South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families

What is a Responsible Fatherhood Program and What makes One Successful

2011-10-14T12:11:00.000-04:00

Fatherhood Program

What is a responsible fatherhood program?

Fatherhood programs reduce barriers preventing low-income fathers from providing for their children, financially and emotionally. Programs offer job training, legal education, peer support, parenting classes and spiritual guidance. Programs address unemployment and underemployment, causes of child-support non-payment, strained relationships with children’s custodians, unmet desires for involvement with their children, emotional distress, and forming or using support systems. Program staff urges fathers to participate in the entire, holistic program and not single out one or two services to meet a crisis or crises and move on.

When more complex issues involving drug and alcohol, abusive and violent behavior and mental illness arise, programs partner with specialized treatment organizations to assure professional help. Education, information sharing and counseling occur mainly in group settings where fathers relate to one another and talk about doing what’s right.

Our fatherhood program offers training, referrals, and support to improve employment, parenting, and healthy relationships—all aimed at strengthening fathers. We provide trusted, missing links between fathers and beneficial professionals and resources. Our staff urges fathers to participate in the entire, holistic 24-week program that improves education, employment, sobriety, spiritually, and healthy relationships.

Program components

Components of a Successful Fatherhood Program

Program staff and Board must have an understanding of the target population.
Create welcoming father-friendly environments that are easily accessible in the community and offer flexible hours of operation.
Programs must devote countless hours to outreach and recruitment on the “streets”.
Complete a thorough assessment of a father’s needs when he enters the program. Set goals with him to address these needs while he participates in a holistic program.
Programs offer holistic services that address all domains of fatherhood. Referrals should be limited but should be used when services are needed beyond the scope of expertise on the fatherhood program staff.
Recognize that many low-income fathers have multiple and complex problems. Staff often has to devote a considerable amount of individualized attention to each father.
Peer support groups are a must.
Provide specific knowledge and skills to address key areas of fatherhood. Important to have a staff that can provide on-site.
Programs must have partnerships that are key to helping fathers navigate systems or to gain services they need.
Staff must be committed, caring, compassionate, respectful and non-judgmental and have the ability to gain fathers’ trust. Staff must be role models and therefore often need to be male.
Staff must teach in a way that men learn. Utilize adult education techniques and other strategies to reach men.
When communicating with the public not only communicate the benefits of fathers but also focus on outcomes for children
Programs must have an evaluation component and a data collection methodology

20 Reasons Why Your Child Needs You to Be an Active Father Continued….

2011-09-27T16:23:00.000-04:00

11. Provides your child with an alternative perspective on life. Research indicates that men and women often differ in their parenting styles; however, one style is not necessarily better than the other. Instead, it can be healthy for children to be exposed to different perspectives on life, such as a father’s.

12. Lowers your child’s chances for early sexual activity. Children with actively involved fathers are less likely to engage in early sexual activity, thus reducing their chances for teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

13. Lowers our child's chances for school failure. Children with actively involved fathers are less likely to drop out of school than children with uninvolved fathers.

14. Lowers your child's chances for youth suicide. Children with actively involved fathers are less likely to commit suicide than children with uninvolved fathers.

15. Lowers your child's chances for juvenile delinquency. The benefits of having an active father throughout a child's early years extend into the teen years as well. Children with active fathers are less likely to commit juvenile crimes than children with inactive fathers.

16. Lowers your child's chances for adult criminality. The chances that a child will commit crimes as an adult also diminish when he grows up with an actively involved father.

17. Provides your child with a sense of physical and emotional security. One of the major benefits that fathers can provide to their children by being actively involved is a sense of security (physical and emotional). By being actively involved in a child's life, a father promotes a trusting relationship. The child does not have to worry about being abandoned.

18. Facilitates your child's moral development. Children need a moral compass to guide them when hey face difficult moral choices. Fathers, like mothers, help children to develop a sense of right and wrong that serves as a foundation for establishing moral character.

19. Promotes a healthy gender identity in your child. Boys and girls benefit from having healthy role models from both sexes. Research points to the fact that mothers and fathers socialize their children in different ways. Fathers can help their children, especially boys, to develop a healthy sense of what it means to be a male.

20. Helps your child learn important life skills. Most of the essential life skills that children need to survive are learned within the home. Fathers have a unique opportunity to teach their children valuable skills that will enable them to grow up to be healthy and productive adults.

2011-09-13T16:39:00.001-04:00

Fathers play a critical role in the development of their children; however, many fathers are uncertain about the responsibilities and privileges associated with this role. Children need fathers who love and care for them on a consistent basis. The latest research indicates that fathers who are actively involved in raising their children can make a positive and lasting difference in their lives. In contrast, this same research reveals a number of potentially negative outcomes for children whose fathers are not involved.

Below is a part 1 of 2 listing 20 reasons why your child needs you to be an active father. Being an active father:

1. Lets your child know that you love them. Love involves more than saying the words, "I love you."Fathers who love thir children demonstrate their love by spending quality and quantity time together. Children who feel loved are more likely to develop a strong emotional bond with their father and a healthy self-esteem.

2. Provides your child with greater financial services. Research clearly indicates that families with an active father are "better off" financially.

3. Provides your child with a positive male role model. Children, regardlessof gender, need positive male and female role models.

