MSM Announces Launch of the National African American Child and Family Research Center
The Center, the first of its kind in the United States, will focus on community-engaged
research
to uplift African American children and families.
ATLANTA – October 21, 2021 – The National African American Child and Family Research Center (The Center), the first of its kind in the United States and offered exclusively at Morehouse School of Medicine, is designed to provide national leadership and excellence in community-engaged research to better serve African American children and families.
The Center is made possible through a $1.8 million per year, five-year grant from the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation within the Administration for Children & Families (ACF), a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). ACF promotes the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities with funding, strategic partnerships, guidance, training, and technical assistance.
The National African American Child and Family Research Center will lead and support research on the needs of African American populations served by ACF and promising approaches to promote social and economic well-being among low-income African American populations. This work will further the mission of the Morehouse School of Medicine and lead in the creation and advancement of equity for African American children and families. The Center’s work will broadly focus on child development programs such as Early Head Start and Head Start, childcare assistance, social and economic mobility, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and healthy relationships, including fatherhood and supportive family relationships.
The National African American Child and Family Research Center will also support and advance the research community by providing tools and resources, supporting emerging scholars, and disseminating relevant research to help programs and policies better serve African American children and families. Priority will be given to identifying and assessing definitions and measurements of the needs, assets, and experiences of African American children and families in national datasets; barriers and facilitators that impact human services provision and utilization; strategies to promote social and economic well-being; and promising approaches for service provision.
“I’m thrilled about the launch of the National African American Child and Family Research Center, and I look forward to the innovative and necessary work that the Center will do to address the needs and strengths of African American children and families and to advance best practices in community-engaged research,” said Latrice Rollins, PhD, Director of the National African American Child & Family Research Center, Assistant Professor, Morehouse School of Medicine. “It is important that African American children and their families not only survive but thrive. I’m grateful for this support from the ACF and HHS.”
About Morehouse School of Medicine
Founded in 1975, Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) is among the nation’s leading educators of primary care physicians, biomedical scientists, and public health professionals. An independent and private historically-Black medical school, MSM was recognized by the Annals of Internal Medicine as the nation’s number one medical school in fulfilling a social mission—the creation and advancement of health equity. MSM faculty and alumni are noted for excellence in teaching, research, and public policy, as well as exceptional patient care. MSM is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award doctoral and master’s degrees. To learn more about programs and donate today, please visit www.msm.edu or call 404-752-1500.
Contact
Nicole V. Linton
(404)756-5238
nlinton@msm.edu