The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children

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Project MECCA and Another Choice for Black Children
Supporting Children and Families During and After Adoption

Another Choice for Black Children, Inc., is the first adoption agency in North Carolina specializing in recruiting families to adopt African American and other special needs children in the foster care system. Since it opened in 1995, this agency has recruited families to adopt more than 500 children, the majority being school-aged and members of siblings groups. Boasting of a less than 1 percent disruption rate, Another Choice prides itself on providing responsive and respectful services that are tailored to meet the needs of the agency's adoptive families.

Building on the mission that "children grow better in families," this agency has created a family atmosphere that is conducive to this line of work. Another Choice has had positive experiences with African American men in their program. Many of the fathers participate on the speakers bureau, while others provide direct assistance to families. In the past, the dads met on a monthly basis, and now they meet at their discretion—generally, for special occasions or to organize an event.

In October 2002, Another Choice was awarded a Federal grant to recruit 60 African American men to become adoptive or foster parents. Project MECCA (Men Embracing Children Collectively Through Adoption) works in partnership with Mecklenburg County Youth and Family Services to identify children in need of adoptive families. It specifically focuses on older children and those who are members of a sibling group. This grant has gained such widespread attention in the African American community that more than 150 men (the majority are married) have contacted the agency and completed the initial application to become adoptive or foster parents. Some of the men have stated an interest in becoming mentors for children in the system.

Project MECCA aims to be a national model to encourage African American males to adopt based on the belief that fathers play a critical role in the home and community. Project MECCA staff work tirelessly to assist the fathers during and after placement and to reaffirm the men that they are valued and are needed to help strengthen and prepare the next generation.

Reaching potential fathers through traditional and nontraditional methods are key tenets, such as frequenting barber and beauty shops, communities of faith, and other nonprofit organizations and disseminating brochures, flyers, pamphlets, and other information to inform the public of the need for adoptive or foster families.

Adoption is a lifelong process. Committed to the belief that services must be respected and responsive, the staff of Another Choice (of which Project MECCA is a part) strive to become part of the "extended family" to each adoptive family. Families and staff can provide assistance, support, and understanding to families within the network. Tailoring services based on the needs of the particular family has proved successful in keeping families intact. The majority of these services were initially funded through a Federal grant, however, Another Choice has been able to continue these services through other funding streams without charging any fees to families.

Among the pre- and post-placement services available to families are:

• Kids Night Out, which brings together children ages 5 years and above with their brothers and sisters for respite.
• Teen Konnection, which serves to connect teenagers whose lives have been touched by adoption with other teens in foster care to help them understand adoption and normalize the process.
• Sisters to Sisters and For Daddies Only, which are groups that meet at their discretion to provide support, encouragement, and information. Respite and tutoring services are also available.
• Chat'N'Chill, which provides in-home services to families when the family is facing challenges.
• Friends of Black Children Conference, an annual weekend that is a mixture of a family reunion, revival, and large support group get-together. A special breakout, "For Men Only," allows the men an opportunity to share with one another about their challenges, how to show and deal with their emotions, and how to get other men to become involved.

For more information, contact:

Another Choice
2340 Beatties Ford Road
Charlotte, NC 28216
Phone: 800.774.3534 or 704.394.1124
Fax: 704.394.3843
Web site: http://www.acfbc.org

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