4. Provides your child with emotional support. In addition to financial support, children also need emotional support from their parents. Fathers who support their children emotionally tend to raise children who are more in-tune with the needs of others.

5. Enhances your child's self-esteem. Self-esteem refers to how a person feels about himself. children with high self-esteem tend to be happier and more confident than children with low self-esteem.

6. Enhances your child's intellectual development. Children who are raised with actively involved fathers tend to score higher on measures of verbal and mathematical ability.

7. Provides your child with guidance and discipline. From infancy, children need proper guidance and discipline. Active fathers play an important role in teaching their children proper behavior by setting and enforcing healthy limits.

8. Gives your child someone to play with. One of the primary ways that fathers bond with their children is through play. According to researchers, there are qualitative differences in the ways fathers and mothers play with their children. Fathers tend to use a more physical style of play that offers a number of benefits to children, who are seeking answers to life's important questions.

9. Provides your child with someone to talk to when she has questions. Young children are full of questions. This natural curiosity helps them learn about their environment. Active fathers can be a valuable source of information for children who are seeking answers to life's important questions.

10. Increases your child's chances for academic success. Children whose fathers are actively involved in their lives are more likely to achieve academic success than children whose fathers are not actively involved. These academic benefits appear to extend into adulthood.

Communicating Effectively With Your Child

2011-09-07T12:10:00.000-04:00

1. Talk at their level physically. Taller adults seem to tower over kids, but if you sit in a chair or on the floor you'll be at their level, making interaction easier.

2. Respond to their needs for attention. Each child is different; some may cry, become irritable, obnoxious or act out for attention, while others may be more reclusive and solitary. Knowing a child's personality will help determine when he is crying out for attention.

3. Involve yourself closely in the child's interests and activities. Whether it's a love of drawing or coloring, playing with animals, taking dance or playing little league, showing that you're interested lets the child know that her favorite activities are important.

4. Communicate directly and openly. Make direct eye contact, talk often and smile when addressing the child. Express warmth and touch through actions and behaviors; be both sensitive and responsive.

5. Read together or have the child read to you. Most younger children love books and stories. Let the child choose which story they'd like to read together; ask older children if they'd like to play a certain character as you read aloud or even suggest acting the story out together.

6. Do your homework. Learn all that you can about childhood behavior and development though books, seminar, classes and DVD's.

Learn more at SC Center for Fathers and Families

Inexepensive Activities to do With Your Children

2011-09-02T13:06:00.000-04:00

1. Play. Seems simple, but, do you really know how to do it? Get down on the floor and play trucks, build forts, make cardboard buildings for cars. Go through the clothes in the house and make a dress up box; include old jewelry, hats, purses and shows. Plan a tea party, and follow it wherever it goes.

2. Read. Start a small chapter book and read one chapter a day. Make reading time special with snacks.

3. Make something together. Simple paper plates make great masks to wear, then you can play using your masks.

4. Cook. Every kid loves to help in the kitchen. Make or buy their own cookbook and apron, then let them pick a recipe and help them make it, and do this as a weekly thing. You will be surprised how much you learn from your child while spending the time together.

5. Give them creative design. Get a big box, cut it open, lay it flat and hand them the supplies to go crazy -- let them pain, draw, cut and then join them.

6. Go on picnics. All kids love picnics, the key is making them spontaneous. Pick them up from school, take a snack and head to the park, have a picnic inside, use a theme like all red food, or let them pick all the foods. So what if for one meal you're eating Twinkies and cereal. It won't kill them or you.

7. Play games, any game. When's the last time you induldged in something a little wild, like hide and seek in the house?

8. Build a fort, inside or out. Kids don't need extravagant play houses -- a sheet over the clothes line or some chairs will do just fine. Play in there with them.

9. Play with play dough. Get out the cookie cutters and anything else that you normally don't let them use for play dough...use plastic utensils for cutting.

10. Be a clown occasionally. You don't need make-up, just be silly. The kids will have a great time laughing when their Mum/Dad isn't able to find that thing that is obviously in front of them ("No I can't see it anywhere."). Another great example is getting your foot stuck to the floor after gluing something. When the kids try to help, their hand also gets stuck to the parent's hand.

Give your kids the ultimate gift of time. Instead of saying "not right now", stop and go play for an hour. is that bill really going to be any different if you leave it on the table and come back and hour later? Probably not, but, your child may look back and remember the day you stopped what you were doing and played for an hour.

10 Strategies For Improved Parenting

2011-08-30T15:25:00.000-04:00

1. Remember your own childhood. (your child has some of those same feelings)

2. Let the kids have a voice. (many times when we shut people up we often shut them down)

3. Make sure your child experiences consequences. (this teaches the lesson of cause and effect)

4. Make parenting a group effort. (allow neighbors, teachers, relatives, friends and any trustworthy adult to participate in raising your child, this teaches a sense of community)

5. Get to know your child. (learning your child allows you to get the most out of the child, all children are different)

6. Set high standards. (the higher the bar the higher the flight)

7. Make time together. (time is the antidote for all evils)

8. Talk is cheap and invaluable. (visual is always stronger than verbal)

9. Have a good relationship with your spouse or child's mother. (the stronger the relationship the easier to raise your kids)

10. Make parenting a top priority. (if it is important to you it will be important to them)

To learn more information or guidance, please contact Richard Barr at the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families. 803.227.8806 ext. 207

Man2Man Hosts Parenting and Gang Workshop

2011-08-24T16:47:00.000-04:00

Recently Man2Man, one of the SC Center for Fathers and Families' fatherhood programs hosted a parenting and gang workshop. They had 44 people in attendance with Officer Reginald McKiver as the guest speaker. He is also the coordinator for a program called "Crossroads" that is ran by the city of Bennettsville Police Department. The program is designed to address the nature of children being kicked out of school for deviant behavior. Once a child is referred to the program they have to participate in military cadence, exercise, class activities and attend a session facilitated by partners from community agencies such as DSS, Alcohol and Drug, Man2man, etc.....

