Culturally specific programs for foster care youth - The sample case of an African American rites of passage program

In tandem with increased recognition that many social interventions have been limited by their failure to deal with issues related to ethnicity program developers are increasingly utilizing culturally specific programming In the design and implementation of programs for youth and families. We describe a culturally specific rites of passage program designed for African American youth in foster care as an adjunct to an independent living program. In addition, we present some preliminary evaluative data of this Africentric rites-based initiative.