Fatherhood Group Programme Oakhill STC

1. Fatherhood Group Programme Oakhill STC The programme is aimed primarily at young fathers/expectant fathers, but also at young men at risk at becoming fathers young

2. Young offenders are all individuals who come from a huge range of backgrounds, however, many have had complex, disrupted childhoods....... • They are twice as likely to have suffered maltreatment as children. Many have been or are in care. • More likely to have been victims of crime and more likely to have been bullied. • Majority have parents who are not together and 75% have no regular contact with their fathers. • At least 25% have witnessed domestic violence at home. • More likely to have a parent in prison. The children of prisoners are x 3 more likely to be involved in anti-social behaviour and 65% of boys with a convicted parent go on the offend.

3. Mental Health needs of young peoplein secure settings Mental health disorders three times more prevalent in people in secure settings compared to rest of the population. Most common disorders conduct disorders, anxiety and depression. Also high prevalence of personality disorder, psychosis, attention disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, and self harm.

4. Why an intervention? Young men in custody are 5 to 6 times more likely to have a child young that young men in the general population. Many young offenders have had problematic childhoods, and there is evidence that problems can be intergenerational. Need to break the cycle. Lack of positive role models from many of their own fathers Teenage fathers often ‘invisible’ and services are often inaccessible to them. In comparison to young mothers very few services available and young offenders are often perceived as more of a risk than a resource to their child.

5. History of Fatherhood Programme at Oakhill STC Started in November 2010 Developed at Oakhill STC, with support from Milton Keynes Brook (Sexual Health Advice Service for under 25’s) Emerged organically...changed and developed over time Nurse running the programme won FPA/Brook award ‘Sexual Health Professional of the Year’ in March 2013, young father ‘expert by experience’ who supports programme was awarded ‘Brook/FPA Young person of the year and programme was awarded Youth Justice Board Effective Practice award for best design.

6. Still under development....... • Classified as ‘emerging’ by the Youth Justice Board. • Tighten up the focus. • Need to develop a theory of change. • Look at the post custody period.

7. Course runs for six weeks, one hour sessions. Young people come in their own time. Some groups are primarily young actual or expectant fathers and some have majority of boys who are neither, but attend because have requested to.

8. Outline of course

9. Introduction to the needs of a child and factors influencing the capacity of parents to meet these needs

10. Practical skills needed to care for a baby. Caring for an electronic baby over night.

11. The reality of being a parent and of relationships from the perspective of a young mother

12. The reality of being a parent from the perspective of a young ex-offender father Work in the communitycouncil of young dads

13. Internal versus external locus of control: Safe sex and contraception

14. ResettlementFocused 1;1’s with young father/expectant fathers to focus on their individual circumstances.Liaising with other services – internal and externalLiaising with services in the community. Link to existing services: MKACT (women’s Aid),Father Engagement Project, St Michaels Fellowship. There is a lack of support for young fathers. Involved in addressing this (i.e APPG steering Group, meeting with CSJ).

15. ChallengesHigh percentage of young offender fathers who do not use contraception, and also who have poor relationship skills are becoming ill-prepared parents. Need for high quality sex, relationship and parenting education for them and for others as a preventative measure and preparation for the futureSchool age, young offender father face many barriers both internal (ie own lack of skills, anger issues, poor coping etc) and external (ie maternal grandparents, mother, housing, employment housing etc)Positive factorsDespite barriers, these young men (whether fathers, expectant or neither) see parenting, relationships and family issues as key to whether or not they have positive futures. Many have had poor experiences while growing up (family breakdown, violence, poor parenting) and see this as key to why they are where they are presently (in custody). Most hope for stable loving relationships, employment and children but do not have the skills to achieve this. We need to work to help them achieve these skills.

16. Support for young fathers should employ their innate abilities and empower them to take action for themselves instead of exclusively delivering new skills within a deficit model. We need to help young fathers to draw on their own inate capacities, and at the same time be realistic about their deficits – we need to be realistic about any threats they may pose to their children and mothers of their children, offer support and liaise with relevant services.

17. Short film about domestic violence http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brVOYtNMmKk