Officer McKiver gave a lecture on how broken homes leads to kids joining gangs and how kids from his program have on many occasions expressed their anger, frustrations and sadness due to their fathers not being involved in their lives. He had one of the kids from his program (15 year old female) talk briefly about how painful it makes her feel that her father doesn't spend any time with her. After she spoke for about 8 minutes she broke down into tears and could not finish. Officer McKiver and many others in attendance were emotionally jolted by her testimony and were caught fighting back tears.

Officer McKiver also expressed his encouragement to the fathers and mentioned that he understands how it is to be a noncustodial father trying to spend time with your kids when there has been conflict with the child's mother. The fathers in attendance from Man2Man enjoyed it immensely and realized the importance of being in their childrens' lives.

The count consisted of the following:

28 fathers

6 participants from Crossroads

1 presenter

5 mothers

4 staff

Total in attendance: 44

To learn more about Man2Man or other fatherhood programs, please visit our website SC Center for Fathers and Families

KIDS COUNT data revealed....Center Here to Help

2011-08-19T16:21:00.003-04:00

A few days ago, the Annie E. Casey Foundation released the 2011 KIDS COUNT Data Book (KIDS COUNT Data Center) which takes a look at the impact of the Great Recession on the nation's children. The data and numbers are shocking, especially for the state of South Carolina. Since the release of the KIDS COUNT data books beginning 20 years ago, South Carolina has consistently ranked 45th.

They have reported that approximately 260,000 children (1 out of every 4) are poor; and half (approximately 520,000) of all South Carolina's children, live in low-income families below twice the poverty line.

Since the US has been declared in a recession the KIDS COUNT data also examined two additional indicators: unemployment and foreclosure. The statistics do not get any better from here. The following are some key highlights from KIDS COUNT's findings:

• 140,000 children in South Carolina are in families with one or both parents unemployed.

• 11 percent of children (113,000) in South Carolina had at least one unemployed parent during 2010.

• South Carolina had the 2nd highest percentage in the nation (6.6%) of children with all resident parents unemployed and the 3rd highest percentage in the nation (13.6%) with at least one resident parent unemployed in 2009.
• South Carolina ranks 47th nationally in single parent families

Not all the data was gloomy as four of the 10 key indicators improved, while three got worse and the other three remained the same.

• Four areas improved significantly: the teen death rate, the teen birth rate, and the percent of teens not in school and not working declined moderately
• Three areas have worsened: the child poverty rate, the percent of children in families where no parent has full-time, year-round employment, and the percent of children living in single-parent families.
• Three areas have not changed significantly: low birth weight, infant mortality, and child deaths (ages 1-14).

The KIDS COUNT data shows how the Great Recession affects adults, which in return has a trickling down affect to the children. Here at the SC Center for Fathers and Families we work directly with the men of our community. Most of our fathers have felt the impact of the recession and feel handicapped by it. Our program is dedicated to "reducing poverty through fatherhood engagement." In 2010 1,568 participants were served in our fatherhood programs. Our success lies in the numbers:

- 830 participants participated in job readiness sessions

- 452 participants gained employment

- 762 participants received parenting education

- 395 participants experienced improved relationship with the other parent

- 464 participants increased time spent with their child

- $964,558 was paid in child support

The gloomy statistics revealed by KIDS COUNT cannot continue to grow. ..."Our state cannot recover and move forward while one-quarter of its children live in such severe distress. Kids Count calls our attention to the fact that adequate nutrition, health care, and education are the building blocks that children need to grow into productive citizens," says Harry Davis, director of the Children's Law Center, University of South Carolina School of Law.

The SC Center for Fathers and Families continues to strive to lower these numbers while strengthening the relationship between fathers and their families. To learn how to help, please call (803) 227-8800 or find us on facebook.

Jobs not Jail

2011-08-16T16:03:00.000-04:00

It is well understood that the majority of child support debt termed non-collectable is owed by low-income noncustodial parents who lack the capacity to support both themselves and pay their child support obligation consistently. Unfortunately, most non-collectable child support is owed to a custodial parent who is also struggling financially and who relies heavily on that monthly child support contribution to meet their child's basic needs. The disconnect appears to occur when low-income noncustodial parents are unable or unwilling to connect to critical support services. However, one program in South Carolina is taking an alternative approach to child support enforcement with these low-income noncustodial parents and there is significant evidence that this diversionary program works.

