Patricia Moody Jefferson is a licensed clinical social worker in MD, VA, and GA and is a board-approved clinical social work supervisor with over 20 years of professional experience. She received her Master of Social Work (MSW) degree in 1997 from Delaware State University Department of Social Work. Currently, she serves as a Senior Clinical Social Worker in the General Mental Health Department at the Atlanta VA Health Systems. She is a member of the National Association of Black Social Workers. Additionally, she is a doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky College of Social Work and is set to graduate in May 2025. Her Capstone Project is titled “Healing through the lens of Africana womanism: A culturally sensitive approach to intimate partner violence among African American women.” Her research interests focus on culturally sensitive interventions, intimate partner violence among African American men and women, and the social determinants of health affecting African American women. Furthermore, her manuscript, titled “Help-Seeking through the lens of cultural wealth: An anti-oppressive and anti-racist approach to violence among African American women,” has been accepted for publication in an HBSE Social Work textbook. Further, she co-authored an article with her UK Professor, Dr. Priscila Llamosa, titled “Intimate partner violence as a social determinant of health: A review of the literature on help-seeking among African American women” submitted for publication consideration in January 2025 to scholarly social work journal. She enjoys traveling with her family, reading, and watching documentaries in her free time.
DSW Showcase Student Presentation
Patricia Jefferson
MSW, LCSW-C, LCSW
Healing through the lens of Africana womanism: An approach to intimate partner violence among African American women
Concentration - Clinical Social Work
- Wednesday, April 30, 2025 -
- 9:00 am
Abstract
African American women who experience intimate partner violence face an increased risk of sustaining severe injuries or even fatalities. Mainstream service providers have not been culturally responsive in addressing intimate partner violence among African American women and communities in a way that values their dignity and worth in the context of their lived experiences. Mainstream providers’ responses to intimate partner violence among African American women create barriers to help-seeking for safety and resources. The statistics reveal the importance of developing an innovative and culturally sensitive approach to supporting healthy male-female relationships among African Americans. A culturally sensitive intimate partner violence intervention can facilitate help-seeking among African American women. An innovative approach to intimate partner violence can promote healing and reorients African American individuals, families, and communities to build healthy relationships. This project seeks to explain how Africana womanism can promote healing when used as an approach to addressing intimate partner violence within the African American community.