Fathers’ Support Center
Positive Parenting Skills for Fathers
Presented at the Children’s Trust
Fund Child Abuse & Neglect
Prevention Conference
April 2-4, 2013
Presented by:
Halbert Sullivan, MSW
And
Destini Goodwin, BSW/LSW
Child Abuse In the U.S.
• An estimated 3.3 million incidents of child abuse
was reported to Child Protective Services during the
federal fiscal year 2010.
 3 million children accounted for one or more of
these reports.
• More than 1,560 children died as a result of abuse
and neglect.
• “Nearly 80% of the children who died due to child
abuse and neglect were younger than 4 years old”.
Child Maltreatment 2010: Summary of Key Findings, May 2012
Child Abuse In Missouri
• 61,083 child abuse and neglect reports
involving 90,709 children were reported in the
state of Missouri in 2011.
• In the state of Missouri, 29 reported children
died as a result of child abuse/neglect in 2011.
• Of those, 24 (86%) were under the age of four
years old.
MO Child Fatality Review Program 2011
Who Commits Child Abuse?
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Mothers
Fathers
Grandparents
Stepparents
Other Relatives
Caregivers
Foster Parents
Coaches
Educators…
What causes a parent to
abuse?
Research indicates that certain
factors/characteristics such as poverty,
underemployment/unemployment, stress
level, substance abuse, and low selfesteem attribute to fathers being more
likely to abuse their children.
The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children, 2006
ASPE Research Study
A study funded by the Department of Health
and Human Services:
• Studied 192,321 male perpetrators
• Reported 65% of male perpetrators acted
alone in their abuse.
• 35% committed abuse with the child’s
mother on at least one occasion
• 51% were the children’s biological father
ASPE Research Study
The study also demonstrated that men
who acted alone were NOT likely to
receive services as males who acted with
the victims mothers. This possibly occurs
due to the father being removed before
services are rendered or he was not living
in the home.
Societal Views/Roles of
Fathers
• In 1930s, 40s, 50s?
• In 2000s/Currently?
Importance of Fathers
• Children without a father in their life are:
- 32 times more likely to run away from
home.
- 5 times more likely to commit suicide.
- 9 times more likely to drop out of high
school.
Children without a father in their lives are
twice as likely to commit a crime.
Children without a father in their lives are
more than twice as likely to live in poverty.*
*State of Missouri Website
Importance of Fathers
• 90% of all homeless and runaway children
and 85% of all children that exhibit
behavioral disorders and displaced
anger….
• 70% of juveniles in state-operated
institutions and 85% of all youths sitting in
prisons….
• 82% of teenage girls who get pregnant....
….come from fatherless homes.
Fathers’ Support Center
Mission
To foster healthy relationships by
strengthening families and
communities.
Vision
Every father is a responsible father
committed to a cohesive family
relationship.
Background
• Founded in 1997 to strengthen fathers as a
strategy to strengthen families and improve
outcomes for children.
• Served over 9,000 fathers and their families
including over 22,500 children
• The first agency in Missouri to provide a
comprehensive array of services to men.
• Utilizes program graduates-turned facilitators
and professional staff to guide fathers
through a process of positive change.
• Recognized nationally for working with
fathers.
Programs Offered
• Family Formation Program
 Parenting, Fatherhood/Manhood Skills, Healthy
Relationship Building
• Employment Development
 Job Readiness Skills and Retention/Placement
• Fathers’ Rap
 Support, Advocacy, Personal Responsibility
• Legal Services
 Advocacy, Legal Mediation
• Youth Leadership and Development
 Prevention Education, Financial Management
Family Formation
Program Outcomes 2012
• 448 fathers enrolled in the program
• 301 graduated successfully from the
program
• 79% of fathers increased their
knowledge of “what child abuse and
neglect is” and what are positive
disciplinary techniques and positive
reinforcements.
• No reports of reoccurring child abuse
and neglect
How do you get fathers
involved in your parenting
program???
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Agency Profile
Agency Staff Profile
Recruitment
Program Delivery- What do the
fathers get out of the program?
• Partners
Your Agency Profile
• Who are your consumers?
 Who are your targeted consumers?
 What are their barriers?
 Is your agency “father friendly”?
• What other services do you offer?
 Do these services appeal to fathers?
• What does your marketing materials
say?
• What is your reputation in the
community?
Getting fathers there!!
• Identify who and what your customers need
 Transportation issues? Homeless? Low Literacy?
• Offer other services that speak to the needs of fathers
 peer mentoring/support groups, employment programs,
bonding activities with their children, etc.
 Utilize community partners
• Highlight services offered to fathers in your marketing
materials or create a separate brochure/flyer that
highlights those services
• Strengthen your reputation
 Offer services that you know you can provide
 Make presentations in the community about your
services, i.e. colleges, agencies, barber shops, etc…
 Educate yourself on the populations you want to service.
