pregnancy centers: restoring fatherhood webinar 2013

2013 National Fatherhood Initiative 1

PRC’s on the Frontlines of Restoring Fatherhood, Restoring Families

________________________________________________ Integrating Responsible Fatherhood Programming

in Pregnancy Centers

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

2013 National Fatherhood Initiative

your LIFE work…

And think more about it as promoting…

Life ABUNDANT!

I want you to re-think …

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Stages of Adoption

Awareness

I know there is a problem. Interest

I want to find out more. Decision

I have to do something. Implementation

This is what I am going to do.


I attended either the PRC’s on the Frontlines of Restoring Fatherhood last October (2012)? And/or the workshop Reaching Men at the recent Care Net Conference in Denver?

Yes No

POLL

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Our Center is intentional about reaching out to fathers (or fathers to be):

All the time Sometimes We need help! Not really Never

POLL

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Our Center has partners with other agencies for resources and services for fathers or fathers to be:

Yes No Not really We’d like to

POLL

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Who is NFI?Understand Why Fathers Matter and are worth the effortRecognize some barriers to father engagementInvolving Moms in Involving DadsTalk about your center’s Father Friendliness and...Some Next StepsQ&A

In today’s webinar we will...

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NFI is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that was founded in 1994 to begin a society-wide movement to renew fatherhood in America.

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NFI’s Mission is carried out using a “Three E” Strategy

Who is National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI)?


NFI, continued

Key Message:Fathers are Irreplaceable & an Essential Ingredient for Child Well-Being


So, What Areas do Fatherlessness Impact?

Poverty Emotional/Behavior Maternal and Child health Crime/Incarceration Sexual Activity and Teen Pregnancy Child Abuse Child Obesity Education


Impact on Maternal and Child Health: Babies with a father’s name on the birth certificate are 4 times

more likely to live past 1 year of age! Source: Alio, A.P., Mbah, A.K., Kornosky, J.L., Marty, P.J. & Salihu, H.M. "The Impact of Paternal

Involvement on Feto-Infant. Morbidity among Whites, Blacks, and Hispanics". Matern Child Health J. 2010; 14(5): 735-41

Infant mortality rates are 1.8 times higher for infants of unmarried mothers than for married mothers.

Source: Matthews, T.J., Sally C. Curtin, and Marian F. MacDorman. Infant Mortality Statistics from the 1998 Period Linked Birth/Infant

A study of 2,921 mothers revealed that single mothers were twice as likely as married mothers to experience a bout of depression in the prior year. Single mothers also reported higher levels of stress, fewer contacts with family and friends, less involvement with church or social groups and less overall social support.

Source: Cairney, John and Michael Boyle et al. “Stress, Social Support and Depression in Single and Married Mothers.” Social. Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 38 (August 2003): 442-449


Impact on Teen Pregnancy & Sexual Activity: Being raised by a single mother raises the risk of teen pregnancy, marrying

with less than a high school degree, and forming a marriage where both partners have less than a high school degree.

Source: Teachman, Jay D. “The Childhood Living Arrangements of Children and the Characteristics of Their Marriages.” Journal of Family Issues 25 (January 2004): 86-111 .

...adolescents in father-absent homes were more likely to report being sexually active compared to adolescents living with their fathers...the study also revealed a statistical significance between father absence and adolescent self-esteem

Source: Hendricks, C. S., Cesario, S. K., Murdaugh, C., Gibbons, M. E., Servonsky, E. J., Bobadilla, R. V., Hendricks, D. L., Spencer-. Morgan, B., & Tavakoli, A. (2005). The influence of father absence on the self-esteem and self-reported sexual activity of rural. Southern adolescents. ABNF Journal, 16, 124-131.): 442-449

...based on the study, findings, the inability to bond in satisfactory ways with a father or father figure may result in earlier onset of sexual activity and the higher risk of teen pregnancy.

Source: Burn, V. E. (2008). Living without a strong father figure: A context for teen mothers’ experience of having become sexually active. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 29, 279–297.


Children in father-absent homes are two to five times more likely to: live in poverty fail in school develop emotional or behavioral problems abuse drugs be abused and neglected become involved in crime commit suicide

Why Fathers Matter – at a glance:

> The Consequences of Father Absence

> The Benefits of Father Involvement

Children with involved fathers are more likely to have: better cognitive outcomes, even as infants higher self-esteem and less depression as teenagers higher grades, test scores, and overall academic achievement lower levels of drug and alcohol use higher levels of empathy and other pro-social behavior


NFI’s National Surveys


There is a father absence crisis...


… But Dads are Seen as “Replaceable”

What moms

think…


Do Dads Have the Skills?

