Supporting Fathers, Strengthening Families, Reducing Poverty
Our Commitment to Fathers
The most important factor in a child's upbringing is whether the child is brought up in a loving, healthy, supportive environment. Father-child interaction, like mother-child interaction, has been shown to promote the positive physical, social, emotional, and mental development of children.
Many children in our country grow up not just in income poverty, but also in the poverty of absent fathers. Greater involvement by fathers in their children’s lives promotes positive physical, social, emotional, and mental development.
As part of our work to reduce poverty, Catholic Charities USA is committed to promoting and enhancing programs that support fathers, preserve families, and strengthen communities.
Here are a few examples of programs across the country that support fathers, strengthen families, and work to reduce poverty.
Dad’s Connection
Catholic Charities St. Paul-Minneapolis
The Dad’s Connection Program is centered on the belief that children -- and their dads -- have a better chance in life if they're connected. Since 1994, Catholic Charities’ Dad’s Connection Program has helped nearly 500 very young fathers -- more than 90 percent of whom started in the program -- complete high school, get jobs and establish relationships with their children.
The Dad’s Connection program provides supportive services such as parenting classes, peer support groups, home visits, and other services to teach young men how to be a father. The program provides support groups for both custodial and non-custodial fathers and one-on-one support in the form of counseling and/or mentoring.
Web site: http://www.cctwincities.org
The Man Up Fatherhood Program
Catholic Charities Neighborhood Services (CCNS)
Catholic Charities, Brooklyn Queens
Catholic Charities believes in the abilities of fathers and their desire to become the men their children, families and communities need. Catholic Charities staff makes an unconditional commitment to serve and assist fathers as they transition from one stage of their lives to another.
The Man Up Fathering Program helps fathers age 16-24 reconnect and strengthen their parental bond with their children. The program works with young fathers to develop the essential parenting skills, social skills and professional skills needed to be socially, emotionally, psychologically and financially involved in the lives of their children and help them realize their potential.
Web site: http://www.ccbq.org
Dr. Dad and Daddy University
Catholic Charities of Eastern Virginia
The goal of these two programs is to provide fathers with an educational support group which will allow them to enhance their parenting skills and become more engaged with their children.
The Doctor Dad program is free to fathers of all ages, with children ages 0 to 18. Dr. Dad is a 4-week child medical series facilitated by an experienced pediatric registered nurse. Topics include: how to take care of a well child (development, temperament, and nutrition); how to take care of a sick child (fever, the common cold, and other illnesses); how to take care of an injured child (burns, sunburns, cuts and scrapes, head injuries, choking); and how to keep your child safe (home and car safety, guns, parental anger, stranger danger).
Daddy University offers a series of workshops designed to enhance the skills required for today’s dad. This 5-week series includes the following topics: fathering and culture; understanding yourself, fathering and family roles; expectations and children’s development, discipline, rewards and punishment; and getting involved with your children.
Web site: http://www.cceva.org
Maryville Academy Fatherhood Initiative
The Maryville Academy Fatherhood Initiative is a twelve-week program with weekly sessions held three times a year. The mission is to help young fathers build healthy relationships with their children and the children's mother. Maryville strives to build awareness of the child's need for a father as role model and loving parent; to encourage the father to interact with the child in play, in school and as a presence in the child's life; and, to take responsibility for the child's needs including food, shelter, clothing and, most importantly, love.
Since starting the program, almost 400 attendees have come through the program. A total of 319 have received certificates of participation or graduation.
Web site: http://www.maryvilleacademy.org
|