Introduction
Black and Hispanic or Latino individuals and families make up a large proportion of clients in Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood (HMRF) programming (Avellar et al., 2021). Thus, it is important for organizations and providers to understand how to deliver services in ways that are culturally relevant and responsive when the goal is to improve outcomes for individuals, families, couples, and youth of color. Promoting racial equity can be difficult for organizations and providers because it involves being intentional about engaging in a continual practice of changing policies, practices, systems, and structures by prioritizing measurable change in the lives of people of color (Race Forward, 2023). Therefore, it is important to give organizations guidance on the beginning steps in incorporating racial equity.
Avellar, Sarah, Shiferaw, Leah, Ross, Christine, and Lee, Joanne. (2021). Supporting Fatherhood: Final Report on the 2015 Cohort of Responsible Fatherhood Grantees. OPRE Report 2021-156. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Office of Family Assistance. Healthy Marriage & Responsible Fatherhood, The Administration for Children and Families, December 17, 2020. https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/programs/healthy-marriage-responsible-fatherhood.
Race Forward. What Is Racial Equity? March 10, 2023. https://www.raceforward.org/about/what-is-racial-equity-key-concepts.
Purpose
HMRF programs are designed to help interested adults and youth build stronger relationships, marriages, father-child engagement, and families (ACF, 2020). Addressing racial equity can help reduce barriers that individuals, families, couples, and youth of color face when trying to reach these goals.
This brief describes four strategies fatherhood programs can consider to promote racial equity. These strategies are based on the experiences of five child welfare agencies committed to cultivating racial equity for men of color in the child welfare system, as part of the Fathers and Continuous Learning in Child Welfare (FCL) project.
Key Findings and Highlights
Based on the experiences of five child welfare agencies in the FCL project, there are four highlighted strategies to promote racial equity that may be transferable to fatherhood programs.
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Increase leadership buy-in and intentional focus on racial equity. Leadership that is intentional around racial equity sets a tone and expectation that racial equity is a priority within organizations.
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Implement intentional training for promoting racial equity. Intentional training specifically for promoting racial equity helps staff maintain constant awareness of biases toward fathers of color.
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Create intentional spaces for vulnerable conversation around racial equity. These spaces are important in helping to prioritize conversations around racial equity.
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Invest in consultants to promote racial equity: Attempting to raise awareness on racial equity using internal staff can be difficult considering competing priorities, lack of time, and the level of commitment needed to produce change. Thus, bringing in outside consultants or coaches can be helpful.
Methods
The brief draws on data from the FCL pilot study and interviews with team members in participating child welfare agencies. The interviews were conducted during the project’s evaluation phase.
Citation
Hollie, B., Bess, R., Campbell, S., Cavallo, S., Bellamy, J., and Stagner, M. (2023). Strategies for Promoting Racial Equity in Fatherhood Programming, OPRE Report #2023-206. Washington, DC: Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Glossary
- FCL:
- Fathers and Continuous Learning in Child Welfare