• Over half of dads feel they are replaceable.

• Only half of dads reported that they felt ready to be fathers when they first became

fathers.

• Only a third of dads strongly agree with the statement that they have all the necessary

skills and knowledge to be good fathers.

What Dads think…

2006 Pop’s Culture: A National Survey of Dads’ Attitudes on Fathering


Do Dads Have the Skills? (cont.)

• Moms not living with dads reported “lack of knowledge about

how to be a good dad” as the biggest obstacle to good fathering

and “lack of parenting resources designed specifically for

fathers” as 3rd highest. These obstacles ranked 3rd and 4th for

moms overall!

• Moms not living with dads were very dissatisfied with dad’s

performance…

2009 Mama Says: A National Survey of Mothers’ Attitudes on Fathering

What Moms think…


Moms and Dads Disagree on Obstacles

What Dads Overall Think The Obstacles Are

1. Work responsibilities

2. Media/popular culture

3. Financial problems

4. Lack of knowledge

5. Child’s mother*

What Moms Overall Think The Obstacles Are

1. Work responsibilities

2. Dad’s relationship with own dad

3. Lack of knowledge

4. Lack of parenting resources for dads

5. Lack of support from relatives/friends


New or Expectant Fathers say...

My dad was never there. I want to be there for my kids. I realize the impact that my father had on me. Even though he

wasn’t there, he made a huge impact on my life- he left a lot of questions unanswered.

I’m here because I want to do things right! I want to give my child the one thing I never had, an involved

father! I want to get this one right! A Careerbuilder.com survey of 1521 working dads in 2007

indicated that 38 percent would take a pay cut to spend more time with their children


The following part of the presentation is taken from a webinar presented by the

National Resource Center for In-Home Services and

National Fatherhood Initiative

Barriers? What Barriers?

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2013 National Fatherhood Initiative22

NRFCBI Logic Model

The National Resource Center for In-Home Services, a service of the Children’s Bureau’s national child welfare Training and

Technical Assistance Network, serves as a national center of child welfare expertise on

In-home services designed to ensure the safety and well-being of children and youth in their homes,

prevent their initial placement or reentry into foster care, and preserve, support and stabilize

their families.


NRFCBI Logic Model

The NRC for In-Home Services promotes EARLY efforts to engage nonresident fathers in:

Hospital-based parenting programs Home-visiting programs Early-childhood programs Family-support programs Family-preservation services offered to families involved with

the child protection system Services to prevent placement


NRFCBI Logic Model

The Role of Nonresident Fathers in Maintaining Children Safely at Home

Studies specific to families involved with the child welfare system have found that: Children who had contact with a noncustodial parent in the last year

were 46% less likely to enter foster care Involvement by nonresident fathers associated with more

reunifications and fewer adoptions Higher levels of nonresident father involvement are associated with

substantially lower likelihood of later maltreatment allegations Children with highly involved nonresident fathers exited foster care

more quicklySources:Chen, Henry. Karin, Malm, and Erica Zielewski. More About the Dads: Exploring Associations between Nonresident Father Involvement and Child Welfare Case

Outcomes. Washington, DC, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation 2008 available at http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/08/moreaboutdads/report/pdf; “A National Study of Male Involvement Among Families in Contact with the Child Welfare System” Jennifer L. Bellamy, Child Maltreatment 2009, 14:255-262


NRFCBI Logic Model

A Few Stats about Fathers...

67.8 million: Estimated number of fathers across the nation 25.8 million: Number of fathers who were part of married

couple families with children younger than 18 in 2009 24 million: (34 percent): Number of children who live absent

their biological father

Source: National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse. Dad Stats. Available at: http://fatherhood.gov/library/dad-stats


NRFCBI Logic Model

What About The Dads?2006 Report- What About the DadsData based on telephone interviews with 1,222 caseworkers in four states


NRFCBI Logic Model

Importance of Father Involvement Increases informal supports and resources Promotes family and cultural connections More “eyes” on the well-being of the child Facilitates concurrent planning, when necessary Gives you (and the child) a greater understanding

about his/her life


NRFCBI Logic Model

Foster Youth Talk About Fathers “Every kid has a right to know their father.”“Having a male as part of your life is a big deal. There is just a connection that father and son have that cannot be replaced. [I think child advocates should] try their best to make sure that there is a connection with son and father.”“I didn’t talk to my dad from the time I was 4 to 14. I lived with him for 6 months while I was 14. Now we talk just about every day.”I think that once the state gets involved with children, fathers tend to stay away, so [child advocates] or some other service providers should work on keeping fathers involved with their kids.”

