The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children

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Project Fatherhood
Helping At-risk Fathers Learn How to Parent Effectively

Children's Institute International (CII) developed Project Fatherhood in response to a growing local, State, and national focus on the urgent need to re-engage many fathers—particularly in urban settings—in the care and upbringing of their children. Advocacy for biological fathers' involvement in the lives of their children and all the children of the community is the major overarching goal of the program. CII's main goal is to increase the involvement of fathers in child rearing and to enhance the parenting skills of fathers so they can help their children grow into healthy, responsible adults. However, most child welfare agencies are ill-equipped to work effectively with fathers and often avoid including them in treatment programs. With the help of trained counselors and other fathers, Project Fatherhood helps men begin the process of growth and training, which is necessary to be effective parents and to support each others' efforts to become good fathers to their children.

Project Fatherhood provides a new approach to services typically available to families and offers an impressive array of specially designed programs that teach men how to parent. The target population includes fathers who are facing poverty, homelessness, a familial history of single parenthood, violence, physical abuse, substance abuse, recent or long-term lack of employment, or limited experience in interacting with their children. Assessment and case management by trained CII professionals, as well as a peer mentor program, provide the necessary tools to build healthy relationships between fathers and their children. By sharing experiences and learning new skills, these fathers find increased satisfaction in their roles as parents.

The program includes such core services as:

• Men in Relationships Groups
• Individual family counseling
• Activity groups for children
• Advocacy for fathers in the court system
• Links to other CII programs addressing family needs for food, housing, shelter, and medical assistance.

The core component of the Fatherhood Program is the Men in Relationships Group (MIRG). This is an open-ended group led by trained and licensed mental health professionals. While the men attend the group, there are parallel activities for their children. All men are asked to bring their children every time they come to group. For men who are unemployed or underemployed, there is a Job Club—which teaches a behavioral approach to job seeking. Once fathers have made sufficient progress, they can be paired with a professional to begin another MIRG group. Men do not "graduate" from the program; they can stay in forever. CII also has biannual five-day trainings in the MIRG model, leading to a certificate and the ability to lead MIRG groups.

For more information, contact:

Children's Institute International
711 South New Hampshire Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90005
Phone: 213.385.5100
Fax: 213.251.3673
Web site: http://www.childrensinstitute.org

Hershel K. Swinger
Director, Project Fatherhood
Email: hswinger@childrensinstitute.org

Kenneth Cole
Program Manager, Project Fatherhood
Email: kcole@childrensinstitute.org

Back to Examples of Fatherhood Programs

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