Fathers

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Fathers Support CenterPositive Parenting Skills
for Fathers Presented at the Childrens Trust
Fund Child Abuse Neglect Prevention Conference
April 2-4, 2013

• Presented by
• Halbert Sullivan, MSW
• And
• Destini Goodwin, BSW/LSW

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Child Abuse In the U.S.

• An estimated 3.3 million incidents of child abuse
  was reported to Child Protective Services during
  the federal fiscal year 2010.
• 3 million children accounted for one or more of
  these reports.
• More than 1,560 children died as a result of
  abuse and neglect.
• Nearly 80 of the children who died due to child
  abuse and neglect were younger than 4 years old.
• Child Maltreatment 2010 Summary of Key Findings,
  May 2012

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Child Abuse In Missouri

• 61,083 child abuse and neglect reports involving
  90,709 children were reported in the state of
  Missouri in 2011.
• In the state of Missouri, 29 reported children
  died as a result of child abuse/neglect in 2011.
• Of those, 24 (86) were under the age of four
  years old.
• MO Child Fatality Review Program 2011

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Who Commits Child Abuse?

• Mothers
• Fathers
• Grandparents
• Stepparents
• Other Relatives
• Caregivers
• Foster Parents
• Coaches
• Educators

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What causes a parent to abuse?

• Research indicates that certain
  factors/characteristics such as poverty,
  underemployment/unemployment, stress level,
  substance abuse, and low self-esteem attribute to
  fathers being more likely to abuse their
  children.
• The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy
  Development of Children, 2006

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ASPE Research Study

• A study funded by the Department of Health and
  Human Services
• Studied 192,321 male perpetrators
• Reported 65 of male perpetrators acted alone in
  their abuse.
• 35 committed abuse with the childs mother on
  at least one occasion
• 51 were the childrens biological father

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ASPE Research Study

• The study also demonstrated that men who acted
  alone were NOT likely to receive services as
  males who acted with the victims mothers. This
  possibly occurs due to the father being removed
  before services are rendered or he was not living
  in the home.

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Societal Views/Roles of Fathers

• In 1930s, 40s, 50s?
• In 2000s/Currently?

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Importance of Fathers

• Children without a father in their life are
• - 32 times more likely to run away from home.
• - 5 times more likely to commit suicide.
• - 9 times more likely to drop out of high
  school.
• Children without a father in their lives are
  twice as likely to commit a crime.
• Children without a father in their lives are more
  than twice as likely to live in poverty.
• State of Missouri Website

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Importance of Fathers

• 90 of all homeless and runaway children and 85
  of all children that exhibit behavioral disorders
  and displaced anger.
• 70 of juveniles in state-operated institutions
  and 85 of all youths sitting in prisons.
• 82 of teenage girls who get pregnant....
• .come from fatherless homes.

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Fathers Support Center

• Mission
• To foster healthy relationships by strengthening
  families and communities.
• Vision
• Every father is a responsible father committed to
  a cohesive family relationship.

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Background

• Founded in 1997 to strengthen fathers as a
  strategy to strengthen families and improve
  outcomes for children.
• Served over 9,000 fathers and their families
  including over 22,500 children
• The first agency in Missouri to provide a
  comprehensive array of services to men.
• Utilizes program graduates-turned facilitators
  and professional staff to guide fathers through a
  process of positive change.
• Recognized nationally for working with fathers.

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Programs Offered

• Family Formation Program
• Parenting, Fatherhood/Manhood Skills, Healthy
  Relationship Building
• Employment Development
• Job Readiness Skills and Retention/Placement
• Fathers Rap
• Support, Advocacy, Personal Responsibility
• Legal Services
• Advocacy, Legal Mediation
• Youth Leadership and Development
• Prevention Education, Financial Management

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Family Formation Program Outcomes 2012

• 448 fathers enrolled in the program
• 301 graduated successfully from the program
• 79 of fathers increased their knowledge of what
  child abuse and neglect is and what are positive
  disciplinary techniques and positive
  reinforcements.
• No reports of reoccurring child abuse and neglect

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How do you get fathers involved in your parenting
program???

• Agency Profile
• Agency Staff Profile
• Recruitment
• Program Delivery- What do the fathers get out of
  the program?
• Partners

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Your Agency Profile

• Who are your consumers?
• Who are your targeted consumers?
• What are their barriers?
• Is your agency father friendly?
• What other services do you offer?
• Do these services appeal to fathers?
• What does your marketing materials say?
• What is your reputation in the community?

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Getting fathers there!!

