Pregnancy Resource Centers on the Frontlines of Fatherhood

PRC’s On the Front Lines
of Restoring Fatherhood
_____________________________

Ave Mulhern
National Fatherhood Initiative

2012 National Fatherhood Initiative
1

I want you to re-think …

your LIFE work…

And think more about…

Life ABUNDANT!

2

POLL

Our Center is intentional about reaching
out to fathers (or fathers to be):
 All the time
 Sometimes
 We need help!
 Not really
 Never

3

POLL

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

4

[Slide Title Here]

> [opening statement or main point of slide here]
 Bulleted list setup
 Bullet b
 Bullet c
 Bullet d

5

Be a Dad

6

A Tale of Two Dads

It is the best of times
and the worst of times
for fatherhood in
America.


Defining the Issue

> There are record levels of father absence in America
 24 million children live in homes absent their biological father*
 1 of 3 children nationally - triple the rate of 1960 - live in father-absent
homes*
 2 of 3 in the African American community live in father-absent homes*
 2 of 5 children in father-absent homes have contact with their fathers
less than once per month**
 9 in 10 moms and dads believe there is a father absence crisis in
America today***
* From the U.S. Census Bureau, “America’s Families and Living Arrangements: 2010”
** From Aquilino, W.S. (2006). The noncustodial father-child relationship from adolescence into young adulthood. Journal of Marriage and Family, 68, 929-946
***From National Fatherhood Initiative’s “Mama Says” and “Pop’s Culture” surveys (2009 and 2006)

> However, today’s involved fathers are more involved than ever
 Since 1965, fathers have more than doubled their time doing child
care and house work*
 Societal agreement on the notion that dads should not only provide
for their children, but nurture and guide them, too
*Anthes, E. (2010, May/June). Family guy. Scientific American Mind

8

Why Fathers Matter

> The Consequences of Father Absence
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

> 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

9

Who is National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI)?

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

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

National Fatherhood Initiative Mission:
To improve the well-being of children by increasing the
proportion of children with involved, responsible, and committed
fathers in their lives.

Educate
Educate and inspire all Engage
Americans, especially Equip Engage every sector of
fathers, through public society through strategic
Equip fathers & develop
awareness campaigns, alliances and partnerships.
leaders of national, state,
research, and other
and community
resources.
fatherhood initiatives
through curricula, training,
and technical assistance.

10

NFI’s National Surveys


There is a father absence crisis...

100 93 91
90
80
70
60 Moms
50 Dads
40
30
20
Percent who agree there is a father
absence crisis


… But Dads are Seen as “Replaceable”

100
90
80
70 66
What moms
think… 60 55
By mothers
50 By other males
40
30
20
Percent of moms who agree
that fathers are replaceable


Do Dads Have the Skills?

What Dads think…

• 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.

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


Do Dads Have the Skills? (cont.)

What Moms think…

• 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

Moms and Dads Disagree on Obstacles

What Dads Overall Think The What Moms Overall Think The
Obstacles Are Obstacles Are

1. Work responsibilities 1. Work responsibilities
2. Media/popular culture 2. Dad’s relationship with own dad
3. Financial problems 3. Lack of knowledge
4. Lack of knowledge 4. Lack of parenting resources for dads
5. Child’s mother* 5. Lack of support from
relatives/friends


How do organizations restore fatherhood?

Strategy: “Field of Dreams” vs. “Pepsi”

Vs.


NFI is the #1 provider of fatherhood resources & the #1 trainer of organizations…

…and distributed over 5.8 million skill building resources!


You Are Not Alone In Your Efforts

 Head Starts  State Departments of Corrections
 Child Support Enforcement Offices  the Y (YMCA)
Salvation Army
 FedEx
 Other faith-based charities
 FranklinCovey®  Community Action Agencies
 National Basketball Association (NBA)  And many more…

 Military


Examples of The Impact of Fatherhood Programming

“I graduated InsideOut Dad™ [from a Texas prison] in 2008… I was released [in]
January… and…have re-established contact with my children… They are truly amazed
at how much I have changed… I just wanted you to know how important your program is
and how much I appreciate the time and work you invested in helping me to realize that
it is never too late. …Thank you...” –Timothy

“[I learned that] I parented my kids the way I was raised. I don’t have to be my dad
and I can change (for the better) the way I parent.” -- Father, on using the 24/7
Dad™ Interactive CD-ROM

"My husband...said it best when he said, 'I thought common sense would be
enough.' Thank you, NFI, for offering the tools to help this new father add the most
important letters to his post-graduate/business titles, D.A.D.!!!” -- Mother, Registered
Nurse


Which of these people is going to be a parent?

A: her
B: him
C: both
D: neither


Awareness

 Point of engagement
 The message and the messenger
 Center Values


What do we know?

