News | June 17, 2021

Engaging Black Fathers in Home Visiting

Two new videos released by the National Home Visiting Resource Center (NHVRC) in time for Father’s Day encourage the home visiting field to acknowledge the varying cultural expressions of Black families and their common challenges. By taking time to understand the structural racism and implicit bias inherent to the Black fatherhood experience, programs can make dads feel more welcome and encourage continued engagement in services.

Both videos in the Engaging Black Fathers in Home Visiting series feature Clinton Boyd, Jr., Ph.D., a fatherhood scholar, former home visiting practitioner, and dad. Dr. Boyd, a postdoctoral associate at the Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity at Duke University, also serves on the advisory committee for the NHVRC, which is funded by the Heising-Simons Foundation and formerly, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The first video focuses on systemic issues impacting Black fathers, including limited employment opportunities, discriminatory criminal justice policies, and frequent misconceptions about paternal involvement. The second video features recommendations for home visiting programs, from delivering father-specific marketing materials via in-person outreach and social media, to creating formal partnerships with community-based organizations suited to meet dads’ complex needs.

Watch the full videos below or on the NHVRC YouTube channel.