Re: Cases related to African American hair practices

["Walter Fahr" <wfahr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

After consultation with our President of the Louisiana Chapter of the
American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Keith Perrin, he recommended that
you might want to go into a search engine and type "Traction Alopecia".
He stated that this is the disorder that results from the type of
hairstyling practices that you described.

When I went into Google with that search, it produced numerous
citations. 

 

Walter G. Fahr, LCSW
Program Manager-Child Protective Services
Office of Community Services
State of Louisiana
      (225)342-6832
fax (225)342-9087
wfahr@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

>>> mlewis@xxxxxxxxxx 08/03/04 08:40AM >>>

I am writing an article in collaboration with Judge Earnestine Gray
about the 
risks to infants and young children from various hair styling practices
by 
African American caregivers. We are examining the medical,
psychologocal and 
legal perspectives of risks from child endangering hair styles that
includes 
burns from chemical permanents, scalding and hair loss from corn row
hair 
styles. Our goal is to educate the child welfare community of
professionals and 
provide some culturally grounded guidelines for children's safety as
well as 
assessment and intervention specifically related to these practices.

We have searched the literature using a number of data bases and have
not found 
any specific cases related to child abuse and neglect that focuses
attention on 
the hair styling practices. We have found some medical articles but
none in the 
social sciences or legal data bases. 1) Is anyone aware of any
articles, books, 
etc. that might be relevant? 2) Is anyone aware of any cases that
included 
concerns about hair styleing practices?

Thank you for your help!

Marva L. Lewis, Ph.D.
Tulane University
mlewis@xxxxxxxxxx 
504.862.3478