 Unmarried mothers are what percent less
likely than married mothers to get
adequate prenatal care?

A – 25% less likely
B – 50% less likely
C – 70% less likely
D – 17% less likely


What do we know?

 Which of the following has the greatest impact
on whether a pregnant women gets adequate
and early prenatal care?

A – education
B – support of her mother
C – support of her partner
D - income


What do we know?

 What percentage of teen males believe male
responsibilities include: talking about
contraception, using contraception, and
taking responsibility for a child they fathered?

A – 25%
B – 50%
C – 90%
D – 10%


What do we know?

 Infant mortality rates are how much higher
for children without a father’s name on their
birth certificate than those with dad’s name?

A – no difference
B – 1.6X
C – 2X
D – 2.3 X


What do we know?

 Children are significantly less likely to be
obese when _____ use nutrition labels to
determine ingredients, nutrient amounts,
and serving sizes.
A – mothers
B – fathers
C – grandmothers
D – any of the above


What do we know?

 What percentage of children living in TANF
households, are residing with a single parent?

A 20%
B 50%
C 30%
D 70%


Who Knew?

Stauffer’s Let’s Fix Dinner Campaign

Letsfixdinner.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjbKbM8u7Xo

29

Non Resident Father Focus Group
Results:
 Focus groups underscored the
importance of involving fathers from the
beginning (i.e., at birth)
 The largest obstacles to father
involvement are meaningful engagement
of fathers and lack of systemic
collaboration
 Mothers are “gatekeepers” – Maternal
resistance due to conflict with father
 Fathers fear the child welfare system
QIC Study of Non-Resident Fathers & the CWS at
http://www.americanhumane.org/children/programs/fatherhood-initiative/qic-fatherhood-toolkit/

Okay, so back to Awareness…

 Point of engagement
 The message and the messenger
 What are your attitudes/biases?


What Can PRC’s Do to Engage Fathers?

 Mission Statement
 Reception Room- Décor
 Scripts
 Forms
 Staff- male?
 Services
 Partnerships

32

 Look at your Mission Statement
 ---is a Christ-centered ministry committed to upholding the Sanctity of Human Life by providing
hope and help through Biblical counseling, education and assistance in the areas of crisis
pregnancy, post-abortion trauma and sexual purity.
 Mission Statement: To help women and men explore their options and empower them to make
informed choices.
 Vision: To educate, encourage, and equip people to understand the sacredness of human life, the
soundness of sexual purity, and the value of the family.
 To help women and men explore their options and empower them to make informed choices.
 Bringing Hope, Help, and Healing to Women in Crisis Pregnancies.
 We exist to empower women and men to make life-affirming decisions regarding pregnancy, as
well as the value of abstinence before marriage through counseling, education, compassionate
care, material aid and through the gospel of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
 Promoting Life and sharing Christ and His love by educating, equipping and providing services to
meet the needs of pregnant, parenting and post-abortive individuals and families.
 The mission of Pregnancy Center & Clinic of ___is to enable women in __ & ___Counties to make
responsible choices regarding reproductive health issues, accomplished by providing
educational, emotional, financial and/or material support; options regarding adoption; and
continuing support after the birth of the child.


33

Reception Area:
 Is the reception area father
friendly?

 Magazines for men?

 Do you have materials for
men/dads?

 Do you have forms for dads to fill
out?
20
 Do you have a male staff for him to 12
Natio
speak with? nal
Fath
erho
od
Initia
tive
www
.fath
erho
2012 National Fatherhood Initiative od.or
g


Scripts
 Many scripts include an invite to bring “someone”
 Make a specific invite to bring the father

 Ask about the father situation- at least!
 Teach staff to ask the questions- more questions
 If no male staff or volunteer- make sure the female staff
has a heart for the father



Generate interest
 Events focused on father involvement

 Conduct a focus group of fathers

 Conduct a focus group of mothers

 Determine/Acknowledge the barriers

 Are fathers considered as perpetrators?
 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 Abundant Life?


Resources for pre-fathers and new fathers:


Resource

Offers for

PRC’s

Expires Nov 30th


Questions:

&


Thank You for What You Do!

Ave Mulhern

National Fatherhood Initiative
Program Support Consultant

240-912-1265
amulhern@fatherhood.org

41

Pregnancy Resource Centers on the Frontlines of Fatherhood

Recommandé

Recommandé

Contenu connexe

Tendances

Tendances (13)

En vedette

En vedette (6)

Similaire à Pregnancy Resource Centers on the Frontlines of Fatherhood

Similaire à Pregnancy Resource Centers on the Frontlines of Fatherhood (20)

Dernier

Dernier (20)

Pregnancy Resource Centers on the Frontlines of Fatherhood

Notes de l'éditeur