“Black Boys: Invisible to Visible”: A Psychoeducational Group Fostering Self-Efficacy, Empowerment, and Sense of Belonging for African American Boys

ABSTRACT

Far too often African American boys are negatively portrayed in the media and are labeled as at-risk and violent. These labels impact perceptions within public schools. They also decrease self-efficacy, lower academic motivation, and lessen attachment to the school and community. We conceptualized a psychoeducational group for African American adolescent boys, Black Boys: Invisible to Visible (BBI2V), aimed at improving these areas. BBI2V presents a group counseling curriculum focused on three themes: making positive choices, speaking one's truth, and developing personal worth. A case illustration is provided to examine how a student may benefit from the BBI2V experience. Implications for practitioners are provided. 

KEYWORDS:

• African American boys
• self-efficacy
• sense of belonging
• psychoeducational group

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Clewiston D. Challenger

Clewiston D. Challenger is an Assistant Professor for the Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology at University of Connecticut in the Neag School of Education. Dr. Challenger is a former school counselor in New York City and Hartford CT who now teaches courses for the school counseling program at UConn in the Educational Psychology Department. Dr. Challenger's research interest focuses on college transition and adjustment, sense of belonging, self-efficacy, institutional attachment, and academic buoyancy and how these factors impact academic motivation and achievement in students of color, particularly boys and college-age males. Dr. Challenger is a former counselor who the in New York City Charter Schools system and Hartford CT. 

Kevin Duquette

Kevin Duquette is an Assistant Professor of Counselor Education at Bridgewater State University. Dr. Duquette is a former school counselor in Durham and Chapel Hill, NC public schools. His professional work has focused on school counseling program implementation in schools, and school-wide programming. 

Domonique Pascascio

Domonique Pascascio is a Social Worker at East Hartford High School in East Hartford, CT where she works with students and families assisting with their social, emotional, and academic needs along with preparations for college and career readiness.