In 2002 a diversionary, pilot program, “Jobs not Jail,” initiated by the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families (Center), implemented a pilot program that offered critical support services to noncustodial parents in danger of accumulating large arrears in their child support cases. “Jobs not Jail” allows family court judges at initial contempt hearings the option of referring unemployed or underemployed noncustodial parents to a comprehensive fatherhood program which delivers critical support services focused on increasing the parent’s ability to provide both financial and emotional support to their child. Specific support services delivered through this program include soft skills training (such as job readiness and job retention skills), job placement and transportation assistance. Court referred clients are connected, if needed, to substance abuse treatment, medical providers alleviating mental and physical barriers to employment, and access to workforce investment funds for vocational job skills training. The Program forms key partnerships with outside providers, like workforce investment, to enhance the noncustodial parent's ability to navigate these complex systems.

Since 2006, nearly 1600 (more than 80%) low-income noncustodial parents completed the six month program, sustained full-time employment and paid more than two million dollars in court-ordered, ongoing, debt related child support. This is tremendously significant because it clearly indicates that the “Jobs not Jail” program connects multiple critical issues ensuring continuation of monthly child support for low income custodial parents while simultaneously reducing incarceration costs. Instead of 100%, less than 20% face incarceration, not for failure to pay, but rather for “failure to participate” per the court order. Notably, unlike capacity to pay, determining a defendant’s level of participation is easily ascertained by reviewing class attendance records and scheduled appointments.

In 2009, the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement awarded the Center a Special Improvement Project Grant to test the “Jobs not Jail” program model in a small rural community with an unemployment rate of close to 25%. Early findings from this project indicate that most participants did need some basic job skills training in order to secure viable employment. However, entry level skills training can be done quickly and most who complete training have secured full-time employment. To learn more about the “Jobs not Jail” program, please contact the SC Center for Fathers and Families at 803-227-8800, or www.scfathersandfamilies.com.

The Center, Local Programs and SC Department of Social Services Partner to Improve Child Welfare Services

2010-08-20T10:29:00.002-04:00

A Memorandum of Agreement was signed on August 2, between the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families and the South Carolina Department of Social Services to establish a collaborative relationship in order to enhance services for families involved in the child welfare system.

Working together, the two agencies have the common goal of improving outcomes for children and lowering the numbers of children who are entering foster care each year by increasing the active involvement of noncustodial fathers in the case management and legal proceedings handled through the SC Department of Social Services. The Memorandum of Agreement also includes a pilot project with the Upstate Fatherhood Coalition and the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition Lexington site so that all of the partners can work hand-in-hand to provide additional supportive services, where possible, to non-custodial fathers who are being considered for placement if their child is being removed from the custodial parent's care.

Approximately 20 people attended the memorandum signing which took place at the South Carolina Department of Social Services.

(Pictured: Kathleen Hayes, SC Department of Social Services Director and Patricia Littlejohn, SC Center for Fathers and Families Executive Director sign a Memorandum
of Agreement)

Father's Day Activities 2010

2010-07-13T11:02:00.000-04:00

Upstate Fatherhood Coalition's Father's Day Gala

2010-06-24T09:11:00.006-04:00

The Upstate Fatherhood Coalition held it's third annual Father's Day Gala on Thursday, June 17. The evening included a silent auction, testimonies from two former participants and Keynote Speaker Former Lt. Governor Nick Theodore.

The highlight of the evening 0ccurred when Troy Taylor was presented with the Father of the Year award. Taylor's daughter, Alexis, won the school essay contest in which she described why her father should be father of the year.

Mickey Plyler acted as the Master of Ceremonies for the event. Local artist Ric Standridge attended the event where his painting, "Dads Dressed Up" was auctioned off. Event sponsors included Greenville Hospital System, BB&T, CenTec, Michelin, The Greenville News and Womble, Carlyle, Sandridge and Rice, LLC.

For more information about the Upstate Fatherhood Coalition, visit their Website.

President Obama Announces Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative

2010-06-24T08:56:00.002-04:00

President Obama announced on Monday a new Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative to encourage individuals, especially fathers, to be involved in the lives of their children and to be positive role models and mentors for their children and communities. The Initiative is a partnership between the Administration for Children and Families, White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships, National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, fathers, mothers, family-serving organizations and other leaders from across the country.

The new Initiative, which is enlisting a network of organizations, will expand on a six-city listening tour the administration held last year to bring attention to the issue of fatherlessness. The administration will also begin issuing an e-newsletter from the Fatherhood.gov Web site, emphasizing the role of fathers in families and offering parenting tips. Outside groups enlisted by the White House will also promote the issue. The NFL Players Association and the National Parent Teachers Association have agreed to hold events on responsible fatherhood.

President Obama concluded his speech with the following statement, “The decision to be a good father is up to each father individually; being a father is both a privilege and a blessing.”

To become involved, fill out a simple form on the Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative page on the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse Web site. Registrants will receive tools, news and tips for responsible fatherhood, healthy families and strong communities.

A Call to Women to Join the Fatherhood Movement

2010-06-18T19:00:00.000-04:00

Courageous, thoughtful and spirited women have led national movements that fought for women’s rights and advocated for changes in attitudes and policies that have diminished women. Men, too, have joined with these women-led causes. They have casts favorable votes; spoke man-to-man about the harmful effects against women; made financial contributions and enacted new policies and expectations respecting, protecting and providing equal treatment for women in government and the workplace.

