About this session

Thursday, 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Let's Explore Applied Research Agendas in Support of Black Families with Children

During this roundtable discussion you will be introduced to scholars from multiple disciplines, settings, and institutions who are leading applied research agendas focused on Black families with children. This roundtable discussion will provide an overview of each scholars work, helping attendees to become more knowledgeable about research being conducted across the country that is and has the potential to support the wellbeing of Black families and children. This roundtable will also include conversation about how best to conceptualize and measure Black family wellbeing and outcomes from a historical, equitable, culturally relevant, and asset-based framework, as well as ways to collaborate across the agendas.

Panelist 1: Dr. Iheoma Iruka will touch on the process of creating the Black Child National Agenda, a collaborative effort between the Equity Research Action Coalition, POINTS of ACCESS, LLC, and the National Black Child Development Institute. The ambitious agenda has been designed to challenge negative and stereotypical narratives about Black children, families, and communities as well as the policies and systems that undermine basic human rights and community wellness. This agenda calls for actions to dismantle structural racism and systemic inequities that get in the way of Black children’s success in school and life. A set of ten policies identified as the first step toward ensuring the protection of Black children and their families from racism, discrimination, and inhumane material hardships will be shared, as well as attention to ways to preserve Black children and their families’ cultural identity and heritage.

Panelist 2: Dr. Alycia Hardy will review an outcomes framework for children created by the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI). NBCDI's Eight Essential Outcomes cover children's development from birth through age 8 and are designed to set the foundation for Black children's health, safety, and overall well-being. Dr. Hardy will also touch on the ways that NBCDI uses research, policy, and advocacy to mobilize and create movement building with partners around the nation.

Panelist 3: Dr. Latrice Rollins will highlight the work of the National African American Child and Family Research Center (the Center), a federally-funded entity designed to provide national leadership and excellence in community-engaged research to better serve African American children & families. The Center’s research agenda was developed and will be implemented in direct response to priorities identified through a community-based participatory research (CBPR)-driven needs and assets assessment. The assessment coupled secondary data and primary data collected through surveys and listening sessions with African American caregivers and community partners in nine states. The Center’s research agenda summarizes the common priorities or themes that caregivers’ shared as areas where programs could improve to better serve them. The agenda shows the existing knowledge about each of these priority areas, key gaps in each area, and the development of research questions to inform potential programs, policies, or research. This agenda is a multi year plan for the Center and can inform or complement other research agendas focused on African American children and families.

Panelist 4: Dr. Chrishana M. Lloyd will share highlights and plans for a new privately funded multi-year research agenda. The research agenda builds on an already existing applied resaerch agenda focused on Black families with children that was developed at Child Trends. This new multi-year work is designed to highlight the heterogeniety and intersectionality of Black families via a nationally representative survey and other research activities designed that will capture what is working well for Black families with children. Characteristics often ignored (or given limited attention) in research focused on Black families and children will be explored such as the range of Black family types and structures, economic classes, geographies, sexual orientation, immigration status, primary language use, and others will be explored. Attention to institutions and systems, racism and Anti-Black sentiment, and narrative change undergird the agenda, alongside a robust dissemination and community mobilization and catalyzation strategy.

Moderator: Dr. LesLeigh D. Ford will facilitate the roundtable discussion. Drawing on her research agenda focused on Black middle class families, Dr. Ford will to guide the discussion in a way that identifies connections across the varied bodies of work and that facilitates understanding of the range of characteristics and experiences of Black families in the U.S, Discussion will also include how to measure and account for heterogeneity in Black families as well as the ways in which policy and programming neglect to account for their uniqueness.

Institutions, policies, and programs have a significant influence on families with children in the U.S. For Black families in particular, these influences have been challenging. Black parents and children are often viewed as a homogeneous group which has resulted in pathologizing, negative stereotypes, and overgeneralizations that are limiting and dangerous. These actions also fail to hold institutions accountable for issues such as systemic racism, discrimination, marginalization, and anti-Blackness that negatively affects the day-to-day existence and wellbeing of Black parents and children. Developing and implementing research agendas focused specifically on Black families can identify systemic barriers and challenges, highlight family strengths, and advance the progress and wellbeing of Black families and the wide variety of systems with whom they interface. During this roundtable discussion attendees will hear from a variety of scholars who are conducting research in support of Black families and children. This roundtable will help attendees become more knowledgeable about the various research agendas and will include discussion about how best to measure Black family and child wellbeing and outcomes from an asset-based framework. Ways to collaborate and mobilize to inform research, policy, programs, and change efforts will also be discussed. Institutions, policies, and programs have a significant influence on families with children in the U.S. For Black families in particular, these influences have been challenging. Black parents and children are often viewed as a homogeneous group which has resulted in pathologizing, negative stereotypes, and overgeneralizations that are limiting and dangerous. These actions also fail to hold institutions accountable for issues such as systemic racism, discrimination, marginalization, and anti-Blackness that negatively affects the day-to-day existence and wellbeing of Black parents and children. Developing and implementing research agendas focused specifically on Black families can identify systemic barriers and challenges, highlight family strengths, and advance the progress and wellbeing of Black families and the wide variety of systems with whom they interface. During this roundtable discussion attendees will hear from a variety of scholars who are conducting research in support of Black families and children. This roundtable will help attendees become more knowledgeable about the various research agendas and will include discussion about how best to measure Black family and child wellbeing and outcomes from an asset-based framework. Ways to collaborate and mobilize to inform research, policy, programs, and change efforts will also be discussed.

Session moderator
Dr. Lesleigh Ford, Urban Institute, United States

Panelists
Dr. Iheoma U. Iruka, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , United States
Dr. Latrice Rollins, Morehouse School of Medicine , United States
Alycia Hardy, National Black Child Development Institute , United States

⇦ Back to schedule