Source:“Engaging Fathers in Child Welfare Cases: A Guide for Children’s Attorneys and Lawyer Guardians ad Litem: and “Engaging Nonresident Fathers in Child Welfare Cases: A Guide for Court Appointed Special Advocates” Washington, DC: American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, 2010.


NRFCBI Logic Model

Barriers to EngagementStudies suggest that fathers are not engaged in child welfare processes because:

Child welfare agencies have a history of being primarily mother focused Some child welfare caseworkers view involving fathers as complicated and burdensomeChild welfare agencies are hesitant or fear involving fathers with a history of domestic violence because their engagement may compromise mothers’ and children’s safety

Sources: Dungee Greene, A. & Anderson Moore, K. “Nonresident Father Involvement and Child Well-Being among Young Children in Families on Welfare.: Marriage & Family Review, 29(2/3), 2000, 159-180; Franck, E. “Outreach to Birthfathers of Children in Out of Home Care.” Child Welfare, 80(3) 2001,381-399; Malm, Murray & Geen, 2006; O’Hagan, K. “The Problem of Engaging Men in Child Protection Work.” British Journal of Social Work, 27(1), 1997,25-42.


NRFCBI Logic Model

Barriers to EngagementStudies suggest that fathers are not engaged in child welfare processes because:

Child welfare caseworkers may view fathers as insignificant to the family unit, or may avoid fathers out of fear of violent reactions, or have a general distrust of men Some fathers need assistance with parenting skills before assuming a more prominent role in their children’s lives Some out-of-State fathers cannot access reliable transportation

Sources: Dungee Greene, A. & Anderson Moore, K. “Nonresident Father Involvement and Child Well-Being among Young Children in Families on Welfare.: Marriage & Family Review, 29(2/3), 2000, 159-180; Franck, E. “Outreach to Birthfathers of Children in Out of Home Care.” Child Welfare, 80(3) 2001,381-399; Malm, Murray & Geen, 2006; O’Hagan, K. “The Problem of Engaging Men in Child Protection Work.” British Journal of Social Work, 27(1), 1997,25-42.


NRFCBI Logic Model

Mother’s Role in EngagementSome studies have also revealed several reasons why mothers and relatives do not identify or engage fathers, including:

Concerns that he might get in trouble with the law because he has outstanding child support payments, or owes a large sum of back paymentsHe is an undocumented immigrantHe has outstanding arrest warrantsThere is a history of domestic violence and the mother fears for her and her children’s safety The mother receives informal financial and in-kind support from the father, and chooses to conceal the father from child welfare authorities who could order him to pay child support (which may be less than what she receives from him already)

Sources: Curran, Laura. “Social Work and Fathers: Child Support and Fathering Programs.” Social Work 48(2), 2003; Sonenstein, Freya, Karen Malm & Amy Billing. Study of Fathers’ Involvement in Permanency Planning and Child Welfare Casework. Washington, DC; Urban Institute 2002. http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/CW-dads02/


NRFCBI Logic Model

Barriers to EngagementThe Quality Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers (QIC-NRF) conducted numerous focus group and interviews with child welfare professionals, asking them what their barriers to father engagement were. They said:

Lack of training for child welfare professionalsUnfriendly “father” environmentLack of interagency collaboration to locate fathers (e.g. child support agency connectionsLack of policy/procedures to help identify, locate, and contact fathersWorker reluctance to contact fathersFeeling that it makes case management more difficultMothers act as “gatekeepers”Fathers don’t want to be contactedProtecting informal support arrangementDomestic violence issuesDon’t know the father’s identity


Barriers to Engagement:

What are the barriers in pregnancy centers?

Men in the center? (what is the message—are all men unsafe?)

Are we waiting for all things to fall in place? (will that ever happen?)

Are assumptions for what is best correct?

Wasting God given opportunities?

Can’t get male volunteers

Have male volunteers- don’t know what to do with them

Can’t get men/dads in the center

Have men/dads but don’t know what to do with them

Maternal Gatekeeping


Maternal Gatekeeping:Involving Moms in Involving Dads ________________________________________________


Defining Terms:

Gateway: an opening to a main entrance or exit way.

Gatekeeper: a person who controls access.

Merriam Webster’s Definitions


Maternal Gatekeeping Definition

A collection of beliefs and behaviors that may inhibit a collaborative effort between men and women in family work.

Behaviors Assume primary responsibility for

childrearing tasks. Criticize the father’s actions when he

is involved.


Behavioral Aspects

How the mother speaks about the father in the presence of their child

To what extent the father is included or updated on the child’s health, schooling or social life

The extent to which the mother communicates to the father that she knows what is best for their child and the correct way to do things—while he does not.

