EDITORIAL: Help for fathers can spread to others

May 02--They might be strong influences, role models, bread-winners, Little League coaches and protectors, but sometimes, fathers need help, too.

The Rochester Area Fatherhood Network recently hosted an amalgamation of social work and public health experts, fathers, mothers and others to discuss the state of fatherhood in our community in a morning of well-facilitated, free-flowing set of conversations.

Among talk of healthy co-parenting, navigating divorce amicably, the fluidity of traditional gender roles, the male equivalent of postpartum depression and the importance of child bonding, groups overwhelmingly voiced the need for organized support networks and formal programs aimed at engaging dads.

The Father Project, a program designed to assist fathers in overcoming the barriers that prevent them from supporting their children economically and emotionally, fulfilled that role before it was shuttered years ago due to a lack of federal funding. A bill authored by Sen. Jeff Hayden would appropriate $2.5 million to Goodwill Easter Seals, which would use the money to reimplement the Father Project in communities throughout the state, including Rochester.

It's a goal we heartily support.

"The Wilder Foundation did some research on the impact of the Father Project. What they showed was that a long-term financial return was $3.41 for every dollar invested in the Father Project," said Tierre Webster, founder and program supervisor of the Father Project and new executive director of Next Chapter ministries. "It was a powerful, powerful program."

The Father Project touched all kinds of people.

"There were younger fathers, older fathers, fathers who have custody of their children, fathers who don't, fathers who may have just been coming out of jail, fathers who are working or stay at home," said Jessica Naatz, Rochester Area Fatherhood Network chairwoman.

Dads would come to Father Project site to meet case managers who assessed their needs and talked about what areas they wanted to focus on. Partnerships with employment agencies helped fathers connect to skills, trades, training and careers, while other relationships were built with lawyers and agencies who oversee child-support to address legal questions and find paths toward re-establishing parenting time.

The cornerstone of the program was its emphasis on parenting groups. Fathers attended one of three weekly parenting groups to engage in an array of facilitated discussions on topics that included co-parenting, anger management and discipline versus punishment.

"Dads really were buildings social relationships, peer relationships with one another; it was amazing," Webster said. "Traditionally, we think men kind of aren't touchy-feely, but men were. They were building strong relationships; you would see men kind of bring their guard down and be able to be authentic."

When the program was shuttered, some fathers felt as though a rug had been pulled out from under their feet. One participant has landed back in prison, and Webster says he tends to think there is a correlation.

"Father Project helped address recidivism because the research says that when dads have a meaningful relationship with their children, they're less likely to re-offend," said Webster.

Some former Father Project participants still meet on their own at the Rochester Public Library, but they lack programming support.

For now, a handful of resources are available to fathers.

The Fatherhood Network can connect dads with some resources. Additionally, Parents Are Important In Rochester offers classes for fathers of young children. For other needs, Webster encourages fathers to contact Family Service Rochester with questions.

The more we support fathers, the more supported their children will be, and, cliche as this may be, there is no better investment in our community's future than its children.

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