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Montgomery County Fatherhood Initiative: An
educational approach
2
The Effects of Father Absence• COSTS• Children of father-absent homes are: five times more likely to live in poverty three times more likely to fail in school two times more likely to develop
emotional or behavioral problems two times more likely to abuse drugs two times more likely to be abused and
neglected two times more likely to become involved in
crime three times more likely to commit suicide
Montgomery County Department of Job & Family Services (MCDJFS) is…
• Collaborating with local agencies to get fathers linked to services such as Legal Assistance, Employment, and Visitation/Custody information.
Montgomery County Department of Job & Family Services (MCDJFS) is…
• Reviewing all MCDJFS policies to ensure their father-friendliness (e.g., Children’s Services’ Diligent Search policy).
MCDJFS is…
• Educating MCDJFS staff on all things fatherhood through unit meetings, management meetings, and groups such as diversity.
MCDJFS is…doing LOTS of Out-reach
• Prisons
• High Schools•
• Churches
MCDJFS is…
• Applying for grants that call for collaboration with community partners.
Despite our best efforts…
• There have been a few setbacks.
• Pitfalls we have dealt with…
Apathy• Not only our agency, but other
agencies with which we are partnering have their daily operations, and a challenging economy, to concern themselves with.
• Therefore, they do not always want to spend time or resources on programs like fatherhood. Making agencies understand how involved fathers will make their job easier is vital.
Father fury• Many Dads do not like to deal with
anything that has to do with “the system,” child support, or their EX. Educating fathers on system navigation is extremely important.
•
Resistance to change
• Organizational change is always difficult to implement. That is why internal education is the key.
Overcoming barriers
• Sell the program as a family initiative.• Collaborate as much as possible.
There is power in numbers.• Celebrate and publicize the small
victories.
