Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Promoting a Social Justice Approach to Prevention: Future Directions for Training, Practice, and Research

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
The Journal of Primary Prevention Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The final paper of this special issue devoted to prevention and social justice calls for prevention practitioners and researchers to redirect their energy and resources to creating genuine social change. To begin, the contribution of the American Psychological Association ethical code to social justice-oriented prevention work is explored, and significant ethical issues that need to be further addressed by the current code are briefly outlined. Second, we discuss the implications of a social justice approach to prevention for training, practice and research. Finally, we invite readers to take the lead in putting a social justice prevention approach into practice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, G., Fryberg, S. A., Garcia, D. M., & Delgado-Torres, E. (2006). The psychology of engagement with indigenous identities: A cultural perspective. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 12, 493–508. doi:10.1037/1099-9809.12.3.493.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, L. (1971). The king’s fountain. New York: E.P. Dutton.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 57, 1060–1073. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.57.12.1060.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bogenschneider, K. (1996). Family related prevention programs: An ecological risk/protective theory for building prevention programs, policies, and community capacity to support youth. Family Relations, 45, 127–138. doi:10.2307/585283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buhin, L., & Vera, E. M. (this issue). Preventing racism and promoting social justice: Person-centered and environment-centered interventions. J Primary Prevent. doi:10.1007/s10935-008-0161-9.

  • Castro, F. G., Barrera, M., Jr., & Martinez, C. R., Jr. (2004). The cultural adaptation of prevention interventions: Resolving tensions between fidelity and fit. Prevention Science, 5, 41–45. doi:10.1023/B:PREV.0000013980.12412.cd.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chong, K. H. (1998). What it means to be Christian: The role of religion in the construction of ethnic identity and boundary among second-generation Korean Americans. Sociology of Religion, 59, 259–286. doi:10.2307/3711911.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Conyne, R. K., Newmeyer, M. D., Kenny, M. E., Romano, J. L., & Matthews, C. R. (2008). Two key strategies for teaching prevention: Specialized course and infusion. The Journal of Primary Prevention, 29, 375–401. doi:10.1007/s10935-008-0146-8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Danish, S. J. (1990). Ethical considerations in the design, implementation, and evaluation of developmental interventions. In C. B. Fisher & W. W. Tryon (Eds.), Ethics in applied developmental psychology: Emerging issues in an emerging field. Annual advances in applied developmental psychology (Vol. 4, pp. 93–112). Westport, CT: Greenwood.

    Google Scholar 

  • Durlak, J. (2003). Effective prevention and health promotion programming. In T. P. Gullotta & M. Bloom (Eds.), Encyclopedia of primary prevention and health promotion (pp. 61–69). New York: Kluwer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feminist Therapy Institute. (1999). Feminist therapy code of ethics. Retrieved December 20, 2006, from http://www.feministtherapyinstitute.org/ethics.htm.

  • Freire, P. (1979). Pedagogy of the oppressed. New York: Continuum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Freire, P. (1998). Teachers as cultural workers: Letters to those who dare teach (D. Macedo, D. Koike, & A. Oliveira, Trans.). Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

  • Goodman, L., Liang, B., Helms, J., Latta, R., Sparks, E., & Weintraub, S. R. (2004). Training counseling psychologists as social justice agents: Feminist and multicultural principles in action. The Counseling Psychologist, 32, 793–836.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Granger, R. C. (2005). Commentary. Social Policy Report, 19, 8–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hage, S., Romano, J., Conyne, R., Kenny, M. E., Matthews, C., Schwartz, J. P., et al. (2007). Best practice guidelines on prevention practice, research, training, and social advocacy for psychologists. The Counseling Psychologist, 35, 493–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heller, K. (1989). Ethical dilemmas in community intervention. American Journal of Community Psychology, 17, 367–378.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Helms, J. E. (2003). A pragmatic view of social justice. The Counseling Psychologist, 31, 305–313.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hooks, B. (1994). Teaching to transgress: Education as the practice of freedom. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huston, A. C. (2005). Connecting the science of child development to public policy. Social Policy Report, 19, 3–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenny, M. E., & Romano, J. (2009). Promoting positive development and social justice through prevention: A legacy for the future. In M. E. Kenny, A. M. Horne, P. Orpinas, & L. E. Reese (Eds.), Realizing social justice: The challenge of preventive interventions (pp. 17–35). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenny, M. E., Waldo, M., Warter, E., & Barton, C. (2002). School-linked prevention: Theory, science, and practice for enhancing the lives of children and youth. The Counseling Psychologist, 30, 726–748.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirylo, J. D. (2006). Preferential option for the poor: Making a pedagogical choice. Childhood Education, 82, 266–270.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kivnick, H. Q., & Lymburner, A. M. (this issue). CitySongs: Primary prevention in the field. J Primary Prevent. doi:10.1007/s10935-008-0164-6.

