Skills and Strategies for Working with Fathers 2014
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This document provides information about skills and strategies for working with fathers. It discusses the importance of father involvement, different types of fathers and their situations, barriers to father involvement, and processes for identifying, locating, and engaging fathers. Specifically, it notes that 24 million children live absent their biological father, lists negative outcomes of father absence like poverty and incarceration, and identifies critical father roles like protector, provider, nurturer and teacher. It also discusses paternity establishment, legitimation processes, and strategies for addressing barriers to and promoting father involvement.
Skills and Strategies for Working with Fathers 2014
- 1. Skills and Strategies for Working with Fathers 1
- 2. 2 P a r t I Skills and Strategies for Working with Fathers
- 3. 3 Today’s Learning Objectives Explain the importance of father involvement and the impact of father absence Assess personal values and how they influence work with fathers Explain how different life situations of fathers may impact their involvement Explain paternity establishment and legitimation processes in Georgia Identify strategies for identifying and locating non-residential fathers Recognize different barriers to father involvement 1 2 3 4 5 6
- 4. 4 THE IMPORTANCE OF FATHERS
- 5. 5 Activity: Media Fathers What makes a “good” father? 1. Think of a male from television, movies, books, or news that you would like to have as a father. Write the name on an index card. Under the name, write why you would like to have this person as your father. 2. Think of a male from television, movies, books, or news that they would not want as a father Write this name on the back of the card. Under the name, write why you would not want this person as their father. 3. Share your two names and reasons you would or would not want this male as a father.
- 6. 6 24 million (1 out of 3 children) live absent their biological father
- 7. Importance of Father Involvement 7 Healthy child development Gender identity Responsible sexuality Emotional and social commitment Financial security
- 8. 8 Negative Outcomes of Father Absence Poverty Child maltreatment Delinquency Emotional and behavioral problems Rates of incarceration Teenage pregnancy Drug and alcohol abuse Low educational achievement
- 9. 9 Critical Father Roles Provider Protector Nurturer Teacher
- 10. 10 Protector and Provider The ability to provide and protect is still connected with the average man’s sense of self and sense of manhood. Feelings of inadequacy in this role can influence father involvement.
- 11. 11 Nurturer and Teacher May look different in mothers and fathers but father nurturing is just as important to a child’s well-being Fathers serve as an important guide to the outside world.
- 12. 12 Self-Awareness and Work with Men Our values in the context of relationships with men
- 13. Fathers in Different Situations Marriage Most often associated with positive outcomes for children 13 Maltreatment may be an indication of problems in the marital relationship
- 14. Fathers in Different Situations cont 14 Cohabitating parents A lot like marriage, but not exactly the same, especially when children are involved. May mean less commitment and stability
- 15. Fathers in Different Situations cont Incarcerated fathers May never have learned to be a good father 15 Most incarcerated men are fathers, but most have never been married and weren’t living with their children at the time of their arrest.
- 16. Fathers in Different Situations cont Multiple Fathers Which man is “dad” in the eyes of the child? Each one can potentially help to keep the child safe. The task is to determine which one will do it. 16
- 17. Fathers in Different Situations cont 17 Boyfriends May not have same emotional commitment as a biological father Poses a higher risk to children
- 18. Fathers in Different Situations cont 18 Stepfathers Research varies as to the risk they pose to children. Carefully assess the family dynamics and the role the stepfather plays in the family system.
- 19. 19 Process for Working with Fathers IDENTIFY LOCATE and ENGAGE INVOLVE
- 20. 20 PATERNITY, LEGITIMATION, AND DILIGENT SEARCH
- 21. 21 Father Definitions Biological Father: The man whose sperm caused the baby to be conceived. Putative or alleged father: A man who someone claims is the biological father of the baby. Presumed Father: A man who was married to the baby’s mother at the time of the baby’s birth, or shortly thereafter.
