Distinguished Lecture of
Insight, Innovation and Impact: Lecture 5

Positive Development Programs for African American Families

On March 25th & 26th, the Louis de la Parte Florida Mental Health Institute was pleased to host Dr. Gene Brody and Dr. Velma Murry as part of the 3 I's Distinguished Lecture Series of Insight, Innovation and Impact. A presentation was held at USF on March 25th, and a Community Forum was held March 26 at the Hillsborough County Children's Board. Drs. Brody & Murry described their work on prevention programs aimed at deterring adolescents from becoming involved in activities that derail positive development specifically, alcohol and substance use and early onset sexual activity.

Since 1995, Dr. Brody has served as director of the University of Georgia's Center for Family Research (CFR). Dr. Murry served as co-director from 1995 until 2008, when she accepted an endowed chair position at Vanderbilt University. Under Brody and Murry's leadership, CFR implemented two large studies to identify and track the contextual factors that promote healthy development in rural African American families. From their findings, they designed the first such intervention, the Strong African American Families program (SAAF), which was tested in a randomized prevention trial with more than 600 families. Central to their work is identifying what families are doing well and then sharing those findings with other families. Presentations and slide shows are available below.