  • Kumpfer, K. L., & Alvarado, R. (2003). Family-strengthening approaches for the prevention of youth problem behaviors. American Psychologist, 58, 457–465.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, C. C. (1997). The global future of professional counseling: Collaboration for international change. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 21, 279–285.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, J. (2006). Tracking achievement gaps and assessing the impact of NCLB on the gaps: An in-depth look into national and state reading and math outcome trends. Cambridge, MA: The Civil Rights Project at Harvard University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lerner, R. M. (1995). America’s youth in crisis: Challenges and choices for programs and policies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martín-Baró, I. (1994). In A. Aron & S. Corne (Eds.), Writings for a liberation psychology. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthews, C. R., & Adams, E. M. (this issue). Using a social justice approach to prevent the mental health consequences of heterosexism. J Primary Prevent. doi:10.1007/s10935-008-0166-4.

  • McNeill, B. W., & Ingram, J. C. (1983). Prevention and counseling psychology: A survey of training practices. The Counseling Psychologist, 11, 95–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Middleton, R. A., Rollins, C. W., & Harley, D. A. (1999). The historical and political context of the civil rights of persons with disabilities: A multicultural perspective for counselors. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 27, 105–120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mio, J. S. (2005). Academic mental health training settings and the multicultural guidelines. In M. G. Constantine & D. W. Sue (Eds.), Strategies for building multicultural competence in mental health and educational setting (pp. 129–144). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, D., & Sawka-Miller, K. (in press). A school-based preferential option for the poor: Child poverty, social justice, and a public health approach to intervention. In F. Columbus (Ed.), Low incomes: Social, health and educational impacts. New York: Nova.

  • Morrow, S. L., Rakhsha, G., & Castaneda, C. L. (2001). Qualitative research methods for multicultural counseling. In J. G. Ponterotto (Ed.), Handbook of multicultural counseling (2nd ed., pp. 575–599). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nation, M., Crusto, C., Wandersman, A., Kumpfer, K., Seybolt, D., Morrissey-Kane, E., et al. (2003). What works in prevention: Principles and effective prevention programs. American Psychologist, 58, 449–456.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, G., & Prilleltensky, I. (2005). Community psychology: In pursuit of liberation and well-being. New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • O’Neil, J., & Britner, P. (2009). Training primary preventionists to make a difference in people’s lives. In M. E. Kenny, L. E. Reese, A. Horne, & P. Orpinas (Eds.), Realizing social justice: The challenge of preventive interventions (pp. 141–160). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponterotto, J. (2005). Qualitative research in counseling psychology: A primer on research paradigms and philosophy of science. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 126–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prilleltensky, I. (1997). Values, assumptions, and practices: Assessing the moral implications of psychological discourse and action. American Psychologist, 52, 517–535.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Prilleltensky, I. (2006, February). Empowerment and social justice: Research, values, and action. Presentation at the 23rd Annual Winter Roundtable on Cultural Psychology and Education, New York, NY.

