Positive Pair-enting: The Father Factor Parent Services

1. Father Factor W/ Facilitators: Carlos Christian Paul Williams Parent Services Team Director - Dana Wright Glenn A. Harris Judy Williams Jessica Woodruff 614.224.0222

2. Action For Children Founded in 1972, Action for Children’s vision is that every child will experience quality early learning environments so they are prepared to succeed in school and in life. We work with families, early learning professionals, family child care providers, community partners, and all levels of government. A private, not-for-profit organization, we are headquartered at 78 Jefferson Avenue in Columbus and operate satellite offices In Delaware, Madison and Union counties. We work with partner agencies in surrounding Fairfield, Licking, and Pickaway counties to provide services throughout central Ohio's seven-county region.

3. The Art of Positive Parenting (TAPP) Program was launched in 1978 Classes and workshops for general parenting skills Classes and workshops for targeted parenting needs • Putting the Children First • 2 Hour Divorce Seminar • Live seminars funded by Franklin • Co. Court of Domestic Relations for • cases filed in Franklin Co. (36/year) • Online version available to public • ($45 fee) • Parents Who Parent Separately • 6 week, 12 Hour Course • For parents in a co-parenting role, • usually as a result of divorce or • dissolution • Fee-based Goal: provide parents with information that will help them keep children out of the middle

4. The Father Factor Glenn A. Harris 614.224.0222 – Ext. 137 GlennHarris@ActionForChildren.org “Positive ‘Pair’enting” When fathers are included, fathers are not only more likely reach their potential as an engaged parent, and more fully develop their parenting skills, but also they are more participative in the life of the family and community (Daly, 2009).

5. Agenda Overview Foundation: The Art of Positive Parenting – Father Factor Recruiting and Parent Engagement Session 1 Reflections Session 2 Build on the Positive Session 3 Art of Listening Session 4 Forgiveness Questions & Discussion

6. Agenda Overview • Review of previous material • Session 5 RESPECTFUL Discipline • Session 6 Democracy at Home • Session 7 Positive Pair-enting • Session 8 Taking Care of You

7. Agenda Overview • Ages and Stages Information • Evaluation • Certificate of Completion • Ongoing Support

8. Case Management Services • Child Support Assistance • Overcome Institutional Barriers • Custody / Visitation (Parenting Time) • Connection to Community Services • (Employment, Education & Healthy Relationships) • Driver’s License Assistance • Domestic Violence Resources

9. Partnerships

10. Fathers Parent Differently • Fathers have a distinct style of communication & interaction with children • By 8 weeks of age, infants can tell the difference between mother & father • Fathers Discipline Differently • Fathers tend to observe and enforce rules systematically and sternly, which teaches children consequences of right & wrong • Mothers tend toward grace and sympathy in the presence of misconduct and disobedience.

11. Fathers Communicate Differently • The tone of a Fathers voice is often enough to discourage unhealthy behaviors • Mothers typically tend to modify their language to a child’s level • Fathers are not as inclined to modify their language – therefore expanding the child’s vocabulary and linguistic skills which are vital to academic success

12. Fathers Prepare Children for the Real World • Fathers tend to see their children in relation to the rest of the world • Mothers tend to see the rest of the world in relation to their child

13. Fathers Prepare Children for the Real World • Example • Mothers are very aware of things that • may hurt their child • (violence, strange people, dogs, etc.) • Fathers are not as concerned with such things, • They may rather focus on • how their children will or will not • be prepared for something • they may encounter in the world

14. Fathers Can Teach Kids Respect for the Other Sex • Girls with involved fathers are more likely to select good boyfriends and husbands because they have a good model to judge by • Boyswith involved Fathers are more likely to be good husbands and boyfriends because they can emulate their fathers strengths and learn from their shortcomings

15. Mom Dad Daughter Son

16. Audio /Visual & Cultural Relevance Everybody Loves Raymond Cosby Show Cat’s In the Cradle The Brady Bunch

17. Change of Attitude Non-Custodial Parents See Child Support as: • The EVIL Empire • Having a Secret Agenda • Only having the interest of the Custodial Parent • Strictly Punitive

18. Incarceration can contribute to the ALIENATION and lack of engagement between fathers and their children.  Youths in father-absent households still had significantly higher odds of incarceration than those in mother-father families. Youths who never had a father in the household experienced the highest odds. Source: Harper, Cynthia C. and Sara S. McLanahan. “Father Absence and Youth Incarceration.” Journal of Research on Adolescence 14 (September 2004): 369-397.

19. Paul Williams

20. Before Change Can Be Seen Externally, Change MUST Be Done Internally ! Carlos Christian

21. Current Institutions Marion Correctional (MCI - Marion) Southeastern Correctional (SCI – Fairfield) West Central Community Correctional (CBCF – Union) More to Come !

22. Program Outcomes • Identify the Issues & Barriers to Responsible Fatherhood • Overcome Institutional Barriers; Access, Visitation, FCCSEA, Etc. • Connection to Services; Employment, Education, & Healthy Relationships • Knowledge of Community Resources • Improve Parenting Attitude • Increased Financial Contribution

23. Program Success Financial Increase in Fathers (Non-Custodial) Financial contribution to Child Support Cognitive Fathers show Positive Gains in Parenting Skills Emotional Fathers report Increased role in Child’s Lives – Academically, Medically& Socially Behavioral Fathers display a more positive outlook towards parenting, Mother of Child & their own Personal Future