Fatherhood Initiative

The Franklin Center of Beaver County realizes the integral, irreplaceable role that fathers play in their children's lives. Throughout the country, others are also realizing the importance and this is resulting in may fatherhood programs springing up around the country. Some programs focus on single fathers who are involved with the justice system in some way. while others focus on providing programming to strengthen relationships between fathers who are present in the home and their families. The Franklin Center's fatherhood program integrates the two approaches, because it recognizes that fathers can be physically and emotionally absent from their children's lives, and that both situations are equally detrimental to the child.

The fatherhood initiative incorporates healthy families because the Franklin Center recognizes that mothers are also an important part of family life and even if parents are no longer in a committed relationship, it is integral that mothers and fathers communicate in a positive fashion concerning the needs of their shared children. It is also integral part of the Aliquippa Weed and Seed's overall objective of reducing crime in Aliquippa by 5 percent. Much research has been done making the connection between juvenile delinquency and fatherlessness.

The Fatherhood Initiative will have three main components. First, much emphasis will be placed on prevention efforts, with programming being offered at the middle, high school, and young adult levels aimed at preventing pre-mature relationships which progress to the level where fatherhood becomes a distinct possibility. This programming will be offered in a fun, interactive, but informative environment and will include such ventures as the Why Knot program, which is aimed at young adult men, and the Hope Project, which is aimed at preteens and teens of both sexes.

The prevention initiative will not be just based on programming, Preteens, teenagers, and young adults are especially vulnerable to media messages they receive, especially from the video games they play, television shows they watch, and the music to which they listen. Since media influences are so important, a media campaign using traditional methods (billboards, radio spots, etc.) and non-traditional methods (Facebook, MySpace and Twitter) will be employed to promote programming.

Preparation for fatherhood is important for men who are about to become fathers. Programming, workshops, and resources will be available to men, married or not, to help them prepare for the financial, emotional, and legal responsibilities of fatherhood. This will include the offering of pre-parenting programming for men. All programming is developed in-house will use nationally recognized, evidence-based programming.

The second component of the program will focus on helping men establish deeper connections with their children, and encouraging men to take a more active role in their communities. This component will also help men come to terms with any barriers to becoming an involved father that they may face. This can involve job placement assistance, financial literacy, adult literacy, and referral to other county services where appropriate. Referral to reconciliation and mediation services will also be provided to help separate parents reconcile differences which prevent men from taking an active role in their children's lives. While not all relationships may be restored to a state where the parents recommit to one another, the effort will focus on restoring those which can be restored and producing civil, cooperative relationships between those which cannot be restored. Parenting classes will be also be available and recognition events help to celebrate successes. All classes will be offered using nationally recognized evidence-based curriculum, such as 24/7 Dad, Doctor Dad, Dadventures, InsideOutDad, and Why Knot, developed by the National Fatherhood Initiative.

The third and final component will be to support men in the various roles they occupy in the family structure. This component would involve a good deal of overlap with the second component, and most activities would be interchangeable. Again, reducing barriers or helping men find solutions for problems which affect their families would be a primary focus, as well as presenting parenting programs and seminars on a variety of issues. Activities which promote relationships between men and their children would be offered, such as theme nights and retreats for fathers and daughters and sons. Again, adult-adult and adult-child mentoring relationships would be a key focus. Lastly, a mom's group would recognize the importance of mothers in making fatherhood a successful, rewarding experience for men.