Primary Purpose:

The primary purpose of IAWF is to Study and Research, thus educate and train, scholars, policy makers, practitioners, and the corporate profit and non-profit communities regarding: 1) successful bio-psycho-social strategies that support and enhance Full Male Development,  within the context of the Black family, and across the life cycle; and 2) social and economic challenges faced by youth and young adults, especially African American males, who have or are Aging Out of Foster Care, and is/was legally committed to the Child Welfare and/or the Juvenile Justice System (s). The idea is to establish and support milestones for achievement during childhood, adolescent, and adult development.

A secondary purpose is to encourage Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s) to engage collaboratively in finding answers to the Institute’s major research initiatives; provide services to said populations, and advocate especially, but not exclusively, for policies and programs that will provide every African American male, from birth, an opportunity for full-male development, and every youth/young adult aging out of foster care, an opportunity to be prepared to take full advantage of every American’s right to the pursuit of happiness and economic well being.

Goal

To develop and implement an action research and service delivery paradigm, that addresses the cycle of human development within African American males, for the purpose of improving and enhancing their ability to become culturally-rooted, self-affirming, and productive members of their families, communities, and society at large.

Objectives

1. To develop a comprehensive organizational structure that will facilitate the Purpose and Goal of the Institute;

2. Research and investigate: a) barriers to Full-Male Development, as defined by the Institute, b) successful transition models from boyhood to Manhood within the context of healthy family formation, and c) community re-entry programs for Foster Care Youth/Young Adults who were jointly committed by the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Systems;

3. Present at local, state, national, and international conferences, workshops and seminars, on successful models for Family Formation, Healthy Marriages, and the critical role males play in childrearing, civic engagement, and serving the community at large;

4. Provide State of the Art Service Delivery Programs that support males in their effort to achieve their optimum potential at every phase of their developmental cycle;

5. Provide technical assistance to agencies and organizations throughout the United States, which have an interest in strengthening male relationships within families, through education, training, research, and program development; and,

6. Create a national and regional network with other human service providers, educational institutions, and community organizations who share the purposes, goal, and objectives of the Institute.