Now a national movement focused on men needs the active involvement and support of women. This movement addresses one of the most devastating trends of our time: father absence. This male led movement beckons men to be the best fathers they can be, as it should be. The fatherhood movement focuses on men and the well-being of children.

Being a part of South Carolina’s fatherhood movement for more than ten years, I have seen first-hand ways women can help or hinder the involvement of fathers in their children’s lives.

Here are some ways women can support fathers:

First, support men in their parenting role. Men parent differently from women. Research shows that fathers parenting style, while different from mothers, is important to shaping healthy well-rounded children.

Second, encourage men to find help and get support in their role as fathers. We see the negative effects of previous generation’s father-absence on today’s fathers. Many fathers have not had a positive father role model in their lives. There are growing resources and fathers groups available to help support men in their role as fathers. For example, The South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families (www.scfathersandfamilies.com) supports local fatherhood programs in eleven communities across the state where low-income fathers can get help.

Third, women in traditional social service and educational roles should foster father involvement. For some time, we have focused on empowering mothers as parents to the exclusion of fathers. Admittedly, many dads have not been around leaving mothers to be the sole provider. We need to acknowledge that children suffer without a father’s involvement. We should ask the question, what role can or should the child’s father play then reach out to get him actively involved. We can support new expectations, policies and attitudes, that foster father involvement much like men have done for women.

Fourth, women can contribute and encourage increased resources and funding for fatherhood programs. While women have fought fiercely for much-needed funding for women’s needs, we too must support funding for fathers for the benefit of children. Supporting fathers does not mean diminishing what is being done for women. It is simply a recognition that we need both. Our state needs to invest in resources for both parents to strengthen our families because without it, not only do our children but also our state suffers.

Finally, when the father is not living in the home with the children, mothers and grandmothers are the ones who grant access for fathers to their children. Mothers and grandmothers hold the formidable role as gatekeepers. They open or close the door for fathers to be involved in their children’s lives. Too often women vent their anger and disappointment with the fathers by withholding the children.

So women, if not for the men, then for the children, let’s get behind the fatherhood movement that calls men to be responsible and accountable while providing resources needed to fulfill their role as actively involved fathers.

- Pat Littlejohn, Executive Director, South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families

Father to Father Project Recognized as Charleston Chamber's Nonprofit of the Year

2010-06-17T11:13:00.000-04:00

For the third year, the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce honored 12 dynamic businesses and industries that make up the Charleston region's economy and best reflect the vision, mission and core values of the Chamber through the 1773 Chamber Awards at its annual meeting on June 3.

Father to Father Project of North Charleston was awarded with the Nonprofit of the Year award. Father to Father Project is a community based, nonprofit organization that increases the involvement of low-income, non-custodial fathers in the lives of their children and families by assisting with education and employment, helping to negotiate child support issues, providing peer support, developing parenting skills and offering healthy relationship and marriage education. Case management is provided and program participants are linked to many community services. The Father to Father Project is unique in that it is one of only a few programs in the Charleston area specifically designed to serve fathers. Fatherhood staff provide essential job readiness training to supplement job skills training. The job readiness curriculum improves participant's decision making, critical thinking and problem solving skills. It also addresses financial management issues such as how to handle money, establish credit and shop comparatively. The curriculum deals with a variety of real-life situations. It involves the participants in a wide range of specially designed simulation situations to improve their cognitive, emotional and social development skills that are needed both in the workplace and in their day-to-day lives.

The 1773 Awards is named for the year of the Chamber's establishment. Awards were given to organizations that best reflect the core values of the Chamber; Leadership, Relevance, Integrity, Diversity and Innovation. Winners of each category will be vying for the 1773 Chamber of the Year Award being presented at the Annual Gala on July 9.

For more information about the Father to Father Project, visit their Website.

(Pictured Above: Julian Stewart, Father to Father Project intervention specialist; Bill Jenkins, Father to Father Project executive director; Kalen Milford, Father to Father Project intervention specialist).

(Not pictured: Jonathan Shuler, Father to Father Project job coach and Mac Hammett, Father to Father Project counselor).

Midlands Fatherhood Coalition - Fairfield Creates Educational Partnership

2010-06-17T11:11:00.002-04:00

Midlands Fatherhood Coalition Fairfield and Fairfield County School District in conjunction with Fairfield Adult Education signed a formal Memorandum of Agreement on June 1. The agreement allows the fatherhood program to teach GED classes on-site. GED classes will begin on June 17 and will be offered every Thursday thereafter from 2 - 5 p.m. The agreement will last one year, with the option of renewing it annually. The agreement was signed by Dr. Nathaniel Bryan, director, Adult Education; Dr. Patrice Robinson, superintendent, Fairfield County School District; and Keith Ivey, site director, Midlands Fatherhood Coalition Fairfield.

Community partners, fathers, fatherhood and adult education staff and supporters gathered to witness the signing of the formal partnership agreement. About 30 people were present for the signing.

"This program is successful in large part because of the collaborative community partners and the resources and support they bring to the table," said Patricia Littlejohn, Executive Director, SC Center for Fathers and Families. The SC Center for Fathers and Families helps secure funding and provides technical assistance and support to the local program.

The Midlands Fatherhood Coalition Fairfield program began in December 1998 under Fairfield Behavioral Health.

