School of Social Work professor receives $6.2 million Kellogg Foundation grant
Oscar Barbarin
Many studies show significant gaps in both academic
achievement and socio-emotional adjustment for minority
boys, which often begin at an early age. “The
problems of boys of color represent one of the most
significant challenges we face as a nation,” said
Oscar Barbarin, L. Richardson and Emily Preyer bicentennial
distinguished professor for strengthening families in the
School of Social Work.
Now, a five-year, $6.2 million grant from the W.K. Kellogg
Foundation will enable Barbarin to study ways to combat the
academic underachievement of minority boys. Barbarin will
focus on developing the Promote Academic Success (PAS)
Initiative, which aims to cultivate relationships between
Head Start, public schools, families and community agencies
in hopes of improving academic and social development of
boys of color, ages 3 to 8 years old.
“Our work will be guided by the metaphor of a
four-legged stool in which each leg represents what
children need to thrive: effective parents, competent
teachers, supportive communities and a spiritual
foundation,” Barbarin said. “If one of the legs
is wobbly the others can compensate until the weak leg is
strengthened. It is an ambitious undertaking, but I am
enthusiastic and feel that it is one of the most worthy
enterprises to devote my life to.”
The five-year grant is the Kellogg Foundation’s
largest grant to Carolina to date. Marvin McKinney, the
foundation’s program director for youth and
education, said of the funding, “Usually we
don’t make grants of this size; however, we saw this
as an opportunity to build upon work we have already
started with young children at different sites around the
country.”