The Black Parent Initiative

KEY CONTACTS

Program Manager Community Education, Training and Outreach
Crystal Marion
(503) 502-6790

Parent University Coordinator
Kenya Budd
(503) 707-0985

Male & Father Engagement Coordinator
Christopher James
(503) 502-2965

Resource Center Coordinator
Leslee Barnes
(503) 707-0986

Program Manager Prevention and Early Intervention
Teisha Parchment
(971) 400-0636

TESTIMONIALS

Last August, Christopher, Male and Father Engagement Coordinator for BPI, sent out a text message to about 15 men who were currently unemployed. When James received this message he called Christopher immediately. James is 39 and married with five children; 3 girls and 2 boys. Chris and James scheduled a meeting for the next morning and immediately began evaluating his work history, skills, past positions, likes and dislikes about previous jobs. James started working with our employment specialist around resume building and specific job leads that fits his skills. There were many hurdles they had to deal with, from a D.U.I. to child care for the younger children when they are not in school. After almost three months of failed interviews, James was able to find employment with a large distribution company in Clackamas County. Christopher heard from James a few days ago and he said everything was going great and they have already spoken to him about being a permanent employee of their company. In this case, BPI's coaching and direct case management ensured James' ability to secure employment in this economy.


	Our Programs COMMUNITY EDUCATION, TRAINING AND OUTREACH PARENT UNIVERSITY Parent University classes are geared toward building the fundamental and expanded capacities of parents and adults of Black children. Classes focus on critical issues ranging from financial health to physical and educational navigation and support. Participants learn about early childhood brain development and learning styles along with best practices around applying for a job. Parent University provides gender specific parent education i.e., trainings on gender roles in relationships as well as trainings around anger management and domestic violence. Through Parent University parents have the opportunity to take part in leadership development and learn navigation tools to ensure better avocation for their children in school and around the bordering community. Parent University's vision remains to provide parents with a rigorous learning environment that provides for both practical and inspirational learning that encourages family and community transformation. MALE & FATHER ENGAGEMENT Male & Father Engagement is a monthly men's and father specific support group that provides men with a safe environment to explore themes from anger to relationships. Men are provided case management and provided with access to Parent University classes. BLACK PARENT RESOURCE CENTER The Black Family Resource Center was implemented alongside the Parent University and began operating at full-scale in the winter of 2011.The Center is an educational space that provides tools for Black families and supplements the Parent University and Prevention and Early Intervention Services through; comprehensive information and referral, a home simulator, library educational resources, community mobilization, support groups, and seminar series. The Center also offers homework help and childcare to the children of program participants. The Black Family Resource Center has created a culturally specific reference library, open to the parents and families; offer instruction in a home simulator for modeling best-practice parenting techniques. PREVENTION AND EARLY INTERVENTION IN-HOME Is a collaboration between the Black Parent Initiative (BPI), Department of Human Services (DHS) and Multnomah Education Service District (MESD), to reduce the disproportionality of Black children in the child welfare system. BPI staff works intensively through parent coaching with families in their home to help parents develop or maintain the core capacity to provide safety for their children and navigate systems-such as schools and social services. Additionally, they collaborate with other BPI programs to receive parent training, employment and housing assistance, as well as, additional supportive services. FAMILY REUNIFICATION & MENTORSHIP This program engages families in overcoming barriers to family reunification and engaging in court. The aim of the program is to expedite the reunification process of children currently in foster care with their biological family and to provide support for the prevention of future placements of their children in foster care again. We build relationships with families involved with child welfare and court systems, conduct interviews to identify barriers to family reunification and engagement in court. With the acquired information, we facilitate and organize and individualized plan to coach parents on how to fully engage and advocate for themselves and their children. We build collaborative relationships with mentors, treatment programs, Department of Human Services (DHS), judges and attorneys to support family success. Additionally we work to provide legal clinics that allow families to get feedback on the steps and process to keeping their families together. FOSTER PARENT ENGAGEMENT The Foster Parent Engagement program focuses on gathering people parenting Black children to build community and incorporates cultural education that supports foster parents in understanding aspects of care that are essential to the development and care of Black youth. BPI works with people parenting Black children to understand their individual cultural difference and how it intersects with transracial foster parenting, as well as racial socialization. Through Foster Parent Engagement, we will connect foster parents to resources for the children and youth in their homes, such as culturally specific programs. Additionally, we connect children and families to opportunities and resources to improve or maintain healthy family of origin bond and attachment.

Our Programs