- 22. 22 Father Definitions cont Legal Father: The man who: a) Has legally adopted the child; b) Was married to the biological mother of that child at the time the child was conceived or was born, unless such paternity was disproved by a final order c) Married the legal mother of the child shortly after the child was born and recognized the child as his own d) Has legitimated the child by a final order
- 23. 23 Paternity vs. Legitimation Paternity: establishes that a man is the biological father of a child, and therefore has a duty to support the child he has fathered. Legitimation: establishes a biological father’s legal rights concerning a child who was “born out of wedlock.”
- 24. 24 Paternity Establishment Both parents sign Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment form Legal determination of paternity Paternity testing available through OCSS if father denies paternity Names the biological father, obligates the biological father to pay child support, but does not entitle the biological father to visitation with the child.
- 25. 25 Legitimation To legitimate a child in Georgia, the biological father has two options: (1) Administrative legitimation through completion of the Voluntary Paternity Acknowledgment, including the Legitimation Section. (2) File a petition for legitimation with the court.
- 26. 26 Process for Working with Fathers IDENTIFY LOCATE and ENGAGE INVOLVE
- 27. 27 IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO FATHER INVOLVEMENT
- 28. 28 Barriers Vs. Excuses Generate a “Top Five List” of the reasons fathers give for being absent, not being involved, or not being more involved in their children’s lives. Record your list on a sheet of paper and then decide if the reason listed is a Barrier or Excuse Lack of involvement – are there barriers or are we just hearing excuses?
- 29. 29 Barriers to Father Involvement Case manager and systemic bias Overburdened case managers
- 30. 30 Barriers to Father Involvement Personal circumstances of the father Psychological pain
- 31. Barriers to Father Involvement 31 cont Case manager’s reluctance to involve a male perpetrator History of intimate partner violence
- 32. Barriers to Father Involvement cont 32 Not knowing he’s a dad Father has a new family to think about Remarriage of either parent
- 33. Barriers to Father Involvement 33 cont Geographical distance Lack of finances
- 34. Barriers to Father Involvement cont 34 Lack of confidence in parenting skills Lack of appropriate male role models
- 35. Barriers to Father Involvement 35 cont Frustration in dealing with legal system and bureaucracies
- 36. ……for your attendance and participation! 36 Thank you…… This session brought to you by…….
- 37. P a r t 2 37 Skills and Strategies for Working with Fathers
- 38. 38 Today’s Learning Objectives Develop strategies for addressing barriers to father involvement Develop strategies for engaging mothers around the issue of father involvement Decide how to identify, locate and engage fathers in different situations Identify opportunities for involving fathers in the assessment and case planning processes Identify formal and informal support services for fathers Engage in purposeful conversations with fathers 1 2 3 4 5 6
- 39. 39 IDENTIFYING AND ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO FATHER INVOLVEMENT
- 40. 40 Values Voting Listen as each statement is read. Decide which option best represents your position on the statement: Strongly Agree Agree Disagree Strongly Disagree Our values about mothers, fathers, co-parenting, and relationships
- 41. 41
- 42. 42 Mothers Gatekeeping The father’s relationship with the mother (or maternal grandmother) may be the greatest determinant of successful father involvement.
- 43. 43 Strategies for Enlisting Mothers’ Support Be aware of your approach and the way you communicate with mothers about father involvement Alleviate fears Demonstrate respect Be culturally sensitive Tailor the approach to fit the family’s situation
- 44. 44 Strategies for Enlisting Mothers’ Support Explain: The importance of father involvement Father has a legal right to see his children (legal father) Children have a right to know their father
- 45. 45 Strategies for Enlisting Mothers’ Support cont Listen: To what the mother is saying about the father. To what the father is saying about the mother For values/beliefs impacting the mother’s willingness to involve the father
- 46. 46 Strategies for Enlisting Mothers’ Support cont Address safety concerns of mother and child
- 47. 47 Strategies for Enlisting Mothers’ Support cont Encourage mother to look beyond personal issues with the father Lifetime benefits to the child Extra support for her during rough times
- 48. 48 Addressing Barriers to Father Involvement Five categories for addressing the barriers to father involvement. Take actions that: Prevent Prepare Establish Involve Support
- 49. 49 Addressing Barriers to Father Involvement Prevent Prevent further child maltreatment and emotional harm to children by emphasizing to men their responsibility as fathers.
