February 20, 2025
Rockville, MD
Today, Child Trends publicly launched Black Families Flourishing, a multi-year project to conduct rigorous and transparent research on issues that affect Black families and their ability to flourish. Black Families Flourishing aims to provide evidence that communities can use to support better policies and programs, improved systems, and more accurate narratives about Black families. Support for the Black Families Flourishing Project is provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).
The project will include a national survey, to be conducted in 2026, intended to advance knowledge about the diversity of Black families and how policies, programs, and systems affect their ability to flourish. The research team will also partner with local communities to design additional studies that support understanding about the nuances of Black families’ experiences and identify evidence-based opportunities to support their flourishing.
“Though Black families possess tremendous strengths, there’s a historic default toward research that focuses on problems,” said Chrishana M. Lloyd, PhD, director and lead researcher for Black Families Flourishing. “We approach our research in a strengths-based and collaborative way, engaging Black and culturally knowledgeable researchers, Black families, community advisors, and communicators throughout the process.”
Black Families Flourishing is launching alongside a related but distinct effort also supported by RWJF—the Latino Families Flourishing Project. With aligned principles and objectives, both projects will seek to build capacity within communities for using research to inform and shift local, state, and national policies, programs, systems, and narratives on behalf of their populations of focus. Each effort will engage key constituents—including parents, community advocates, and researchers—to help interpret research findings, inspire the use of strengths-based evidence, activate and mobilize coalitions, and shift harmful narratives about Black and Latino families.
“History shows us that when systems shift to better support Black people and families, all of society benefits,” said Dr. Lloyd. “By providing practical resources and tools to policymakers and program operators, Black Families Flourishing will equip communities to use research in ways to strengthen policies, programs, and systems.”
Learn more about Black Families Flourishing here.
About Child Trends
Child Trends is a nonprofit research organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth by providing accurate data, rigorous analysis, and evidence-based insights. With a focus on informing policies, programs, and practices, Child Trends works toward advancing the well-being of all children and ensuring they have the opportunity to reach their full potential. For more information, please visit www.childtrends.org.