  • Prilleltensky, I., & Nelson, G. (1997). Community psychology: Reclaiming social justice. In D. Fox & I. Prilleltensky (Eds.), Critical psychology: An introduction (pp. 166–184). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prilleltensky, I., & Prilleltensky, O. (2003). Synergies for wellness and liberation in counseling psychology. The Counseling Psychologist, 31, 273–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rabow, J., Stein, J. M., & Conley, T. D. (1999). Teaching social justice and encountering society: The pink triangle experiment. Youth and Society, 30, 483–514.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reese, L. E., Wingfield, J. H., & Blumenthal, D. (2009). Advancing prevention, health promotion, and social justice through practical integration of prevention science and practice. In M. E. Kenny, L. E. Reese, A. Horne, & P. Orpinas (Eds.), Realizing social justice: The challenge of preventive interventions (pp. 37–55). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reiss, D., & Price, R. H. (1996). National research agenda for prevention research: The National Institute of Mental Health Report. American Psychologist, 51, 1109–1115.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Romano, J., & Hage, S. (2000). Prevention: A call to action. The Counseling Psychologist, 28, 854–856.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rotheram-Borus, M. J., & Duan, N. (2003). Next generation of preventive interventions. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 42, 518–530.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sanson-Fisher, R., & Turnbull, D. (1987). ‘To do or not to do?’: Ethical problems for behavioral medicine. In S. Fairbairn & G. Fairbairn (Eds.), Psychology, ethics and change (pp. 191–211). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Serrano-Garcia, I. (1994). The ethics of the powerful and the power of ethics. American Journal of Community Psychology, 22, 1–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shipler, D. (2004). The working poor: Invisible in America. New York: Knopf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tatum, B. D. (1994). Teaching White students about racism: The search for White allies and the restoration of hope. Teachers College Record, 95, 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, C. E., Murry, S. L., Harris, D., & Annan, J. R. (2003). Healing inside and out: Promoting social justice and peace in a racially divided U.S. community. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 25, 215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toporek, R. L., Gerstein, L., Fouad, N., Roysircar, G., & Israel, T. (Eds.). (2006). Handbook for social justice in counseling psychology: Leadership, vision, and action. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

  • Toporek, R. L., & Williams, R. A. (2006). Ethics and professional issues related to the practice of social justice in counseling psychology. In R. L. Toporek, L. Gerstein, N. Fouad, G. Roysircar, & T. Israel (Eds.), Handbook for social justice in counseling psychology: Leadership, vision, and action (pp. 17–34). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Trickett, E. J. (1998). Toward a framework for defining and resolving ethical issues in the protection of communities involved in primary prevention projects. Ethics & Behavior, 8, 321–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Trickett, E. J., & Levin, G. B. (1990). Paradigms for prevention: Providing a context for confronting ethical issues. Prevention in Human Services, 8, 3–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Varenne, H. (2003). On internationalizing counseling psychology: A view from cultural anthropology. The Counseling Psychologist, 31, 404–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vera, E. M., & Reese, L. E. (2000). Preventive interventions with school-age youth. In S. D. Brown & R. W. Lent (Eds.), Handbook of counseling psychology (pp. 411–434). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, M. E., Brabeck, M. M., & Howard, K. A. (1999). Interprofessional collaboration in children’s services: Toward a theoretical framework. Children’s services: Social policy, research, and practice, 2, 183–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watts, R. J. (1994). Paradigms of diversity. In E. J. Trickett, R. J. Watts, & D. Birman (Eds.), Human diversity: Perspectives on people in context (pp. 49–80). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weissberg, R. P., Kumpfer, K. L., & Seligman, M. E. P. (2003). Prevention that works for children and youth: An introduction. American Psychologist, 58, 425–432.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weisz, J. R., Sandler, I. N., Durlak, J. A., & Anton, B. S. (2005). Promoting and protecting youth mental health through evidence-based prevention and treatment. American Psychologist, 60, 628–648.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Whitehouse, E. M. (2006). Poverty. In G. C. Bear & K. M. Minke (Eds.), Children’s needs III: Development, prevention, and intervention (pp. 835–845). Bethesda, MD: National Association of School Psychologists.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yates, T. M., & Masten, A. S. (2004). Fostering the future: Resilience theory and the practice of positive psychology. In P. A. Linley & S. Joseph (Eds.), Positive psychology in practice (pp. 521–539). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yeh, C. J., Inman, A. C., Kim, A. B., & Okubo, Y. (2006). Asian American families’ collectivistic coping strategies in response to 9/11. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 12, 134–148.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sally M. Hage.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hage, S.M., Kenny, M.E. Promoting a Social Justice Approach to Prevention: Future Directions for Training, Practice, and Research. J Primary Prevent 30, 75–87 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-008-0165-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10935-008-0165-5

Keywords

Navigation