1. Bringing Back the Dads! Effective Evidenced-Based Practice forEngaging Fathersin the Child Welfare SystemPaul Frankel, Ph.D. (with the assistance ofmany other Colleagues) Evaluation Specialist, Mental Health Center of Denver (Formerly) Research Project Manager Quality Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers12006-2011

2. Quality Improvement Center forNon-resident Fathers in Child Welfare QIC-NRF American Humane Association, Childrens Division ABA Center on Children and the LawNational Fatherhood Initiative A Project of the Childrens Bureau Administration on Children, Youth and FamiliesAdministration on Children and Families U.S. Department of Health and Human Services2006-2011 2 3. Fathers and the Child Welfare System Is there a difference in family outcomes based on father involvement?Are kids better off? 3 4. Communities and Agencies are ChangingOrganizational CulturesQIC-NRF Research & 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.htmTarrant County, Texas Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in Ft. WorthNew Day Services for Children and Families, http://www.newdayservices.org/ 4 5. Exercise: Who is Father of the Year?Alfonso (V.I.P. Dad)Chris (Non-resident Dad) High paying job Low paying job(s) Pretty stable marriage Never married Works long hours Works regular hours Travels Has small apartment Moderately affectionate Highly affectionate Minimally engaged Fairly engagedCheng (Underemployed Dad) LaRon (Step-Dad) Some part-time work Full-time construction Pretty stable marriage Pretty stable marriage Works from home but bored Works regular hours Not the bread-winner Paycheck to paycheck Mildly affectionate Mildly affectionate No night duty Good night duty5 6. The Facts of Father AbsenceProportion of Children in Father-Absent Homes The Living Arrangements of Children, U.S. Census Bureau, 20053025201510 5 01960 1970 19801990 1995 2000 2004 In 1960, 8 million children lived in father-absent homes. Today, over 24 million children live in homeswithout their fathers. 2 out of 3 African American children live in father-6absent homes. 7. What about the Dads?Is there a child welfare system bias? 1,958 children removed from homes where the Father did not reside88%Agency had identified the Father 55%Agency had contacted the Father 70% of caseworkers hadreceived training onengaging fathers30% Father had visited the Child 28% Father expressed interest in child living with himBased on interviews with 1,222 caseworkers http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/06/cw-involve-dads/report.pdf Malm, Murray, & Geen (2006). What About the Dads? Health and Human7 Services, Administration for Children and Families, Childrens Bureau 8. CFSR Case-Level Data: 32 StatesDifferences In Serving Mothers and Fathers Average Across States: Percent of Cases Rated as Strength8 9. Interactive Discussion: Challenges toEngaging Fathers9 10. Common Barriers to Involving Fathers Mothers reluctance to reveal name orlocation of father. (Gatekeeper! )* violent or unhealthy episodes.* a new romantic relationship. * protect father from further involvement with the court. * reluctant to bring the current abuse or neglect incident to the attention of the father.Mama Says: http://www.fatherhood.org/mamasays/9 in 10 mothers (93%) agree that there is a father absence crisisin America today.10 11. Caseworker Ambivalence Caseworkers ambivalence about findingfathers due to:* negative experiences with fathers.* suspect that the father is not interested inthe child. (Is this true?)* fear that bringing the father into the child welfare case may increase conflict.* the belief that involving fathers is morework and expense for the agency. 11 12. Effective Father Engagement Strategies What does HELP! look like for these 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. 12 13. QIC-NRF Father Engagement Curriculum Dad as Part of the Solution: Overview of the Child Welfare System - How does the child welfare system work? A CW representative will join. Dad as Planner: Service Planning in the Child Welfare System How does the child welfare system give help to families? A CW representative will join. Dad as Part of the Juvenile Court Process: Legal Advocacy and Court Etiquette - How does the juvenile court/legal process work? An attorney for parents will join. Dad as a Healthy Parent: Taking Care of You - What will it mean for my children if I am healthy? Dad as Community Member: Identifying and Accessing Resources - What kinds of help or services are available to me and my children in my community? Dad as Cultural Guide: The Role of Culture in Parenting - What cultures am I a part of ? How does my culture influence how I 13 parent my children? 14. Father Engagement Curriculum [-contd.] Dad as Parent: Understanding Your Children - What do children need at all ages to grow up in a healthy way? Dad as Part of Childrens Placement: Visiting with Your Children - How does the child welfare visitation process work? Dad as Provider: Supporting Your Children - What is child support and what is expected of me as a Dad who does not live with my children? A CSE representative will join. Dad as Team Player: Shared Parenting - How do I get along better with my childrens mother, our extended families and the foster parents or other involved caregivers? Dad as Worker: Workforce Readiness - Why is it important for my children and for myself that I have a job? A workforce readiness expert will join.14 15. Effective Father Engagement StrategiesCheck your attitude at the door! Address your personal biases. Resist stereotypingnon-resident fathers. Provide a welcoming physicalenvironment. First contact by a male (if possible). Avoiding using system jargon!We have a new family that just entered CPS and we are awaiting TPR. The child may have DDand ADHD, but Im not sure of the DSM. The MOC told us about past abuse, but we need anassessment by an LCSW or Ph.D. Lets see if we can use some of our IV-D or IV-E money tohelp. Also, the child may be under the jurisdiction of ICWA.15 16. Outcomes: Treatment by CPSPercent within Site of Treatment by CPS at Last Interview (T2) Percent of Fathers SITECOIN TXWA OverallNot at allfairly 5.88%14.86%11.11% 39.13%16%Unfairly onthe whole0.00% 4.05% 17.78% 8.70% 8%OKAY17.65%18.92% 28.89%13.04%21%Fairly on thewhole5.88% 5.41%6.67% 8.70% 6%Very fairly 17.65%22.97% 20.00%30.43%23%Missing data47.06%32.43% 15.56% 0.00%25%Total 100%100% 100%100% 100%16 17. Outcomes: VisitationPercent within Site of Visits Since Last Interview (T2)Percent of Fathers within SiteSITE CO IN TXWA OverallLess than 1075.0%3.3%40.0% 100.0% 21.7%10 to 1925.0% 26.7%50.0% 0.0% 30.4%20 to 29 0.0%6.7% 0.0% 0.0%4.3%30 to 39 0.0% 16.7%10.0% 0.0% 13.0%40 to 49 0.0%3.3% 0.0% 0.0%2.2%50 to 59 0.0%6.7% 0.0% 0.0%4.3%80 to 89 0.0% 10.0% 0.0% 0.0%6.5%90 to 99 0.0% 10.0% 0.0% 0.0%6.5%100 and up 0.0% 16.7% 0.0% 0.0% 10.9%Total100.0%100.0% 100.0% 100.0%100.0%17 18. Parents are people too When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years. -- Mark Twain (1835-1910) 18 19. I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a fathers protection.--Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)For more information please contact:Paul Frankel, Ph.D. Ph. 719/237-0338 or 303/504-6791 19Paul.Frankel@mhcd.org or Pifrankel@comcast.net