LIVE: The Unfair Social Pressure on the Black Man to Be Resilient: A Public Health Crisis
February 24, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM Pacific
February 24, 2026
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Pacific
2 Hours | 2 CEs
$125 Registration | $100 Early Registration (through February 17th) | Live Virtual Training via Zoom
Joel Kouame, MSW, presents a live virtual professional training program on The Unfair Social Pressure on the Black Man to Be Resilient: A Public Health Crisis.
This presentation examines the systemic expectation for Black men to demonstrate resilience in response to institutionalized racism, framing it as a public health crisis. While resilience is often viewed as a strength, it can also serve as a tool that normalizes oppression and perpetuates racial trauma. This course explores the impact of institutional racism on Black men’s health, education, economic stability, and involvement in the criminal justice system. Participants will gain insights into how resilience, when imposed as a survival mechanism, reinforces systemic inequities.
The training will also introduce a multi-level intervention framework—spanning primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention—to address institutional racism in both clinical practice and systemic advocacy. Mental health professionals will leave with practical strategies to support Black male clients without reinforcing the resilience trap, ultimately fostering meaningful change at both individual and institutional levels.
This program is designed for mental health professionals, educators, social workers, and healthcare providers who engage with Black male clients or address systemic inequalities in their practice.
Career Stage:
- Early-career to seasoned professionals who want to deepen their understanding of racial trauma and systemic oppression.
- Clinicians looking to integrate social justice frameworks into their work.
- Policy advocates and administrators seeking systemic solutions.
Specialty Areas:
- Mental health (social work, psychology, counseling)
- Public health and healthcare
- Social justice and advocacy
- Education and school-based mental health services
- Criminal justice reform and community-based interventions
Work Environments:
- Private practice, outpatient clinics, and hospitals
- Community mental health centers
- Schools and universities
- Correctional facilities and reentry programs
- Nonprofits and advocacy organizations
- Government agencies focused on health and social services
Training Outline
This training will be structured as an engaging and interactive session that combines a formal presentation with guided discussion groups to deepen understanding and application of key concepts. The program will be highly interactive, using discussion groups, case analyses, and guided reflection to foster meaningful engagement beyond passive learning.
- Introduction
- Overview of course objectives and key themes
- Icebreaker: Brief discussion on personal/professional experiences with resilience narratives
- Case studies highlighting disparities in health, education, employment, and incarceration
- Presentation: The Resilience Expectation & Institutional Racism
- Defining institutional racism and its systemic impact on Black men
- Examining resilience as both a survival mechanism and a barrier to systemic change
- Case studies highlighting disparities in health, education, employment, and incarceration
- Discussion Groups: The Real-World Impact
- Participants will break into small groups to analyze case scenarios of Black men navigating systemic barriers
- Groups will discuss how resilience is expected and its psychological toll
- Brief group presentations summarizing key takeaways
- The Public Health Crisis of Racial Trauma
- Presentation on how racial trauma meets criteria for psychological trauma
- Discussion of chronic stress, mental health disparities, and economic consequences
- Guided Discussion: Addressing the Resilience Trap
- Participants will discuss ways mental health professionals can support Black male clients without reinforcing the expectation of resilience
- Identifying barriers to systemic advocacy within institutions
- Practical Applications & Closing Discussion
- Strategies for clinical practice, advocacy, and systemic change
- Q&A and final reflections on key takeaways
Intended Audience
This live program is intended for mental health and other allied professionals.
Experience Level
This live program is appropriate for beginner, intermediate, and advanced level clinicians.
CE / CPD Credit
APA, ASWB, CPA, NBCC: Click here for state and other regional board approvals.
Presented By
Joel Kouame, LCSW
Joel Kouame, LCSW, MBA, CAMS-II, is a licensed psychotherapist, author, and the founder of JK Counseling, a remote group practice dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care. Specializing in anger management, trauma, depression, and anxiety. He integrates EMDR (Eye Moveme...
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this program you will be able to:
Describe institutional racism and its impact on Black men across health, education, employment, and the criminal justice system
Describe how the societal expectation of resilience contributes to racial trauma and reinforces systemic inequities
Describe the public health consequences of racial trauma, including chronic stress, mental health disorders, and economic disparities
Describe a multi-level intervention framework (primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention) to address institutional racism in clinical and systemic settings
Describe strategies to support Black male clients in navigating systemic oppression without reinforcing the resilience trap
Live Event Policy
Registration for our live events is covered for one (1) person per purchase. If you would like to purchase for a group, please contact our group training team.
Event Communications
When registering, use an email that is active and that you check regularly. We are not responsible for communications not being received; if you do not add caps@paloaltou.edu to your email safe sender list, our emails are likely to end up in your spam or junk folders.
Cancellation Policy
This is a live program only and will not be made available on-demand. If you are unable to attend live please contact customer service 48 hours before the live event to request a refund.
Event Conduct
Professional conduct is expected during our live programs. Our goal is to make our events as interactive as possible for all participants. We reserve the right to remove any participants who are disruptive, act unprofessionally, or who we are unable to verify their purchase.
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