Institutionalizing Fatherhood Programming in Child Welfare and Public Social Service Settings

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Creating Systemic Change:

Nathan L. O’Neal, PhD, MBAMen Behaving Dadly

Fatherhood Program Manager

Change is Critical

Children oSchool suspension, 53%oDrop out, 71%oTreated for an emotional or behavioral problems, 65%oAdolescent suicide, 63%oAre victims of child abuse or neglect, 78%o70% of long-term prison inmates.

The SystemoFailure to meet federal requirementsoInadequate family resources for childrenoStrain on existing foster care systemoChildren in care longer than necessary

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Research informs us that NOT having Dad’s presence in this work has a negative impact on:

Change is Critical, cont’d

MothersoPovertyoLack of supportoExhaustion/StressoResentment from her family

FathersoDepressionoLack of self esteemoFeelings of failure and inadequacyoCynical about the worldoFeeling helpless and hopeless oLabeled as ‘deadbeat’oSeen as a loseroJail/PrisonoSubstance abuse

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NOT having Dad’s involvement with his child has a negative impact on:

Practice change is Imperative

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WHY?

Yet making lasting change is difficult in public welfare settings.

Barriers exist because there are many types of people involved in decision making – having different purposes,

perspectives, attitudes and using different approaches.

We all may have a different idea of exactly what is in each child’s

“best interest”.5

History plays an important role:

• Elizabethan Poor Laws• Widows and Orphan’s Acts• Social Security: Title IVA and Title IVD

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Men have been actively excluded for a very long time

Public service bureaucracy as experienced by many clients:

• Complex• Hierarchical (slow decision making)• Resources are challenged, crises oriented vs.

preventiveo Staff are often overwhelmedo Finances are silo-ed and inflexibleo Decision making is slow and rule boundo Constant public scrutiny (audits, press) can make workers defensiveo Politics and political sensitivities are an underlying reality

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Organizational Chart

Department Director / Manager

Child Protection Intake

Family Resource (Foster, Kinship Adoption)

Youth Services

Ongoing Child Protection

Temporary Aid to Needy Families

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Medicaid

Medicare

Adult Protection

Low Income Heating Assistance

Assistance Programs Legal

Security

Personnel

Budget

Business Office

Child Support Administration

A Typical Public Agency

Intake

Case Initiation (locating non-custodial parent)

Establishment of Paternity and Child

Support

Enforcement of Child Support Court Order

Interstate

Modifications

Information Technology

Child Welfare

Child Support

Human Resources

Administrative

A Case Study

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Case Study

• Five independent decision makers (Police, Court, Jail, Department of Human Services, and Genetic Testing agency)

• Five social service divisions involved (Child Welfare Intake, Ongoing, Foster Care, Financial Services, and Child Support)

• Federal clock running (child under 6 requires permanency within one year)

• Lack of communication

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Challenges

Lessons Learned• Importance of establishing paternity being

on child’s birth certificate• Not all Fathers avoid responsibility (Fathers are made

to jump through many hoops to prove their paternity; Fathers owning up to responsibility must “prove” their paternity.)

• Federal permanency timelines sometimes are too short for meaningful progress by parents with multiple barrier

• Systems intended to protect sometimes create barriers

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“Best Interest”?

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Whatever else might be in the child’s best interest in the child’s best interest Fathers must be included.Fathers must be included.

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AGENCY BARRIERS TO FATHER INVOLVEMENT

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• Multiple silos and decision makers• Dad not seen as in legitimate need of

social services• Dads not always seen as necessary• Dads excluded from decision making

STAFF BARRIERS TO FATHER INVOLVEMENT

• One more thing to do• Confusion regarding who the client is• Misunderstanding about program purpose• Attitudes and myths• Personal discomfort with men• Lack of cultural competence and sensitivity

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Partner Barriers

• Different definition of “best interest” • Different reasons for involvement and

different timeframes• Different rules, regulations, policies and

procedures

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Barriers for Working with Partners:(Police, Jail, Court, Schools, Physicians, CBO, FBO, Etc.)

• Different rules, regulations, policies, procedures and timeframes

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The Social Services Struggle in Getting Fathers Involved

• Different definition of “best interest”• Different purpose/mission • Different reasons for involvement

“ Institututionalizing practice is IN THE BEST INTEREST OF

CHILDREN”

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Goals fo Fatherhood Practices within Social Service

• Create and maintain an organizational culture that includes Fathers as a resource

• Redefine “family” to include fathers• Practice to promote Father stability and

involvement• Coordinate systems of care to work effectively

with fathers• Increase dad’s knowledge and support his

ability to exercise his rights within the system 19

Why Institutionalize these practices?

