 1873-7765
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2024.107707

•COVID-19 highlighted historical and ongoing racial inequities experienced by African Americans.•Qualitative findings can inform families’ needs in another extreme event.•Findings underscore the need to proactively address sociodemographic risk factors.
The current study identified qualitative themes describing the impact of COVID-19 on African American families living in urban, low-income areas. A total of 22 caregivers, 15 adolescents, and 37 community partners, including service providers and organizational leaders participated in qualitative interviews. Study findings identified five qualitative themes that included: (a) the worsening of existing inequities, (b) altering the framework for public education delivery, (c) changes in the dynamics of family relationships, (d) challenges in healthcare, emotional impact, and well-being, and (e) positive changes such as learning and coping. Our findings provided a context-specific examination of COVID-19′s impact, identifying some novel qualitative aspects using multiple perspectives that have implications for policy and practice.