Doctoral Student Advances Research on Mental Health Needs of Children With Incarcerated Parents

Dr. Avon Hart-Johnson is leveraging more than 15 years of research and applied experience to examine the needs of children with incarcerated parents and expand culturally responsive approaches in mental health counseling.

Although she already holds a doctorate in human services with a specialization in counseling, she wanted to deepen her research and add more diversity to the field of mental health counseling and advocacy. Today, Hart-Johnson is enrolled as doctoral student in the inaugural cohort of Bowie State's Counselor Education and Supervision program.

Hart-Johnson's work centers on the intersection of research, practice and community engagement. Alongside her academic studies, she co-founded D.C. Project Connect (DCPC), a nonprofit that delivers psychoeducational services to underserved families affected by incarceration. Through this work, she continues to apply and refine research-based strategies in real-world settings.

Her doctoral studies are expanding the scope of her research.

"I'm shifting from a traditional Eurocentric framework to an Afrocentric, social justice-centered approach that prioritizes culturally grounded perspectives in counseling theory and practice. Faculty mentors, including Dr. Otis Williams, Dr. Mark Bolden, Dr. Brittany Williams-Grant and Dr. Janelle Cox, have guided my work through Afrocentric and social justice frameworks."

Her coursework emphasizes decolonized research methodologies and critical analysis of multicultural issues that affect communities of color. Through this lens, Hart-Johnson is investigating overlapping factors - including intersectionality, sexual orientation, bodily autonomy, environmental conditions and limited access to resources - that shape mental health outcomes.

This research-driven approach has sharpened her focus on how counselors and educators can better serve marginalized populations. Rather than examining these issues in isolation, Hart-Johnson explores how systemic barriers intersect to influence both access to care and quality of support.

"With a background in human services, I now focus on service delivery while examining my professional identity as a counselor, educator, researcher and practitioner. This program has helped me elevate my work by embedding it within communities that need support, while preparing me to develop future leaders and coach women of color as they grow in their professional identity."

Hart-Johnson's work reflects a broader shift from service delivery to research-informed practice and leadership. By integrating her nonprofit work with doctoral research, Hart-Johnson is building a model that connects academic inquiry with community impact.

Bowie State's Counselor Education and Supervision program prepares doctoral students to work in schools, colleges, rehabilitation centers and mental health clinics. The program emphasizes how poverty, racism and discriminatory practices affect clients, equipping graduates to provide equitable, high-quality counseling to marginalized communities.