For more information about the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition, visit their Website.

(Pictured: Dr. Nathaniel Bryan, director, Adult Education; Dr. Patrice Robinson, superintendent, Fairfield County School District; and Keith Ivey, site director, Midlands Fatherhood Coalition Fairfield).

SC Center for Fathers and Families Adds Research and Evaluation Staff

2010-06-17T11:10:00.000-04:00

Recently, the Center welcomed Irene Luckey, Ph.D., as the Director of Research, Evaluation and Program Integration and Saartje Scholtz as the Center's Research Associate.

In her position, Dr. Luckey is responsible for conducting and overseeing all research and evaluation activities, leading the organization's efforts in performance-based evaluation and reporting and disseminating outcome-based findings and promising practices relevant to the overall Fatherhood Initiative. She will also manage new program integration and capacity building among the fatherhood program staff. Dr. Luckey has worked with the Fatherhood Initiative in the role of a consultant since 1998.

Saartje Scholtz, Research Associate, will conduct research and assessment activities that provide data to support and enhance decision-making, strategic planning, evidence-based outcomes assessment and external reporting for the SC Center for Fathers and Families. Her primary responsibility is to conduct research to be used for planning, designing research studies, collecting, managing and analyzing data and preparing reports.

A special welcome to Dr. Irene Luckey and Saartje Scholtz!

Team up with Coaches Darrin Horn and Dabo Swinney

2010-05-25T10:31:00.002-04:00

Darrin and Dabo support the Ugly Tie campaign:

For more information, visit the Ugly Tie Website.

2010-05-25T10:00:00.000-04:00

Do you have a father that greatly influenced your life? Perhaps, someone was a great father figure that shaped your life enormously. Are you wondering what you can give him or do to honor his memory for Father's Day to express your appreciation and devotion? This year, you can honor your father, or recognize a great father, by helping other men become better fathers.

This Father's Day, join University of South Carolina men's head basketball coach Darrin Horn and Clemson University head football coach Dabo Swinney to increase the involvement of fathers in the lives of their children.

Make a gift in honor of your father to the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families and double the impact of your gift. An anonymous donor is matching every gift dollar up to $8,000. We will send your father, father figure or any great father a specially designed Father's Day card to honor him. If you would like to honor the memory of your father, you may choose to send a card to another family member. Without referencing the amount, the card recipient will know that you have made a gift to help more fathers become great dads.

Don't miss this opportunity to pay tribute to your father, or the man who is like a father to you, in this unique and powerful way.

In honor of fathers across South Carolina, "thank you."

For more information or to make a donation, visit the Ugly Tie Website .

SC Center and Fatherhood Programs Participate in Sentencing Reform Commission Hearing

2010-03-25T11:01:00.002-04:00

The South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families recently testified at the Sentencing Reform Commission's subcommittee hearing. The Center urged the committee to include the "Jobs not Jail" alternative sentencing component for low-income parents who owe back child support but are unemployed and/or underemployed in the list of community-based alternatives to incarceration in the proposed Senate Bill 1154.

The "Jobs not Jail" component of fatherhood programs reduces overcrowding in detention centers across the state leaving bed space for violent offenders and saving taxpayers millions of dollars while connecting low-income fathers to viable employment and other critical services.

On March 9, the Sentencing Reform Commission approved language that includes the nonpayment of child support as part of the diversion programs named in the bill. These programs are required to report outcomes to the Sentencing Oversight Committee. Although the legislative process is not complete, the recognition of the issue in the Senate version of the bill is an important milestone in garnering additional support for the Center's alternative sentencing program. Look for updates on the legislative process as the House works on its version of the bill.

For more information about the Center's Alternatives to Incarceration component, visit our Website.

(Pictured Above: Top row, left to right: Carlos Sullivan, Upstate Fatherhood Coalition Greenville Case Manager; Keith Ivey, Midlands Fatherhood Coalition Fairfield Site Director; Kelly Walker, Upstate Fatherhood Coalition Executive Director; Angela Tolbert, Midlands Fatherhood Coalition Executive Director; Tyrom Faulkner, Lancaster Fatherhood Project Executive Director; Andre McCullough, Upstate Fatherhood Coalition Spartanburg Site Director; Derrick Dease, Man 2 Man Executive Director; Charles Brown, Midlands Fatherhood Coalition Lexington Site Director).

Differences in the cold and the flu

2010-02-17T13:50:00.003-05:00

(This information is provided to the Center from our fatherhood program Nurse Practitioner, Dawn Pender)

What is the difference between the cold and the flu?

Cold
Symptoms usually come on gradual
Fever rare to less than 100 degrees
Headache rare
Slight aches and pains
Common stuffy/runny nose with sore throat
Mild/Moderate hacking cough

Flu
Symptoms usually come on quickly
Usually fever more than 100 degrees for 3-4 days
Chills and sweating off and on
Usually has prominent headache
Can have severe aches, pains and tiredness
Sometimes stuffy/runny nose and sore throat
Can have a severe cough

Prevention measures for both include good hand washing, drinking lots of water and maintaining a balanced diet. Getting a seasonal flu shot (and H1N1 shot) can help to prevent the flu. The flu can cause serious complications such as pneumonia.

