Like all parents black parents sometimes need a little help. Children are a great responsibility and a can be your greatest , joy, burden and challenge. So how do we cope with raising black children in an unfriendly world? There are places that black parents can seek help and find answers to their questions.
The beauty of social media is that you can connect with others that share similar backgrounds, views and experiences. Its the essence of social media, connecting with people. Here are a few websites that are created for black parents and families
Black Parents Initiative – The Black Parent Initiative (BPI) is a transformative community provider of holistic parent education services. Many social service agencies make two fundamental mistakes: they treat Black people as unhealthy and they begin interventions too late. Families should not have to wait until they have fallen through the cracks to receive the help they need. We focus on developing social capital, personal/community reliance, self-sustainability and community engagement with families in order to habilitate them, educate them and encourage them to self-activate. BPI provides comprehensive services that address needs including employment, housing and education, placing an emphasis on the importance of Black male and father involvement in all aspects of family and community life.
Black Parent Network – A membership website that offers a variety of services and lifestyle education for parents of children of color. According to the site; “We aim to provide support and information to empower parents who care for children of color. We aim to be inclusive of all family models and only ask that users of the site respect the ethnicity, religious views and life style choices of others.” A few of the topics addressed on the site include; black parenting and parenting skills,education, health, finances and many others.
Black Parents Forum – For 15 years Black Parents Forum has been interested in and organizing black parents in the pursuit of academic excellence for black children.
Black Parenting Blog – Created by at home mom LaShanda Henry for the black family, with mothers especially in mind, the Black Parenting Blog is all about raising African American Children and building happy black families. Featured topics include: Black Education, African American Children’s Books, African American Pregnancy, Work at Home Moms, Black Marriages and Couples, discussion on African American baby, toddler and teen issues.
Council of African-American Parents– Our mission to enhance the educational opportunities of students through academics, social activities and cultural awareness remain at the forefront of our organizational agenda. Our menu of services for scholars and parents is reflected in our ability to develop and implement programming that supports our mission.
Black Fathers– Blackfathers.org is dedicated to providing information about Black fatherhood. We publish stories about Black fathers from all over the world. Stories are accepted from Black fathers, friends of Black fathers and family members connected to Black fathers.
Black and Married with Kids– BMWK is the largest independent African-American marriage and parenting site on the web. The site was founded by husband and wife duo Lamar & Ronnie Tyler in Dec. 2007. BMWK has attracted over 6 million readers in just 6 years. The website has been featured in the Washington Post, Atlanta Journal Constitution, The Michael Baisden Show and many others.
The Association of African American Single Mothers–The AAASM addresses the areas of education, financial stability, self-motivation and discipline through programs and services.
As you can see there are plenty of resources for black parents. You can find even more in Black Families Online a book written by Stacey Montgomery and available at Amazon.com. I encourage black parents to explore these sites for news and information that may shine a light on problems you are having. Invest in education and awareness about being a black parent and connect with those who are in the same boat as you.
Now you know.