The recent proliferation of self-help groups for adult children of alcoholics reveals no significant participation of Black women. Recognizing that alcoholism is a major cause of social problems in the Black community, and that many Black children have been affected by parental alcoholism, a race-and gender-specific group known as Black Women of Alcoholic Parents (B-WAP) was organized. The group was then studied to ascertain its usefulness as a self-help group. The relevance of such a race-and gender-specific group for the Black women is demonstrated. A description is given of the method used to organize the group, the quality of participation and the benefits derived from group membership, as well as an identification of areas that worked against the continued involvement of certain members. Recommendations for replicating a B-WAP group, given by the members, are discussed. Until 1979, when a self-help group was organized specifically for Black Women of alcoholic parents, no other similar race-gender group was known to exist. In a survey of 276' Black alcoholism professionals throughout the United States, we found no evidence of significant involvement by Black women in Children of Alcoholics (COA) groups, o r of any group of Black women organized specifically to deal with parental alcoholism and its consequences in their adult lives. These findings were also confirmed by informal inquiries of other professionals at children and family alcoholismspecific meetings and conferences, in addition to inquiries of members of COA groups, Al-anon, Alateen, and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).'With a 32% return ratc.
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