Steve Kogan, Athletic Association Professor of Human Development and lead researcher at UGA’s Center for Family Research, has been designated as a Fellow of the Society for Prevention Research.
This accolade acknowledges over twenty years of inquiry aimed at comprehending and enhancing the role of families in fostering positive youth development — especially among adolescents confronting structural disadvantages.
Kogan’s professional path commenced not within a lab but in a counseling environment. Prior to embarking on his academic career, he underwent training and worked as a family therapist — an experience he asserts continues to influence his research today.
“We frequently concentrate on individuals without acknowledging how profoundly we are shaped by the webs of relationships in which we are nurtured,” Kogan remarked. “That foundational experience instilled in me the conviction that fostering supportive relationships in general, and families in particular, is crucial for promoting well-being.”
His research has yielded robust evidence that family-focused prevention programs — especially those integrating structure, warmth, and cultural validation — can diminish substance use, depressive symptoms, and risky behaviors among youth, particularly in rural and under-resourced areas. These insights have guided the creation, evaluation, and dissemination of initiatives such as the Strong African American Families program, which continues to shape national prevention approaches.
Kogan’s ongoing research investigates how digital realms can broaden access and enhance relational supports. In partnership with colleagues from the Mary Frances Early College of Education, Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication, and the Center for Family Research, he is co-leading the creation of the SAFE Place — an online, school-integrated ecosystem that supports youth, parents, and educators. Grounded in years of research on family-centered prevention, the SAFE Place incorporates interactive learning modules, coaching, and closed-group network support designed to promote youth self-regulation, academic involvement, and family-school collaboration.
The ambition with the SAFE Place is to reverse that narrative and craft digital environments where youth, parents, and teachers can cultivate trust, exchange strategies, and offer mutual support. Kogan stresses that the SAFE Place is not merely a content delivery system but a space anchored in developmental science and media psychology where relationships can flourish.
“We’re leveraging technology to activate the types of relationships that safeguard youth — not to supplant them,” he emphasized.
Whether engaging with families in person or via digital platforms, Kogan maintains a steadfast commitment to a fundamental principle: when we invest in families, we create circumstances where children can prosper.
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