Black Fathers & Teens: Conversations About Mental Health & Racism

Black Fathers’ Crucial Role in Teen Mental Health

The voices, experiences, and strengths of Black fathers are too often overlooked and underrepresented, even though they play a critical role in the lives of their children and adolescents. Black fathers aren’t missing, but they are missing from the research. 

A partnership between Daddy University Inc. and the Center for Parent and Teen Communication, supported by PolicyLab at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, is looking to change that. Researchers and community leaders are working together to tackle a longstanding gap between Black fathers and research programs. Through focus groups, advisory board meetings, and surveys, experts gathered feedback from fathers and father figures raising teens today.

Their insights into the importance of having open conversations on topics such as mental health, emotional well–being, and racism fueled the creation of this toolkit. The resources outlined highlight the impact of Black fathers in their teens’ lives, give tips for starting important conversations, and share strategies for coping with experiences of racism and discrimination.  

Resources for Black Fathers

Role Modeling

• Understanding the Strengths of Black Fathers
• How Your Stress May Affect Your Teen – And What You Can Do About It 
• The Importance Mentors for Teens  
• Important Ways Parents Matter to Teens  
• How Parents’ Calm Impacts Teen Behavior 
• Be a Model for Navigating Uncertainty  
• Expressing Emotion is Good for Your Family  
• Which Role Models Will Benefit Your Teens Most?  
• VIDEO: Modeling Positive Behaviors & Open Communication with Teens

Strategies for Talking About Racism & Discrimination

• How to Have Honest Conversations with Teens about Racial Injustices 
• Talking About Race and Mental Health Within Black Families 
• How to Have Conversations About Race at Home  
• Three Ways Parents Can Protect Their Children from Racism 
• Tips for Having Difficult Conversations About Race With Your Teen 
• Talking About Race With Teens 

Building Teens’ Cultural Strengths

• Talking About Race and Mental Health Within Black Families  
• Combat Racism Using Cultural Strengths 
• How to Support Teens’ Racial and Ethnic Identity Development 
• The Importance of Building Teens’ Racial and Ethnic Identities 
• Promoting Racial and Cultural Pride in Teens 
• How to Build and Maintain Connections Between BIPOC Youth and Their Communities 

Promoting Independence & Self-Advocacy

• How To Develop Self-Advocacy Skills in Teens
• Racism in the Classroom: What You Can Do About it 
• Be Your Own Advocate  
• Help Teens Gain Control  
• VIDEO: Encouraging Self-Advocacy in Teens

Mental Health

• Benefit From Cultural Strengths of BIPOC Families 
• Preparing Teens to Seek Professional Help  
• Getting Teens Professional Help  
• Five Coping Skills Teens Need to Know  
• Teaching Teens Coping Skills 
• Parent Self-Care Isn’t Selfish  
• Help Teens Release Emotions. It’s Key to Managing Stress.  
• 3 Signs to Help Recognize Depression in Teens  
• VIDEO: Why Dads Must Take Care of Their Mental Health
• VIDEO: Being a Consistent Presence, Even When You Can’t Give 100%

To see more insights from the fathers we spoke to, check out our full YouTube playlist.