• Identify who and what your customers need
• Transportation issues? Homeless? Low Literacy?
• Offer other services that speak to the needs of
  fathers
• peer mentoring/support groups, employment
  programs, bonding activities with their children,
  etc.
• Utilize community partners
• Highlight services offered to fathers in your
  marketing materials or create a separate
  brochure/flyer that highlights those services
• Strengthen your reputation
• Offer services that you know you can provide
• Make presentations in the community about your
  services, i.e. colleges, agencies, barber shops,
  etc
• Educate yourself on the populations you want to
  service. Men and women are different in how they
  receive services
• Market your work/outcomes

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Agency Staff Profile

• How are fathers viewed by staff?
• What is your staffs experience with working with
  fathers?
• What has been your experience with fathers in
  your program?
• Who consist of your staff?
• Parenting Specialist
• Social Workers
• Job Developers
• Family Therapists
• Male Facilitators

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Working with men is a little different

• Some men lack awareness of existing programs
• Men seek help differently than women
• Gender stereotyped attitudes and values
• Perceived sense of personal failure when help is
  sought
• Negative attitudes displayed by service workers
• Failure to acknowledge positive things that
  fathers are doing
• FUNDING is limited

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Getting fathers there!!

• Be Culturally Competent
• Avoid stereotypes
• Dont belittle/demean men because they are asking
  for help
• Receive training or educate yourselves on
  cultural competency/ learn about their culture
• Dont force your personal belief systems
• Establish rapport
• Share information about you that is relatable
  (dont over share) i.e. I have three children of
  my own.
• Create buy-in by having them to share their
  experiences and LISTENING (providing feedback)
• Create a safe and secure space for sharing
• Always be truthful and upfront about your
  abilities and program limitations
• Turn negative comments/views into positives

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RECRUIT,RECRUIT, RECRUIT!!!

• Flyer to Hand Recruitment (barber shops,
  bars/lounges, gyms, parks, corner stores, etc.)
• Current and Past Clients
• Word of Mouth
• Family Members/Significant Others
• Other Community Agencies
• Family Court
• Advertisement (flyers, brochures, newspapers,
  radio, tv, etc.)
• Location

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Service Delivery/Curriculum

• What is your program structure?
• Are your curriculums evidence-based? Culturally
  Sensitive? Is there room for flexibility?
• How does your staff engage fathers with
  curriculum content/activities?

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Getting fathers there!!

• FSC Program Structure
• 6 weeks, Monday-Friday, 745am-400pm
• Evening program, Monday-Friday, 5pm-830pm
• Class calendar with activities and times
• Classroom structure
• Established program rules/guidelines
• Safe, secure, and confidential space for sharing
• Facilitative group formatted discussion
• 2 bonding activities with children and families
• Dedicated staff members (Social Service Team
  includes Family Therapist, Job Development
  Team, Legal Team)
• Holistic Approach
• Presentations from community partners/resources

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Getting fathers there!!

• FSC Parenting Curriculums
• Responsible Fatherhood Curriculum
• Parenting
• Personal Responsibility
• Communication, Manhood and Relationships
• Job Readiness
• Shaken Baby Syndrome Training
• Strengthening Multi-Ethnic Families and
  Communities A Violence Prevention Parenting
  Training Program- Developed by Marilyn L. Steele,
  Ph.D. and Jerry Tello, MA
• 1.) Modeling rules, behaviors, and values
• 2.) Process of Discipline and Consequences of
  Behaviors
• 3.) Ignoring and Providing Praise for Specific
  Behaviors
• 4.) Solution Building/Problem Solving Techniques

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Role Play Activity

• Clear Instructions
• Ignore/Praise

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Getting fathers there!!

• FSC Staff
• Past graduates turned classroom facilitators
• Consists of experienced social workers, job
  developers, parenting specialist, family
  therapists, attorneys, practicum students
  supportive and administrative staff
• EVERYONE is trained in facilitating the
  Responsible Fatherhood Curriculum
• Has buy-in to the mission and vision
• Provide interactive/relatable material to
  curriculum (i.e. role play, cartoons, group
  discussions) that engage fathers and encourages
  their buy-in to the process
• Knows client population and barriers

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Community Partners

• Establish ongoing relationships with
  agencies/organizations by
• Getting their buy-in (talk stats, outcomes, etc.)
• Collaborating on proposals/grants
• Linking your clients to services they offer
• Invite them to participate in your program
  process (provide presentations, employment
  opportunities, etc.)

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• Questions or Comments??

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References

• Child Welfare Information Gateway. (May 2012),
  Child Maltreatment 2010 Summary of Key Findings.
  http//www.childwelfare.gov
• Missouri Department of Social Services. Child
  Abuse and Neglect Calendar Year 2011 Annual
  Report. June 2012 www.dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/can
• Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, U.S.
  Childrens Bureau Rosenberg, Jeffrey., Wilcox, W.
  Bradford. (2006). The Importance of Fathers in
  the Healthy Development of Children.
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning
  and Evaluation. Male Perpetrators of Child
  Maltreatment. July 2005.

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THANK YOU!

• Fathers Support Center, St. Louis
• 4411 N. Newstead Ave, 9LL
• St. Louis, MO 63115
• 314-333-4170
• Halbert Sullivan, MSW
• hsullivan_at_fatherssupport.org
• Destini Goodwin, BSW
• dgoodwin_at_fatherssupport.org
• Website
• www.fatherssupportcenter.org