Fathers in MCH are we ready yet for a name change

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• Fathers in MCH are we ready yet for a name
  change?
• Anand Chabra, MD, MPH
• MCAH Director and CCS Medical Director
• Eve Agiewich, JD
• Director, Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo
  County
• CityMatCH Conference, September 21, 2008

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Father Absence

• Nearly 25 million children in the United States,
  36, live apart from their biological fathers.
• 40 of children who live in households without a
  father never visited their fathers home.

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Why work with fathers?
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Why work with fathers?

• Children who live without contact with their
  biological father, in comparison with children
  who have such contact are
• Twice as likely to drop out of school
• More than twice as likely to abuse drugs
  alcohol
• More likely to commit suicide
• Twice as likely to commit crimes
• More likely to exhibit learning difficulties
• More likely to become pregnant as teenagers

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Why work with fathers?

• But, we also know that
• Fathers can do become as attached to infants as
  mothers
• Fathers are not inept or uninterested in
  interaction with newborns
• Fathers mothers differ in their interactions
  with children, and each is important to the
  development of the whole child

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Why work with fathers?

• The quality of the marital relationship affects
  mother-child relationships, father-child
  relationships, and the childs general
  well-being.

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Fatherhood Collaborative Formation

• 1996 - San Mateo Perinatal Council teams with a
  newly elected San Mateo County Supervisor to
  support fatherhood efforts.
• 1998, Supervisor Jerry Hill and management
  personnel from Health Department (MCAH) and
  Department of Child Support Services, plus
  several community organizations, form a governing
  board for a loosely organized Fatherhood
  Collaborative.
• From 2000-2003 a local community foundation funds
  a Coordinator who is hired and housed in the
  Health Department (MCAH), on behalf of the
  Fatherhood Collaborative.

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GOALS

• Education
• Increase community awareness of, and support for,
  the importance of fathers' involvement in the
  lives of children.  
• Inspiration
• Inspire individuals and organizations to provide
  programs and activities that encourage the active
  involvement of fathers and men in the lives of
  children and families.  
• Engagement
• Encourage fathers and male caregivers from all
  sectors of San Mateo County to actively
  participate, connect, and advocate with others to
  increase their involvement with their children
  and families.

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The Fatherhood Collaborative
Mission To provide a forum to address and
support the importance of men and fathers taking
an active role in the well being of children and
families.
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NEEDS ASSESSMENT

• With funds from First 5 Commission (California
  tobacco tax funded initiative), the Health
  Department conducted a needs assessment about
  the needs of fathers of young children in the
  county between 2001 and 2003.
• Final report was submitted to the funder in
  February 2003 and printed a few months later.

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Journal Publication Buckelew SM, Pierrie H,
Chabra A. What fathers need A countywide
assessment of the needs of fathers of young
children. Matern Child Health J 200610285-91.
Report http//www.plsinfo.org/healthysmc/pdf/fath
erhoodrpt.pdf
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MCAH Programs for Fathers

• Young Dads group started (2001) as part of an
  Adolescent Family Life Project (DHHS funding)
• Reclaiming Fatherhood (Role of Men) component of
  the Black Infant Health Program started in 2001
  (CA Dept of Public Health funding)

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Collaborative Members

• In addition to the six designated County
  Departments, the Fatherhood Collaborative
  includes over 30 countywide agencies, community
  based organizations and individuals.

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FATHERHOOD COLLABORATIVE ADVISORY BOARD

• September 2007
• Fatherhood Collaborative designated
• FATHERHOOD COLLABORATIVE
• ADVISORY BOARD
• by San Mateo County
• Board of Supervisors
• (and moves back to the Health Department)

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ADVISORY BOARD STRUCTURE
SIX MEMBERS AT LARGE
SIX COUNTY DEPARMENTS DEPT CHILD SUPPORT
SERVICES HEALTH DEPARTMENT HUMAN SERVICES
AGENCY OFFICE OF EDUCATION PROBATION
DEPT SUPERIOR COURT
THREE COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS
UP TO TWO YOUTH COMMISSIONERS
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HighlightsEvents and Programs Dad Me Series

• Dad Me at the Library
• 100 participants per event, 18 events scheduled
  at libraries throughout the County for 07-08

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Dad Me _at_ the Park

• Dad Me at the Park
• In regional parks throughout the County
• June 14, 2008 Over 700 people enjoyed free
  barbecue, entertainment, and games.
• They received t-shirts, tote bags water
  bottles.
• Event includes Fatherhood Awards.