When should you seek out a health care provider for either the cold or the flu? If you have the flu, a health care provider may prescribe an antiviral medication (if it has been 24-48 hours into the illness) that may help to reduce the severity of the symptoms and decrease the time of being ill. These antiviral medications are very costly and for some may not be an option so symptom relief measures may be suggested. Some alarming symptoms that you should seek medical care include: chest pain and/or difficulty breathing: fever lasting more than three days or high fever unaffected by fever reducing medications; vomiting or the inability to keep fluids down; extreme painful swallowing; cough lasting more than two to three weeks; persistent congestion and headaches lasting more than one week.

SCCFF Elects New Board Chair

2010-02-17T13:35:00.002-05:00

The South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families has elected Chrissy Brogdon Dingeldine as president of the board of trustees, effective March 2010.

Dingeldine, who has served on the board of trustees since 2004, succeeds former president Christina Hoefer Myers.

Dingeldine serves as principal consultant for Policy Studies, Inc. Prior to joining Policy Studies, Inc., she served as assistant director for the South Carolina Child Support Enforcement Division. In addition to serving on the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families Board of Trustees, she served on the board of directors of the Eastern Regional Interstate Child Support Association (ERICSA) from 1996 to 2006, and was awarded the Association’s Felix Infausto Award in 2007. Dingeldine resides in Columbia with her husband, Jim, and their daughter, Cate.

Other newly elected Board of Trustees officers include Red Hermann, vice president; Sister Nancy Hendershot, CSA, secretary; and Tom Keith, treasurer.

Center, Programs and Fathers Attend White House Sponsored Event

2009-12-18T12:13:00.004-05:00

The South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, Midlands Fatherhood Coalition and Upstate Fatherhood Coalition participated in the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships Roundtable and Community Forum on Responsible Fatherhood and Strong Communities on December 15, 2009, at Morehouse College, Atlanta, Georgia.

Lisa Potts, Policy Office director, and Pat Littlejohn, executive director of the Center, participated in a Policy and Programming roundtable discussion and had the opportunity to specifically address issues related to fathers and the child support system. Midlands Fatherhood Coalition executive director Angela Tolbert and site directors Charles Brown and Keith Ivey, three fathers, and site directors Tommy Rice and Andre McCullough of the Upstate Fatherhood Coalition joined in for the Community Forum. During the larger town-hall style meeting, three fathers from the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition, Mr. Donald Moore, Mr.Tony Bockus and Mr. Edward Harper, each addressed a Fatherhood Panel, US Attorney General Eric Holder, Joshua DuBois, executive director, White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and Mr. Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff, White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs. In front of an audience nearing 300 of distinguished guests, community and national leaders and fatherhood practitioners, each father shared a personal testimony of their challenges, benefits of the fatherhood program and one father specifically addressed the need for reform of the child support system. Mr. Strautmanis recognized the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition leadership for their great work supporting the fathers who were present.

Attorney General Eric Holder briefly addressed the audience as did President Obama through a special videotaped message.

The event, co-sponsored by the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and the US Department of Justice: Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance, is a part of a national ongoing conversation on responsible fatherhood initiated by President Barack Obama in June.

(Top row, left to right: Charles Brown, Midlands Fatherhood Coalition Lexington site director; Tony Bockus, fatherhood participant, Donald Moore, fatherhood participant; Pat Littlejohn, SC Center for Fathers and Families executive director. Bottom row, left to right: Edward Harper, fatherhood participant; Joshua DuBois, White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships executive director; Angela Tolbert, Midlands Fatherhood Coalition executive director; Keith Ivey, Midlands Fatherhood Coalition Fairfield site director).

US Attorney General Eric Holder

Fatherhood participants (l to r): Donald Moore, Tony Bockus and Edward Harper

Fatherhood participant Tony Bockus speaks to a panel at Tuesday's Community Forum

2009 Families and Friends Celebration

2009-12-18T10:23:00.005-05:00

The South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina hosted the annual Fatherhood and Family Christmas Celebration and Luncheon on Monday, December 7th at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center. The event featured keynote speaker and national fatherhood leader Joseph Jones, President and CEO of the Center for Urban Families.

(Pictured left to right: Christina Myers, SC Center for Fathers and Families Board chair; Joseph Jones, Center for Urban Families president and CEO; Lisa Potts, SC Center for Father and Families policy director; Pat Littlejohn, SC Center for Fathers and Families executive director).

Father to Father Georgetown and SC Center for Fathers and Families to Receive Federal Grant

2009-12-02T14:24:00.002-05:00

The South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families recently announced that it is a recipient of a Special Improvement Project grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Child Support Enforcement. The grant funds will be targeted to assist Father to Father Georgetown in implementing an alternative to incarceration for low-income fathers who are unemployed or underemployed and who owe child support.

“This project is the result of significant community collaboration to strengthen fathers so they can provide for their children,” comments Dwayne Edwards, executive director of Father to Father Georgetown. Under this project, eligible fathers may be court-ordered by a Family Court Judge to Father to Father Georgetown in lieu of incarceration for failure to pay child support. Fathers must obtain employment or enroll in job training, begin paying child support and participate weekly in the program for six months. As a result of the partnership between Waccamaw Workforce Investment Administrators, Georgetown One-Stop, Horry Georgetown Technical College and Father to Father Georgetown, fathers may receive welder certification training to develop a job skill that is needed in the area. Father to Father will also assist fathers in job readiness, financial management, managing child support and addressing barriers to employment. The program not only addresses the importance of a father providing financially for his children as a result of employment but also addresses all aspects of responsible
fatherhood. Court-ordered fathers who fail to comply with the program requirements will be reported to Family Court and will be ruled back into court.