An example from a “fatherhood expert”: Dads Doing Good- Mobile Library

Dad's Doing Good/Honda Odyssey/ Mobile Library


Behavioral Aspects

Studies have demonstrated that when mothers perceived their partners as motivated and competent to engage in child care responsibilities, fathers were more involved in childcare.


Reasons for Maternal Gatekeeping

Beliefs (conscious/unconscious)Difficulty relinquishing familial responsibilityValidation of her identity as the “mother”View the father as incompetent or even dangerous to the child

Based on actual evidence; or On personal perceptions of him and his failures in the male

familial role Don’t know? – Do know?

GoalRegulate the father’s involvement and behavior. (facilitative or inhibitory)

Allen, S. M., & Hawkins, A. J. (1999). Maternal gatekeeping: Mothers’ beliefs and behaviors that inhibit greater father involvement in family work. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 61, 199–212.

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Affects of Maternal Gatekeeping

The ability of the child to adjust to parental divorce or separation is weakened

Can damage the father-child relationship Can damage the parents’ ability to cooperate and

keep their conflict levels low and out of the child’s earshot or awareness

Threat to the overall well-being and adjustment of the child

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Research

Overall, the implication is that the relationship between father’s perceived investment in their actual levels of paternal involvement are moderated by mothers beliefs about the role of the father.

There is a strong implication that mothers perceptions of the paternal role are better predictors of father involvement than fathers’ own perceptions of the paternal role.

Paternal Identity, Maternal Gatekeeping, and Father Involvement (Family Relations, 54 (July 2005), 360- 372.Blackwell Publishing.)


Dr. Kyle Pruett Study

Mothers hold infants 9 out 10 times in the same position. Fathers hold infants10 out of 10 times in different positions.

During play with children, mothers use external objects (ex., toys, books, balls) but fathers use their bodies.

When children encounter novel situations, fathers are generally 3 times the distance away from mothers’ position.

Different- not better!


Involvement Benefits Mothers

More likely to obtain prenatal care More likely to breast feed Less likely to smoke Less likely to become

depressed


Involvement Benefits Babies

Less likely to be Low Birth Weight infants More likely to be breast fed

Nutrition Immune benefits Fewer respiratory and allergic disorders

Less likely to develop SIDS and respiratory illness if mother is a non smoker


Things to include when addressing Gatekeeping:

Increase mothers’ awareness of what gatekeeping is, how it operates, and how it is sometimes misused out of anger and hurt

Offer concrete examples that will facilitate mothers’ understanding of the negative impact of excessive gatekeeping and the importance of supporting father involvement (one hand)

Engage mothers in exercises that will facilitate the reduction of restrictive maternal gatekeeping behaviors that inhibit father engagement.

Great to have staff go through the same exercises as part of professional development


Tool Box Strategies Conduct Father Friendly Check Up™ Keep focus on the Child well being Use Mom As Gateway™ workshop Use Understanding Dad™ program Ask about dads’ involvement during initial intake

process with moms- Pursue! Ask! Create opportunities for dads and their kids to do

activities together and market to moms as a “Mom’s Day Off”

Offer sessions to staff on gender and parenting differences between moms and dads

Offer sessions to moms on gender and parenting differences between moms and dads


Tool Box Strategies

Plan activities that will engage dads’ interest Small groups Fatherhood Resource Centers Provide, refer, or connect dads to other

father programs Sports related Hands-on


Can’t BE what you don’t SEE Increasing the skills of the dad, increases the dad’s confidence

as a father. Increasing the skills of the dad, increases the mom’s

confidence in him!

FatherTopics™ Workshop :Essential Communication Skills®

Domestic Violence Prevention® Mom As Gateway®

Build up Dad’s Skills

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What Can PRC’s Do to Engage Fathers?

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The Father-Friendly Check-Up™

The Father Friendly Check-Up™ is a stepping stone to

help you successfully engage dads and strengthen the

families in your community! This tool helps you assess

the degree to which your organization’s operations

encourage father involvement in the activities and

programs offered by your organization.


Benefits Learn to create a father-friendly organization from a

holistic perspective Ability to identify the four areas of focus Create an organizational culture that can support

exceptional fatherhood programs and services Have a foundation for a strategic plan to increase father-

friendliness Sample of PRC Strategic Plan available on request No and low-cost tactics

Encourage leadership/colleagues/co-workers to complete the Father Friendly Check-Up™

Determine how NFI can help you develop and sustain exceptional fatherhood programs and services with next steps


Father Involvement Factors

Motivation Social Supports

Skills and

Self-Confidence

Institutional/

Cultural Factors

FATHER INVOLVEMENT

Source: “The Role of the Father in Child Development” edited by Michael

Lamb, Ph.D.


