Congratulations to Raheem Young, DBA on receiving a Joyce Chapman Community Grant for the project “Fatherhood and Mental Health: Exploring Men’s Perceptions of Mental Health and Parenting”! Young is a faculty member in the Health and Human Services Department at Governors State University. He is the co-founder of the nonprofit organization Welcome to Fatherhood, which has a mission to help dads cope with the pressures and stresses of parenting. He serves as the chair of the Community-Based Public Health Caucus (CBPHC) as well as the co-chair of the Far South Chicago Coalition’s Health and Mental Wellness Committee.

In partnership with Kings Kidz Academy, Young will conduct focus groups to support and empower fathers through self-discovery and self-evaluation with the aim of cultivating safer communities and promoting family values.

How did you become interested in health equity?

I became interested in health equity while participating in the Albert Schwitzer Fellowship program. During my year as a fellow, I learned a lot about health justice, disparities, and social determinants of health. This experience really fueled my passion for exploring health equity.

How did you become interested in your C3EN mini-grant research topic?

For the past 6 years, I’ve aimed to improve men’s mental health through my nonprofit Welcome to Fatherhood. The concept for Welcome to Fatherhood was born out of conversations co-founder Sir Royce Briales and I had about our experiences in parenting. We felt there should be an organization to help new as well as experienced fathers better cope with the feelings of uncertainty and pressure that sometimes comes with the anticipation of a new child.

How does your C3EN mini-grant project fit into your broader research?

The issues we hope to address are multifaceted. We understand there are many factors that contribute to a father not being with his family. Mental health challenges are just one of these factors. This formative study is designed to address mental health issues, community violence issues, parental engagement, and poverty. This formative study is a continuation of the work Welcome to Fatherhood currently focuses on.

Read more about C3EN’s Joyce Chapman Community Grant projects and apply for a grant HERE.