- 50. 50 Addressing Barriers to Father Involvement cont Prepare Prepare fathers by helping them attain the knowledge, skills, and financial resources to adequately care for their children.
- 51. 51 Addressing Barriers to Father Involvement cont Establish Help fathers firmly establish their relationship with their children. This includes the legal relationship and the parenting relationship
- 52. 52 Addressing Barriers to Father Involvement cont Involve Involve fathers in the child’s life. Most critically, involve the father in the case process.
- 53. 53 Addressing Barriers to Father Involvement cont Support Provide fathers with ongoing support that will help them sustain beyond the life of the DFCS case
- 54. 54 FATHER INVOLVEMENT: ASSESSMENT, CASE PLANNING AND SERVICES
- 55. 55 Factors Associated with Fathers and Maltreatment Poverty, underemployment, or unemployment Substance abuse Childhood history of abuse Low sense of self-worth
- 56. 56 Child Support Typology Able & Willing To Pay Willing But Unable To Pay Able But Unwilling To Pay Unwilling And Unable To Pay
- 57. 57 Fathers and Decision Making Meetings Fathers should be engaged in the same manner as mothers in the planning and decision making process related to their children. This includes non-custodial, alleged or putative fathers.
- 58. Fathers and the Confidentiality 58 Issue Do not allow concerns about confidentiality to become and excuse for not engaging fathers!
- 59. 59 Father Friendly Services Value fathers and the role they play Address fathers’ needs Are supportive; not punitive Are respectful of gender differences in parenting Where possible, provide positive male role models Provide services at times and locations that are accessible to fathers Provide an environment that is inviting to fathers
- 60. 60 Case Managers as a Resource For Fathers Purposeful visits with fathers: Review of safety, permanency, and well-being issues and case plan goals/activities Provide relevant resources Follow up – ask if he has accessed the resources, what he thought about them, additional ideas/resources he came up with, changes made Share “messages fathers need to hear”
- 61. 61 PURPOSEFUL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FATHERS
- 62. 62 Empathy Father’s perception: CPS is a threat to me and my family. I am a failure because I did not protect my children. Case Manager’s response: Demonstrate empathy (the ability to perceive and communicate with sensitivity the feelings and experiences of another person)
- 63. 63 Respect Father’s perception: I am being disrespected by the case manager, “the system.” Case manager’s response: Don’t provide a reason (by your actions, words, nonverbal communication, “attitude”) for father to accurately conclude that he is being disrespected.
- 64. 64 Genuineness Father’s perception: I don’t trust DFCS, I don’t trust this case manager. This is going to turn out badly for me. Case manager’s response: Be honest and authentic. Be consistent with what you say and do. Don’t give fathers a reason to accurately conclude that you are setting him up or “running a game” on him.
- 65. 65 Conversation vs. Interview
- 66. 66 Communication with Male Clients Acknowledge that it can be difficult for a man to ask for and accept help Demonstrate expertise ---show that you know something about men and have a toolbox for working with them Send signals that you actually like men Don’t assume he’s good at talking about his problems or that he knows what to expect from conversations with you
- 67. 67 Communication with Male Clients Understand that he may not know specifically what to do in a certain situation with his child or his child’s mother Don’t assume he’s a stereotypical guy Don’t expect him to use feeling words Acknowledge that he is a father
- 68. ……for your attendance and participation! 68 Thank you…… This session brought to you by…….
- 69. 69 “This project was supported in part by the Governor’s Office for Children and Families through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Community Based Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CFDA 93.590). Points of view or opinions stated in this document are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Governor’s Office for Children and Families or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Community Based Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act (CFDA 93.590)."