• Staff may leave but good practice will continue • We improve outcomes for Children• Assures that the “system” will provide supports to assist Fathers

to engage in the lives of their children

• Increases the capacity and effectiveness of related programs

• Increase cost savings• Ensures compliance

» Improve CFSR outcomes» Improves CSE collection outcomes

• Support for the family is not just monetary• Creates internal system advocacy

General Techniques for Creating Lasting Change

• Community demand• Rule of law• Policy• Processes• Tools

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• High Level Advocate• Engage at the department head level• Engage at worker level• Design within the existing resources; connect to

existing programs• Identify where the public and private sectors intersects

and where the fatherhood program will touch• The Right Program Manager (creativity, tenacity, knowledge

base, affinity for men, connections to the community)

TECHNIQUEScreating lasting change

Creating lasting change (cont’d)• Incorporate evidence based fatherhood program• Train and educate professionals and partners to value a father's contribution to

healthy family functioning and to assure opportunities for fathers through improved case planning, expanded father oriented services, and support for building stronger father-child relationships

• Collect and present data to educate systems on the vital role fathers have in the life of their children

• Improve the use of dad’s/paternal family as placement alternatives in out-of-home placement situations

• Establish a comprehensive community based support program that supports father-child connections

• Work collaboratively with others in the city to enhance paternal involvement and increase capacity of related programs

• Develop measurable outcomes and highlight

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• Connecting with other Divisions and Programso Assistance Programso Resource Family Recruitmento Volunteer and Giving Programso Foundations like Casey Family Programs,

American Humane, National Coalition for Fathers and Families

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OPPORTUNITIES

• Design by recognizing and building upon existing resources

• Acknowledge and coordinate with existing programs and services

• Find ways to help• Public Relations• Funding/Grants• Community engagement

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SUSTAINABILITY

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Case study b

MissionThe mission of the ‘Men Behaving Dadly’ program is to educate, advocate, integrate and promote dads’ active and positive involvement in the lives of their children.

Short Term Goal •Successful completion of 10 week program•Increased or continued parenting time*

Intermediate Goal•Fathers begin or continue to meet financial obligation*•Fathers begin or continue to have cooperative interactions with mother of child*

Long-term Goal•Father engaged in child’s life for at least 12 months**

*based on individual baseline; see scale.** For incarcerated fathers, from the time the court allows for father-child interaction. For all others, in conjunction with the parenting sessions.

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Men Behaving Dadly

• 65% of parenting class participants are referred by the Denver Juvenile Court.

• There are currently 37 participants with 257 graduates from the 10 –week parenting class that began Dec. 2009.

• 20 received sole custody, etc. (example)• 17 families are now receiving child support from the

former absent father• 31 dads are employed

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MBD Partnerships

• Bi-weekly education effort to different communities via the film ‘Daddy Hunger’

• Ongoing referrals to community resources for assistance with housing and employment

• 2 of 4 of the classes for Fathers are held in a community site vs. at Social Services

• Involved with DHS’ Integration Team

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• Parenting classes using ‘Responsible Fatherhood’ curriculum• Regularly scheduled group support sessions weeknights and

weekends:– established class uses ‘Inside-Out Dad’ curriculum– drop-in

• Specialized Equine Therapy• Provide financial assistance for items such as tools, work

clothes, transportation, travel for parenting time or reunification efforts

• Job readiness, resume writing, basic computer training, and ESL classes

• GED test-preparations services

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MBD Father’s Activities

Result of Institutionalizing Fatherhood Program

• Initial referral and investigation• Absent parent search• Team Decision Making• Dependency & Neglect• Court agreement• Treatment plan• Database search

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Child Support Example of WHY• Reduction of the growth of uncollectable arrears on caseloads• Improve performance outcomes in the payment of current child support

orders• Changing image of child support: child support workers see it as a good

way to demonstrate balance in its approach to noncustodial parents. • Potential for helping children build positive relationships with their fathers

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Open Cases: 24,536Orders Established: 1,540Orders Modified: 1,865Paternity Established: 611Caseload with orders: 89.8%

% of cases with current support paid: 58.3%% of arrears cases with payment on arrears: 66.3%# of open cases with non custodial parent in doc: 1,503# of non custodial parent on parole: 1,030# of cases with TANF arrears only: 6,476

Result of Institutionalizing Child Support Enforcement Division

• Reduce the filing of Default Orders

• Early outreach during the establishment process - involve both parents

• Up front sharing of information about the system and processes

• Agreements without hearings

• # of stipulated orders increased

• End practice of 12% interest on delinquent accounts

• End retroactive support when filing new orders

• Enhance the process of negotiating child support

• Mediation services to address access and visitation

• Increase court order compliance

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Integrating and institutionalizing father-friendly practice means helping

staff make a critical paradigm shift:

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FROM… Father as a Problem

TO…Father as a Partner

Questions?

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Nathan L. O’Neal, PhD, MBAExecutive DirectorMen Behaving Dadly

855.623.3237

nathan@menbehavingdadly.orgwww.menbehavingdadly.org

4008 Cook St. Denver, Co 80216

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