Mission and Goals of AAFSS

AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILIES STRENGTHS AND STRATEGIES LAB MISSION:

The mission of the AAFSS Lab is to aid in the prevention and treatment of child mental health problems and the promotion of emotional and behavioral health –with particular emphasis on Black/African American children, adolescents and their families.

Research Goals:

1.  Remain at the forefront of research in prevention and comprehensive treatments for/with African American youth.

2. Foster awareness about the roles of race and ethnicity in understanding the impact of these factors on development in the conducting of research.

3.Examine factors that contribute to the complexities of psychological processes and are of vital importance to the understanding of culturally diverse populations.

4. Integrate existing and new knowledge on culture, ethnicity and race with intervention efforts aimed at preventing and treating child mental health problems and fostering competence and well-being.  As evidenced-based interventions are applied to children within diverse families, schools and communities, the understanding of culture and how specific culture-related factors influence implementation, acceptance and outcome become paramount.