Men and women are different in how they receive
services
 Market your work/outcomes
Agency Staff Profile
• How are fathers viewed by staff?
• What is your staff’s experience with
working with fathers?
• What has been your experience with
fathers in your program?
• Who consist of your staff?
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Parenting Specialist
Social Workers
Job Developers
Family Therapists
Male Facilitators
Working with men is a little
different…
• Some men lack awareness of existing
programs
• Men seek help differently than women
• Gender stereotyped attitudes and values
• Perceived sense of personal failure when
help is sought
• Negative attitudes displayed by service
workers
• Failure to acknowledge positive things that
fathers are doing
• FUNDING is limited
Getting fathers there!!
• Be Culturally Competent
 Avoid stereotypes
 Don’t belittle/demean men because they are asking
for help
 Receive training or educate yourselves on cultural
competency/ learn about their culture
 Don’t force your personal belief systems
• Establish rapport
 Share information about you that is relatable (don’t
over share) i.e. “I have three children of my own.”
 Create buy-in by having them to share their
experiences and LISTENING (providing feedback)
 Create a safe and secure space for sharing
 Always be truthful and upfront about your abilities
and program limitations
 Turn negative comments/views into positives
RECRUIT,RECRUIT,
RECRUIT!!!
• “Flyer to Hand” Recruitment (barber shops,
bars/lounges, gyms, parks, corner stores,
etc.)
• Current and Past Clients
• Word of Mouth
• Family Members/Significant Others
• Other Community Agencies
• Family Court
• Advertisement (flyers, brochures,
newspapers, radio, tv, etc.)
• Location
Service Delivery/Curriculum
• What is your program structure?
• Are your curriculums evidence-based?
Culturally Sensitive? Is there room for
flexibility?
• How does your staff engage fathers with
curriculum content/activities?
Getting fathers there!!
• FSC Program Structure
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6 weeks, Monday-Friday, 7:45am-4:00pm
Evening program, Monday-Friday, 5pm-8:30pm
Class calendar with activities and times
Classroom structure
Established program rules/guidelines
Safe, secure, and confidential space for sharing
Facilitative group formatted discussion
2 bonding activities with children and families
Dedicated staff members (Social Service Team
[includes Family Therapist], Job Development Team,
Legal Team)
 Holistic Approach
 Presentations from community partners/resources
Getting fathers there!!
• FSC Parenting Curriculums:
 Responsible Fatherhood Curriculum
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Parenting
Personal Responsibility
Communication, Manhood and Relationships
Job Readiness
Shaken Baby Syndrome Training
 Strengthening Multi-Ethnic Families and Communities:
A Violence Prevention Parenting Training ProgramDeveloped by Marilyn L. Steele, Ph.D. and Jerry Tello,
MA
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1.) Modeling: rules, behaviors, and values
2.) Process of Discipline and Consequences of Behaviors
3.) Ignoring and Providing Praise for Specific Behaviors
4.) Solution Building/Problem Solving Techniques
Role Play Activity
• Clear Instructions
• Ignore/Praise
Getting fathers there!!
• FSC Staff
 Past graduates turned classroom facilitators
 Consists of experienced social workers, job
developers, parenting specialist, family
therapists, attorneys, practicum students
supportive and administrative staff
 EVERYONE is trained in facilitating the
Responsible Fatherhood Curriculum
 Has buy-in to the mission and vision
 Provide interactive/relatable material to
curriculum (i.e. role play, cartoons, group
discussions) that engage fathers and
encourages their buy-in to the process
 Knows client population and barriers
Community Partners
• Establish ongoing relationships with
agencies/organizations by
 Getting their buy-in (talk stats, outcomes, etc.)
 Collaborating on proposals/grants
 Linking your clients to services they offer
 Invite them to participate in your program
process (provide presentations, employment
opportunities, etc.)
Questions or Comments??
References
Child Welfare Information Gateway. (May 2012), Child Maltreatment 2010: Summary of
Key Findings. http://www.childwelfare.gov
Missouri Department of Social Services. Child Abuse and Neglect Calendar Year 2011
Annual Report. June 2012 www.dss.mo.gov/re/pdf/can
Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, U.S. Children’s Bureau Rosenberg, Jeffrey., Wilcox,
W. Bradford. (2006). The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of
Children.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Planning and Evaluation. Male Perpetrators of Child Maltreatment. July 2005.
THANK YOU!
Fathers’ Support Center, St. Louis
4411 N. Newstead Ave, 9LL
St. Louis, MO 63115
314-333-4170
Halbert Sullivan, MSW
hsullivan@fatherssupport.org
Destini Goodwin, BSW
dgoodwin@fatherssupport.org
Website:
www.fatherssupportcenter.org