SLU to Host Webinar on the Impact of Racism on Child Development

ST. LOUIS – Saint Louis University will host an online presentation and discussion of the effects of racism on child development. Where Do We Go From Here? The Effects of Racism on Child Development will be held on National Children’s Mental Health Day (May 11).

Nicole Telfer, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in applied developmental psychology at the Frank Porter Graham Development Institute at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill will be in conversation with Kira Banks, Ph.D., professor of psychology and founding member of SLU’s Institute for Healing Justice and Equity; and Annie Garner, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at SLU.

“The link between racism and mental health is clear, and I look forward to this essential conversation with an emerging scholar in the field,” Banks said.

The webinar will focus on the influence of sociocultural factors on racial and ethnic minoritized youth development and the educational outcomes of Black and Brown youth, including neurodiversity and developmental disabilities.

The event is free and open to the public. It will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 11.

Telfer earned her Ph.D. in applied developmental psychology, with specializations in child development and K-12 education, from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. She is deeply committed to improving the lives of racial and ethnic minoritized children and adolescents through research and practice.

Grounded in the theory of intersectionality, Telfer’s research areas of focus include parents’ ethnic-racial socialization practices, DEI initiatives in the educational outcomes of Black and Brown youth, neurodiversity and developmental disabilities, and the influence of socio-cultural factors on racial and ethnic minoritized youth’s development.

“An intersectional lens is often missing from conversations related to neurodiversity and developmental disabilities,” said Garner. “This conversation is much needed as it will center the experiences and needs of Black and Brown youth with disabilities.”

In addition to her work at the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute, Telfer is an intern at the University of Maryland medical center’s pediatric unit, a trainee at Georgetown University’s leadership education in neurodevelopmental disabilities (LEND) program, and a trainer and consultant for the Color of Autism foundation based in Detroit, Michigan.

She has also authored and co-authored four books, including “Our Doctoral Journey: A Collection of Black Women’s Experiences,” and “A Black Woman’s Guide to Earning a Ph.D.”

The webinar is hosted by the Integrated Behavioral Health Fellowship, a grant-funded interdisciplinary program for graduate students in mental health clinical programs at SLU.

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