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Parenting is hard no matter who you are. But it can be especially difficult for people in marginalized communities.

has transformed his scholarly work on race and human development into Parent Heart Inc., an evidence-based company supporting African American parents. One of its programs, , (PWB) provides a research-backed curriculum that addresses crucial aspects of Black parenting often overlooked in parenting resources.

“When we think about parenting resources, there are lots of traditional, evidence-based resources. There is ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting,’ but we don’t see ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting Racism,’” said Huguley, an associate professor in the School of Social Work and chair of the Race and Youth Development Research Group at 51��Ʒ��Ƶ’s Center on Race and Social Problems. “That’s been a challenge that our families have addressed internally for generations with very little research or evidence-based guidance to support them.”

PWB, launched in 2021, has reached more than 150 parents, providing them with parenting strategies and a supportive community. “I think one of the really powerful things about this work is it’s a convening of people that begin to realize they’re not alone in this journey,” Huguley said.

The PWB curriculum focuses on four key areas: promoting positive racial identity, helping children cope with discrimination, supporting educational involvement as Black parents and fostering intergenerational mental wellness and racial stress coping.

“We talk about Black mental health from a race perspective,” Huguley said, “and how racism is a mental health stressor, what self-care looks like, and what strategies to support our children look like.”

PWB’s strength lies in its dual approach, leaning heavily on evidence-based methods as well as using community-based approaches. “We often think about teaching our children about their heritage and history, and that is important,” Huguley said. “But what’s probably even more important is connectedness and being in spaces that validate you — from your communal spaces to cultural programs to family reunions.”

To this end, PWB collaborates with community organizations, including Awaken 51��Ʒ��Ƶsburgh for mindfulness practices, and programs like Homewood Children's Village, Macedonia FACE and Small Seeds in the Hill District.

This community aspect proves particularly valuable when parents face challenges. “Parents don’t feel alone when they have to think about dealing with, for example, their school unfairly disciplining their child,” Huguley said. “There are people in the room that can sympathize and empathize, but even better, they’re from that community. They know that school, and they can be strategic in their responses.”

The program also helps parents find success within existing systems.

“Lots of our parents are in schools that are challenged economically. They don’t have all the great programs, but there are pathways to success in any of those buildings,” Huguley said. “When parents are connected, we call them navigational supporters. They know their schools have some limitations, but they find and share ways to navigate that system.”