While incarceration is a necessary and workable approach for some delinquent child support payers, incarceration for others does not solve problems nor increases child support payments which is what the project aims to do. “Instead of spending tax dollars to incarcerate fathers, the project will help fathers get a specific job skill, secure livable wage employment, and provide for their family,” adds Edwards.

Father to Father Georgetown will work closely with the SC Center for Fathers and Families to evaluate the program and to help make the project one that can be replicated nationally.

Father to Father Georgetown, originally established in 1998 under the leadership of the United Way of Georgetown, aims to serve approximately 120 low-income fathers annually. Father to Father Georgetown is one of seven programs in 11 sites across the state and is part of a statewide fatherhood initiative supported and coordinated by the SC Center for Fathers and Families.

The cost of the project is $294,319 and is funded in full by federal funding sources. Thirty percent ($90,429) of project funding is from the Office of Child Support Enforcement at the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Center Recognized as a Promising Practice

2009-08-19T10:34:00.000-04:00

US Department of Health and Human Services Recognizes the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families as a Promising Practice

The US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Family Assistance recently released a report, Emerging Findings from the Office of Family Assistance Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Grant Programs: A Review of Select Grantee Profiles and Promising Results, which features the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families as a Promising Practice.

Promising Practices are defined as programmatic functions, activities, and processes for which an evidence base does not yet exist, but for which staff programmatic experience, experts in the fields, and experienced technical advisors agree are beneficial to overall program functioning. The report features eight Healthy Marriage programs and eight Responsible Fatherhood programs.

The report will be used to inform White House Administration, Congress and practitioners in the field about promising practices of the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood programs and outcomes. The full color, 44-page report features photos and testimonies and was distributed to more than 600 attendees at the recent Office for Family Assistance conference held in Washington, D.C. August 12-14, 2009.

The process began in September 2008 with more than 100 sites initially nominated as a potential Promising Practice. Through a series of reviews and critiques, the field was narrowed to 21 grantees with 16 featured in the report. James Bell Associates performed extensive reviews with an emphasis on curriculum, staffing, training, services, recruitment and retention, community partnerships and evaluation outcomes to narrow down the nominated grantees. Dr. Irene Luckey prepared an extensive report for James Bell Associates detailing the Initiative’s outcomes. The Center also participated in multiple conference call interviews and hosted James Bell Associates for a day-long on-site visit.

Common practices discovered among all grantees were the use of an evidence-based curriculum; a reluctance to modify the curriculum; caring and professional front line staff; thorough training of staff on the curriculum; involvement of community partners as important referral sources; and an established reputation within the community and good word-of-mouth from past participants.

For more information, visit the Administration for Children and Families Website or the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families Website.

Recognize and Support Fathers this Father's Day

2009-06-21T12:00:00.002-04:00

Today marks a little known or celebrated 100th anniversary. In 1909, a woman named Sonora Dodd in Spokane, Wash., was listening to her preacher’s sermon about the importance of honoring Mother's Day. Although she agreed it was an important day, she felt it unfair that no recognition was given to fathers. After Sonora's mother died, it was her father who made the big sacrifices in her life. He was the one who made sure she had food on the table, warm clothes to wear and that she said her nightly prayers. Why then, she wondered, were fathers not being honored in the same fashion?

Sonora began her life's mission to see that fathers received the same recognition as mothers for making the necessary sacrifices for their children. She began having a father’s day celebration during June, her birth month, every year thereafter in Spokane. But, it was not until 1972 (63 years later) that a permanent national observance of Father's Day on the third Sunday of June was established.

Today, we need to ask a similar question as the one posed by Sonora 100 years ago. Why is it that the importance of having an engaged and active father remains largely devalued and unrecognized? While Sonora’s father was loving and attentive, many fathers today are not so involved. Father absence has dramatically increased since the 1960’s. More children are living today in father absent households than during the height of World War II. Research clearly reveals that father absence has significant negative consequences for children, including child poverty. Society and taxpayers pay a tremendous price as well. Because many disregard a father’s worth and fewer people reach out to them, support for fathers is spotty and underfunded throughout our nation.

However, progress is being made in South Carolina. The Sisters of Charity Foundation has invested more than $16.5 million to support advocacy and fatherhood programs in South Carolina over the past ten years. The South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, an outgrowth of this initiative, supports six fatherhood programs in 12 locations across the state and serves more than 1,500 low-income fathers who want to become great dads. Fathers receive guidance, support, information and resources. They earn respect and are respected.

Support for these programs is worthwhile. They save taxpayers money and change lives. Not just for this generation but for our future generations. We can not afford to wait 50 or 100 more years to prioritize this issue that impacts us all. Yes all of us. Join Sonora’s legacy, the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina, the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families and countless other partners who are working to recognize and reach out to fathers. Let your voice be heard. For more information about the Fatherhood Initiative, visit www.scfathersandfamilies.com.

Tom Keith, President
Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina