African American Racial Identity Research Lab

The African American Family Project has concluded.

See 2005 research results [ppt file]

Please note results were shared in two previous community forums. If you are interested in being contacted for future related studies, please read letter to our participants.

The African American Family Project (AAFP) is a study conducted by University of Michigan professor of psychology Dr. Robert Sellers and his team of researchers. Dr. Sellers’ team is working in collaboration with the Ann Arbor Public Schools on a study of identity formation in African American adolescents. The study is designed to investigate the ways that parents help their teenage children develop a positive identity and do well in school.

The teen years are when young people begin to think about who they are and how they fit into the world. While the teen years are challenging for all adolescents, African American teens may also deal with issues regarding race.

We are committed to understanding how teens develop a sense of self as members of the African American community, how parents help their teens develop a positive identity, and how a positive identity can lead to academic success.

This study addresses important questions about how parents help teens develop a positive identity over a three-year period of time. Such information is extremely valuable in identifying the strengths of African American families that are often overlooked.

By participating in this research project, your views, combined with those of other parents, will enrich our understanding of African American families and parenting strategies.

Your family is eligible if your child self-identifies as African American and is currently enrolled in the Ann Arbor Public Schools in the 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, or 11th grade. For their participation, each student will be offered a gift certificate to the Briarwood Mall, and each parent will be offered cash compensation.

(requires Acrobat® Reader® to view.)

Students Only
Participating Middle Schools	Ann Arbor Open Clague Forsythe Scarlett Slauson Tappan
High Schools	Community Huron Pioneer Roberto Clemente
Parent & Students
Participating Community Sites	Ann Arbor Community Center Ann Arbor District Library Briarwood Mall Bryant Community Center
Click here to sign up for a Survey Administration

College Financial Aid and Admissions Workshop was held on Monday, May 12, 2003 Ann Arbor District Library, 343 S. Fifth Avenue.

This workshop included the following topics:

Middle to High School Transition
Summer Educational Opportunities
College Admissions - How to get into college
Financial Aid - How to pay for college.

Click here for pictures

Summer Educational Opportunities (requires Acrobat® Reader® to view.)

National African American Parent Involvement Day 2003 (NAAPID) was held on Monday, February 10, 2003.
Our team presented information about the African American Family Project at Ann Arbor Public Schools NAAPID day.
Click here for pictures.

For two decades the Ann Arbor Public Schools (AAPS) district has grappled with the question of how to raise the academic achievement of all students--particularly African American students--to acceptable levels. In June of 1997, the Ann Arbor Board of Education adopted a plan consisting of ten initiatives to boost academic achievement. For more information go to http://instruction.aaps.k12.mi.us/achievement

Research Results Presented to Ann Arbor Public Schools Instructional Council January 16, 2003.

(require Acrobat® Reader® to view.)

If you are interested in participating in or finding out more about the
African American Family Project please contact us at:

African American Family Project
University of Michigan
3450 East Hall
Ann Arbor, MI
48109-1109
(734) 763-0058
aafp2000@umich.edu

Please use this form to update your contact information or to sign up for an administration:
Please check here if new address and/or telephone number:
Parent/Guardian Name:
Address:


Email Address:
Daytime Phone Number:
Evening Phone Number:
Name of Target Child: (child who participated in the study or child's name used as the target child in your last survey)
Name of the school your teen currenty attends:
Grade of the target child:	7th 8th 9th 10th 11th

African American Family Project Resource Guide

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