FATHER Project, 2009 Accomplishments

8/9/2019 FATHER Project, 2009 Accomplishments

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FATHER Project Presentation2009 Summary


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PromotingHealthy

Fatherhood

ChildWell-being

CommunityDevelopment

Family

Context

Mens

Development


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The Crisis of Fatherhood:Low-Income Communities

Incarceration rates are increasing for men incommunities of color

More children born to never-married parents: grew to3 of 10 births overall

Among African American children: 7 of 10

Among Hispanic children: 4 of 10Among Native American children: 6 of 10Individual and Family Issues: Domestic violence,

alcohol/drug abuse, mental health, child welfare/child

protection, and teen pregnancy


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The Crisis of Fatherhood:

Socio-economic and politicalcrises faced by young men of colorLow educational attainmentHigh rates of unemployment and under-

employmentHigh rate of arrest and incarcerationIntergenerational poverty; structural racism


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Positive Father Involvement:

Benefits for children andyouth

Children learn more and exhibit higher levelsof academic achievementGreater empathy, self esteem, and creativity

Higher verbal skills and higher scores incognitive competenceResults hold true for both resident and non-

resident fathers and across social class


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Positive Father Involvement:

Protective / Preventivefactors for children and youth

Lower rates of truancyLower rates of juvenile delinquencyDecreases in substance abuse and criminal

behaviors among adolescentsLower frequency of disruptive behavior,

depression, sadness, and dishonesty


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Positive Father Involvement:Benefits for men andwomen

Men gain heightened expression of emotion

Men experience expanded ability for caring andnurturanceMen demonstrate higher civic engagement

Mother-child attachment increasesOpportunities for enhanced relationships, co-

parenting and and mutual family support are

increased.


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FATHER Project Partners

Hennepin County Child SupportCentral Minnesota Legal ServicesParents as Teachers/MeldAfrican American Family Services

Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES)The Division of Indian WorkWay To GrowEarly Childhood Family Education (ECFE)

William Doherty, PhD, The University of MinnesotaMinneapolis Public Schools / Adult Basic EducationProject for Pride in LivingMinnesota Fathers and Families Network


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Empowering fathers to overcome barriersthat prevent them from supporting their

children economically and emotionally


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The FATHER Project:Solution-Focused

We believe that the positive involvement of both parents is important to the healthy

development of children and increases their chances of leading a safe, happy childhood.


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The FATHER Project

What services are offered?Intensive Case ManagementParenting and Empowerment Groups

Child Support ServicesLegal ServicesEmployment Services

GED Services/EducationMental Health ServicesFather and Family Activities

Citizen Father Project / Community Action


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FATHER Project:Description of Participants

(2009)Average Age = 29 Years44% lack High School Diploma

31% are ex-offenders; majority have criminalbackgroundAll are low-income, more than 90% are non-

custodial parentsAfrican American (57%),Latino (20%), Native

American (14%), Caucasian (9%)Residence: Hennepin (80%), Ramsey (10%),

Other (10%)


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Located in the heart of the Phillips neighborhood,South Minneapolis


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A welcoming environment for dads and families


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FATHER Project Team: Randy Johnson, Guy Bowling,Carmen Otero (CLUES), Michelle Bell, Robert Wesley, Ira

Dixon and Dwight Vinson


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FATHER Project On-Site Service Providers

Judie Haughton and Nicole Martin,

Hennepin County Child Support Samuel Simmons

African American Family Services

Walter BurkCentral Minnesota Legal Services Kathy Dobovsky & Willie LorsungGED Preparation Services


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In 2009, 229 fathers enrolled in the FATHER Projects

intensive program.


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In 2009, FATHER Project reported 70 job placements withan average wage of $10.38/hour


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In 2009, FATHER Project participants, despite significantbarriers to employment, paid 51% of child support owed.195 participants attended the child support orientation.


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Percentage of Child Support Paid: FATHER Project andHennepin County "JOBS" Participants (2007 - 2009)


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In 2009, FATHER Project offered 90 Meld parentingsupport groups to 246 fathers; 34 fathers completed the

curriculum


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Parenting Group Impact: Item Results (pre & post)

I 2009 i hi i h CLUES FATHER P j ff d


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In 2009, in partnership with CLUES, FATHER Project offered46 Latino Parenting Group sessions, 62 dads and 11 moms

attended; 27 participants completed the curriculum

A j i d i ll


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FATHER Project: Latino and Native Enrollments(2006 2009)


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In 2009, in partnership with African American Family Services,the FATHER Project offered 44 Empowerment Groups to 102

fathers; 9 participant completed the curriculum


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2009 was a record-breaking year for our GED Program:195 students completed the intake, students passed a total of

126 subtests, and 19 students earned their GED Degree.


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In 2009, the FATHER Project implemented 27 Play andLearn sessions, a skill-building parenting group.

18 dads, 6 moms, and 57 children attended.


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In 2007, the Citizen Father Project was created. Since then,this group of high achieving fathers has contributed over 700

hours to this emerging community action project.


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Built around responding to real needs of fathersReflects a maturating fatherhood field: economic andemotional support, positive father involvement, and co-parentingThe model connects public/private systemsGrounded in an approach that honors women and focuseson early childhood developmentCollaborative approach, molded to fit the context of differentcommunities

FATHER Project History:Fundamentals of the Model


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The FATHER Project

A vision for the future


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FATHER ProjectShaping the Future: Beyond

2011 Meet grant goals of the Federal Responsible

Fatherhood Initiative (ongoing)

Sustain, expand and replicate the FATHERProjects holistic model (in progress)Train and educate staff across agencies

Disseminate evaluation results and promisingpracticesIntegrate services within other fields, such as

Early Childhood, Re-Entry and Co-Parent Court


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FATHER ProjectEvaluation Results /

Dissemination Standard measure of Parenting Attitudes

(AAPI-2)

Impact of Parenting Groups and EmploymentReadiness Training (Retrospective Surveys)Child Support data (aggregate annual data)

Father Child Interaction (internal form)Return on Investment Project (Wilder Research Center)

Replication manual (completed)


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FATHER Project: Timeline for ongoingcollaboration

Current Federal Grant (2006 2011)Increased collaboration and diversified enrollment.

Planning for the Future (2008 2009)Strategic planning process.

Building for the Future (2009 2010)Solidify partnerships; secure funding.

New Opportunities (2011 beyond)Sustain, expand, and replicate services.


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Guy Bowling, Program Manager [email protected]

Andrew Freeberg, Program Director [email protected]
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

FATHER Project, 2009 Accomplishments

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