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Dad Me _at_ the Park
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Dad Me _at_ the Park 2008Father of the Year Award

• Supervisor Hill (right) and Board Chair Bruce
  Collins, presenting Father of the Year award to
  Jeff Morrow.

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DAD ME, RESPECTFULLY

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Recent HighlightsEvents and Programs

• 20,000 for Partners in Service (Awards to CBOs
  and County Agencies for father-related programs.)
  
• This years Partners in Service
• Family Children Services --Positive Solutions
  Mens Outreach Project 10,000 for a project to
  provide outreach, workshops, and support services
  to help men in the East of Bayshore Community
  who are at risk of family violence to positively
  change they way they interact with their partners
  and parent their children.
• YMCA of the Mid-Peninsula, Sequoia Branch YMCA
  Adventure Guides-- 5,000 for a father-child
  program designed to help foster understanding and
  companionship and to strengthen the relationship
  between children and their fathers. The program
  offers activities, including games, camping trips
  and family adventures.
• Womens Recovery Association (WRA) -- 5,000 for
  a Fatherhood Program, designed to re-unify men
  with their families, encourage the involvement of
  fathers and other significant male caregivers in
  their childrens lives and build healthy bonds
  with both the child and mother, to improve the
  health and well-being of the entire family unit.

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Recent Highlights Events and Programs
2008 Annual Fatherhood Conference BUILDING BETTER
FAMILIES
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Recent Highlights Events and Programs

• 6th DADS COUNT BREAKFAST
• with JIM PLUNKETT

Prior year DADS COUNT speakers include Bill
Walsh, Norm David Mineta, Tom Holmoe, Tom Brady
Jr. Sr. Maureen Brady, and Mike Nolan
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Fatherhood Awareness WeekJune 9th June 15th,
2008

• Tuesday, June 10th
• Dad Me at the Library Burlingame
• Saturday, June 14th
• Dad Me _at_ the Park, Coyote Point Park, San Mateo
• Saturday, June 14th
• Dad Me at the Library Belmont
• Friday, June 20th
• Second Annual Men's Health Fair, Coyote Point
  Park, San Mateo

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Challenges

• If you build it, they will not come!

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Challenges

• Working with dads requires sensitivity to
  cultural barriers.

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Challenges

• Fathers must be made to feel welcome.

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Challenges

• Because they do it differently doesnt mean
  theyre doing it wrong.

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upported by

• San Mateo County
• Board of Supervisors
• Department of Child Support Services
• Human Services Agency
• Health Department (Family Health)
• Probation Department
• Office of Education

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with commitment from

• Superior Court of California San Mateo County
• Child Care Coordinating Council
• Department of Parks
• Peninsula Library System/San Mateo County Library
• JobTrain (formerly OICW)
• IHSD, Inc. (Institute for Human and Social
  Development)
• ADVISORY BOARD and Committee Members

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and other collaborative partners

• Family Service Agency
• Family Children Services
• YMCA of the Mid-Peninsula
• Womens Recovery Association
• Service League
• Wells Fargo Bank
• Pacific Gas Electric
• YFES (Youth, Family Enrichment Services)
• Asian American Recovery Services
• Silicon Valley Community Foundation
• and many more

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The Fatherhood Collaborative of San Mateo County

• Visit us at
• www.fatherhoodcollaborative.org

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So, what about a name change?

• Family Health Services for moms, dads, and kids
• Family Health Services helping children and
  parents
• Maternal, Paternal, Child and Adolescent Health
  (Alameda County, CA)
• Child and Family Health Services

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