CURRENT PROJECTS
DEVELOPMENT TRAJECTORY AND CHALLENGES FACED BY BLACK BOYS (DTCBB)
African American boys interact with their neighborhoods much earlier and with greater frequency than their female counterparts, and African Ameican youth are more likely than any other to inhabit neighborhoods that are marked by significant challenges. While many African American boys in these conditions continue to thrive many others face trajectories characterised by poor mental and physical health. We explore the contributions of parenting practices, family structure and support, peer relations, neighborhoods and individual factors to the lived lives of Black American boys and men.
CLINICIAN-FATHER INTERACTIONS (CFI)
Fathers are spending more time with their children, are showing greater levels of engagement and responsibility, and represent an increased source of support and nurturing for children. However, the training that clinicians received often leaves them generally underprepared for interacting with fathers, and specific subgroups of this population (e.g. nonresident fathers, ethnic nonresident fathers). Fathers remain a critical but under-involved family resource in child/family therapy. This project highlights the experiences reported by mental health service providers (Social Workers, Clinical Psychologists, and Psychiatrists) in their preparation to engage families and fathers.
FATHER INVOLVEMENT IN MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES (FICMHS)
Fathers face numerous challenges in their attempts to be involved in the provision of mental health services for their children and families. This, even while fathers are expressing interest in being actively involved in the healthcare decisions regarding their children. Often fathers are never included in any meaningful way, with non-resident fathers being generally perceived in a negative light. But the challenges to father involvement in therapy are multifaceted including father and clinician dimensions among other. The FICMHS project is investigating factors that influence father’s decisions to engage services with their children and family.