Motivation & Skills & Self-ConfidenceDEVELOPMENTAL HISTORY

Model of own father

Father’s age

Marital history/status

Socialization around birth of child

PERSONALITY Gender-role orientation Self-esteem

BELIEFS Father’s role is important Men are competent parents

SELF-EFFICACY Believes has skills necessary to be a good father and parent

PARENTAL KNOWLEDGE Child development


Social Supports & Institutional/Cultural Factors

Mother’s employment

Quality of marriage

Men’s social networks

Father’s employment

Media

Other institutions/sectors Government, Education, Faith,

etc.


History of the Father Friendly Check-Up™

NFI Developed the tool and workshop in 2000 Used by organizations in every state

Via workshop or conference session Via NFI website

Created customized versions for many organizations Designed to help build capacity in

Leadership Development Organizational Development Program Development Community Engagement


Assessment Categories

Leadership Development Focuses on influencing the attitudes, beliefs, and

values held by the organization’s employees at all levels on the importance of serving fathers—the culture of the organization

Organizational Development Involves how the “nuts and bolts” of an

organization ensures that it carries out its mission through better organizational capacity as reflected in areas such as: 1) policies, procedures, and processes 2) staff development and training, and 3) physical environment


Assessment Categories, continued

Program Development The foundation of an effective program relies on quality staff and

resources, and effective strategies to recruit and retain fathers

Community Engagement It is the essential ability to engage the communities, increase awareness of the impact of absent/involved fathers to their community and of resources available to help fathers become more involved, responsible, and committed


Staff• Gender Bias• Interview questions/vignettes • Staff training around gender differences and parenting

styles• Different vs. better• Female Brain compared to Male Brain• Balance of work and family• Addressing parents in home visits• Feedback to parents in their differences and the way the

child responds


Program Development

Family driven especially around sensitive issues Father Friendly Curricula Learning style

Hands on Interactive Ages Stages/Social Emotional

https://www.fatherhood.org/countdowntogrowingup


Case Study #1: PCC of Wichita, KS

Pregnancy Care Center Provides guidance on decisions around and services

related to unplanned pregnancies and treatment for sexually-transmitted diseases (e.g. testing and counseling)

Historically served mothers, little or no outreach to fathers

Now offer several classes for fathers including NFI’s 24/7 Dad® and Doctor Dad®

Visit www.pccwichita.org for more information


Sav-A-Life Pregnancy Test Center

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Sav-A-Life Fatherhood Ministry Coordinator -Russell Worrell

Birmingham, Alabama

https://vimeo.com/63608955


Father Friendly Check-Up®

Available free for download on NFI website (www.fatherhood.org) in Free Resources in the For Organizations section of the website

Use it to gauge how your co-workers view the father friendliness of your organization

Encourage your co-workers and others to complete it Complete it at different intervals after implementing a

strategic plan and tactics (e.g. 6 months, 1 year, 18 months) to see how the organization progresses toward becoming more father friendly—compare scores



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Look at your Mission Statement Reception Room- Décor Scripts Forms Staff- male? Services Partnerships



Reception Area:

Is the reception area father friendly?

Magazines for men?

Do you have materials for men/dads?

Do you have forms for them to fill out?

Do you have a male staff for him to speak with?



ScriptsMany scripts include an invite to bring “someone”

Make a specific invite to bring the father Be aware of the messages center is giving

Look for God given opportunities to reach dads Ask about the father situation- at least ask!

Teach staff to ask the questions- more questions What do you think of when I say ‘daddy’? How did you feel about that situation? Etc.

If no male staff or volunteer- make sure the female staff has a heart for the father



Generate interest!Events focused on father involvementConduct a focus group of fathersConduct a focus group of mothersDetermine/Acknowledge the barriers

Are all fathers considered as perpetrators or dangerous? Or in need of direction, support and skills?

Tie everything back to the Values- Are they promoting single motherhood or Are they promoting Life … Or ABUNDANTLife?


Margaret Mead

“The primary task

of every civilization is to teach

the young men to be fathers.”


“From the loving example of one family

a whole state becomes loving.”

- the Great Learning (c.500 B.C)

Confucius

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He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers...”

Malachi 4:6

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

1 Timothy 6:18-19

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

John 10:10

God

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www.fatherhood.org

Ave [email protected]

240-912-1265

Connect With Us


Q & A

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pregnancy centers: restoring fatherhood webinar 2013

Education

father engagement

single mothers

involved fathers

fathers matter

consequences of father

influence of father

fatherabsent homes

teen mothers experience