1

WELCOME!The Engagement of

Non-Resident Fatherswww.fatherhoodqic.org

Presenters:Paul Frankel and Tiffany Mitchell

Child WelfareAmerican Humane Association

Englewood, Coloradowww.americanhumane.org/protecting-children

2

American Humane Association Child Welfare

For 133 years we have developed programs, policies, training, research & evaluation, and innovative responses to child abuse and neglect. We work to strengthen families and communities, and enhance CPS. www.americanhumane.org/protecting-children

Fatherhood

Family Group Decision Making

Differential Response

Chronic Neglect

Safety & Risk Assessment

Child Welfare & Migration

Prevention

Restorative Justice

Workload/Caseload

3

QIC-NRF -- Knowledge Development

The QIC-NRF is Operated by:American Humane Association, Child

WelfareABA Center on Children and the Law

National Fatherhood Initiative

A Project of the Children’s BureauAdministration on Children, Youth and

FamiliesAdministration on Children and FamiliesU.S. Department of Health and Human

Services

2006-2011

4

QIC-NRF Sites are Changing their Organizational Cultures to Engage

FathersQIC-NRF Research and Demonstration Sites:

Marion County, Indiana -Indiana Department of Child Services in IndianapolisIndiana Fathers and Families Center, http://www.fatherresource.org/

King County, Washington -Division of Children and Family Services in SeattleDivine Alternatives for Dads, http://www.aboutdads.org/

El Paso County, Colorado -El Paso County Department of Human Services in Colorado SpringsCenter for Fathering, http://dhs.elpasoco.com/COF.htm

Tarrant County, Texas – Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in Ft. WorthNew Day Services for Children and Families, http://www.newdayservices.org/

5

Non-Resident Fathers and the Child Welfare System“Is there a difference in child and family outcomes based on

non-resident father involvement?”

Safety Permanency Well-being

6

Thought Exercise

Think about your answers to the following:• What do you currently do well to

engage non-resident fathers?• What do you find most challenging

about engaging non-resident fathers?• What was/were your initial

reaction(s) about attending a conference call/webinar on father engagement?

7

Bring Back the Dads: Is there a child welfare system

bias?1,958 children removed from homes where the Father did not reside

88% Agency had identified the Father 55% Agency had contacted the Father

30% Father had visited the Child

28% Father expressed interest in

child living with him

Malm, Murray, & Geen (2006). What About the Dads? Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau

Based on interviews with 1,222 caseworkers

http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/06/cw-involve-dads/report.pdf

70% of caseworkers had received training on engaging fathers

8

Five Key Themes – A logical progression of father

involvement Identification – Not readily

ascertainable; Moms are not forthcoming with information.

Location – Transitional Dads; Dads move around, are incarcerated, avoidant.

Contact – Barriers and promising strategies in actually meeting and talking with Dads.

Engagement – Initial and ongoing; Integrate Dads into the child welfare system.

Interagency collaboration – Contradictory or complementary (e.g., law enforcement, CS enforcement, Judges).

9

CFSR Case-Level Data: 32 States Differences In Serving Mothers

and FathersAverage Across States: Percent of Cases Rated as Strength

10

Child and Family Service Reviews (CFSR)

Rounds 1 and 2 Mothers are more likely than fathers to

receive services. Inconsistency in involving fathers in

case planning. Fathers had fewer visitations with

children in foster care. The needs of fathers were assessed and

met inconsistently. Efforts to locate, contact, and/or engage

fathers were insufficient or inconsistent.

11

Engaging Fathers

12

Effective Father Engagement Strategies

What does “HELP!” look like for fathers?• Strongly influenced by

gender roles.• No “Sissy Stuff!”• Admitting to a problem is

not easy.• Difficulty in asking for help

and depending on others.• Being perceived as “weak.”

13

Effective Father Engagement Strategies

Check your attitude at the door!

Address your personal biases about men and fathers.

Resist stereotyping non-resident fathers.

Provide a welcoming physical environment.

First contact by a male (if possible). Is it possible?

Avoiding “system” jargon.

14

Effective Father Engagement Strategies

Effective approaches:• Don’t dwell on emotions.• “Normalize” their experiences.• Be action-oriented.• Fathers are sensitive to power,

respect and control.• Do not over-promise and

under-deliver.• Appropriate expressions of

anger.

15

What’s In It For…

•Broadens circle of family support by including fathers andpotentially their family/friends

•More “eyes” to survey the well-being of the child

• Increased informal supports and resources

•Positive well-being outcomes for child•Promotes family and cultural

connection

16

17

Father Friendly Check-up

Tool to help agencies create an environment that involves non-resident fathers and fosters the healthy development of children

Seven Assessment Areas1. Leadership & Organization Philosophy2. Program Management Policies & Procedures3. Parent Involvement Program4. Program Physical Environment5. Staff Training & Professional Development6. Collaboration & Organizational Networking7. Community Outreach

18

Best Practices to Engage Fathers

Reaching out to fathers - • Incarcerated Fathers: finding a voice for the

incarcerated at the table, planning for after-release. • Fathers out of jurisdiction: conference call

participation, exploring paternal relative connections.

• Alleged Fathers and Paternity Issues: inclusion while paternity is still an issue, building on emotional connections, fictive kin fathers.

• Teen Fathers: addressing the cultural needs of unwed teenage fathers.

19

How the QIC-NRF Can Help to Change Organizational Culture of

an Agency Father Friendly Check-up Male first contact with Fathers. Systems collaboration between child welfare, judicial,

child support enforcement, and other relevant systems. “Bringing Back the Dads” model intervention program

implementation. Caseworker training on effective male/father

engagement. Family Finding training. Training for judges and attorneys. Gathering feedback from stakeholders and consumers. Dissemination.

20

To learn more about the Quality Improvement Center on Non-resident Fathers and the Child Welfare System please visit our website at www.fatherhoodqic.org.

Presenters:Paul Frankel and Tiffany Mitchell

Child WelfareAmerican Humane Association

Englewood, Coloradowww.americanhumane.org/protecting-children

21

Questions & Answers