Overview
So much of our collective developmental sciences work and advocacy is devoted to understanding, preventing and mitigating forces that threaten the wellbeing and adaptation of children and those who care for them –it is deeply painful and unsettling to worry about the unremitting adversity faced by so many and what it means for the sense of safety, security and engagement so foundational to lifelong health and wellbeing.
Using our science base and our voices to advocate for those who are struggling and to combat these injustices is inherent to our mission and to our core humanity. As such, this page is an ongoing resource for both researchers and parents navigating racism in scientific, personal, and public spheres.
Resources for Researchers
- Dr. Nia Heard-Garris addresses how racism affects children’s health outcomes
- Submit your research to be part of the Center for Health Equity Transformation’s survey of Northwestern’s health equity footprint
- How to structure your research to address discrimination as a factor in kids’ health disparities (JAMA)
- ZERO TO THREE report finds racism can harm children’s health before they’re even born (Romper)
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Racism has devastating effects on children’s health, pediatricians warn (Washington Post)
- What Happens to Kids When Their Parents Go to Prison? (Fatherly)
- Racial bias in medicine and racial disparities in COVID-19 (Northwestern Now)
- How false beliefs in physical racial differences still live in medicine today (New York Times)
- Black Chicagoans confront bias in health care, hope for change (Chicago Tribune)
- Black 3 times more likely to die when looked after by white doctors (CNN)
- For doctors of color, microaggressions are all too familiar (New York Times)
- Climate change tied to pregnancy risks, affecting Black mothers the most (New York Times)
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From Personal Health to Pandemics, Police Brutality, and Protests – A Vision for Black Men’s Health Equity in 2020 (Society of Behavioral Medicine)
- Northwestern Medicine stages #WhiteCoatsForBlackLives demonstration (Chicago Tribune)
Talking to Your Child About Racism
How To Talk To Kids About Racism, Police Violence And George Floyd’s Death
‘Reset’ checks in with two experts on how to talk to kids about racism and police brutality in the wake of George Floyd’s death. Plus, they dig into the effects racism can have on the health and well-being of young people.
Having ‘The Talk’: Expert Guidance On Preparing Kids For Police Interactions
A panel of experts: a child psychiatrist, a former public defender and a police officer give their advice on how and when to have “the talk.”
Drew Barrymore and Dr. Nia Heard-Garris discuss parenting
Dr. Heard-Garris joins Drew Barrymore on Instagram for her parenting series.
How to talk to your children about protests and racism
Experts weigh in on how to talk to children at various ages about racism, and how to take care of yourself as a parent.
Toolkits for Parents
Chicago Public Schools' toolkit
Chicago Public Schools created “Say Their Names: A toolkit to help foster productive conversations about race and civil disobedience.”
Anti-racism resource roundup for kids
Pretty Good Design created this resource list to help young children understand race titled, “You Kids Aren’t Too Young to Talk About Race.”
Books to explain racism & protests
DevSci affiliate Dr. Nia Heard-Garris contributed to the New York Times parenting section’s list of books to help kids understand racism and civil rights demonstrations.
Using media to help kids embrace differences
A mom who works for Common Sense Media wrote about how she used media to help her son and his preschool classmates embrace their differences and realize their commonalities.
Mental Health
Managing mental health amid civil unrest
Northwestern Medicine’s Dr. Crystal Clark spoke with CBS 2 Chicago about how to managing mental health challenges brought on by COVID-19 + the death of George Floyd.
How adults can help Black children manage mental health
A University of Michigan psychologist spoke with Greater Good Magazine about how Black parents support their + their children’s mental health.
Town Halls
PBS town hall on racism
PBS KIDS for Parents hosted an important conversation — featuring fellow parents, educators and child development and trauma experts — about how you can talk with young children about racial injustice and violence against Black people.
CNN/Sesame Street town hall on racism
CNN’s Van Jones and Erica Hill partnered with “Sesame Street” for Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism, a town hall for kids and families that featured DevSci affiliate Dr. Nia Heard-Garris.