The QIC-NRF was created because there is little engagements between the child welfare system and fathers
Prior studies/findings influence the QIC-NRF:
Child and Family Service Reviews (CFSR) Findings
What About the Dads: Child Welfare Agencies’ Efforts to Identify Locate and Involve Nonresident Fathers (2006)
More about the Dads: Exploring Associations between Nonresident Father Involvement and Child Welfare Case Outcomes (2008)
Workers didn’t exhaust all resources to identify and locate fathers
Workers didn’t exhaust all resources to identify and locate fathers
Workers inconsistently asked mothers about the father; mothers often were unable to provide helpful information
Administrators had differing opinions on whether nonresident fathers were “clients”
Differing policies on looking and assessing fathers as a placement option
Children with involved fathers are:
Children with involved fathers are:
more likely to be reunified
less likely to be adopted
High levels of adoption for children with:
unknown fathers and uninvolved fathers
engagement pattern may indicate fathers are only contacted when the department is moving towards TPR
Children whose fathers provide “informal” supports have increased likelihood to be reunified
money for rent, medical support, clothes, day care, etc.
…reduces the rates of criminal activity. Fathers regulate aggressive behavior, particularly for young boys. Better academic performance, fewer disciplinary problems, and remain in school. National Fatherhood Initiative
…reduces the rates of criminal activity. Fathers regulate aggressive behavior, particularly for young boys. Better academic performance, fewer disciplinary problems, and remain in school. National Fatherhood Initiative
Youth are less likely to engage in first-time substance use and ongoing use of alcohol, cigarettes, and hard drugs. Family Structure, Father Closeness, and Drug Abuse
Girls are more likely to thrive and have increased positive behaviors. Unique Influence of Mothers and Fathers on Their Children’s Anti-Social Behaviors
Teen girls are two times less likely to engage in early sexual activity; seven times less likely to get pregnant. Does Father Absence Place Daughters at Special Risk for Early Sexual Activity and Teenage Pregnancy?
“…responsible fatherhood . . . is one of the most important things we can to reduce childhood poverty.” Former Vice President Al Gore
Population Focus
Population Focus
NRFs whose child was removed from the home
The father of the child was not living in the home when the child was removed, was not the maltreating parent, met other criteria
QIC-NRF is operated by
American Humane Association
American Bar Association Center on Children & the Law
National Fatherhood Initiative
Four demonstration sites
El Paso County, Colorado
Fort Worth, Texas
Indianapolis, Indiana
King County, Washington (greater Seattle area)
For more information www.fatherhoodqic.org
Promote innovative, evidence-based practice
Promote innovative, evidence-based practice
Develop and share knowledge with others
Answer the key question:
“Is there a difference in child and family outcomes in child welfare cases based on nonresident father involvement.”*
*Child welfare findings on this question will be available after March 2011 since fathers are still being served by all four sites; cross-site findings in about 6-9 months later.
Identification
Identification
Location
Contact
Engagement
Literature review conducted AHA found:
Biggest gap in practice is in the area of engagement
Efforts to working with fathers is not a shared concern or focus, even within good practice
No “blue-print” to engage fathers in the child welfare system exist
Initial primary focus:
Initial primary focus:
Field test a 20-week peer-facilitated father support group across the four sites
Expanded focus:
Examine non-resident father recruitment and enrollment
Examine and engage in cross-system efforts
Provide training/skill building to social workers and other professionals
Program fathers were offered:
Program fathers were offered:
20-week father support group
12 meetings were structured and covered topics identified as best practice
8 meetings were topics the fathers identified or the group agreed upon
Initial contact takes place where dad is comfortable
Opportunity to tell his story and to be heard (mother’s story often heard)
Learn about the supports and services available to help him provide for child and family
Access to father-friendly easy to read and understand information from all the systems (child welfare, child support, legal)
Seamless referral process and confirmation that his needs were met (e.g., housing, financial support, employment and training, child support, legal and criminal systems)
Persons to help him navigate the system and prioritize demands
Early and consistent engagement—reduce sense of “lost-ness” and frustration when father is engaged after initial court hearings
Early and consistent engagement—reduce sense of “lost-ness” and frustration when father is engaged after initial court hearings
Accommodating father’s work schedule for meetings, appointments, and visits with his children
Opportunity to give back and offer his insights: serve on father advisory panel, review documents, policies, practice approaches, and training materials
Be aware that fathers view:
Be aware that fathers view:
Father view staff as “gatekeepers” and may wait for instructions
personal contact with staff is regarded as encouraging
A little “hand-holding” up front may result in increased participation by fathers
Explain the paperwork and help him to prioritize
Be honest with fathers about their rights to and responsibilities for their children
Address potential frustrations about why they are required to work with the child welfare and court demands if they were not part of the maltreatment
As with mothers, work with fathers to provide the supports and services they need, including father peer support and educational groups
As with mothers, work with fathers to provide the supports and services they need, including father peer support and educational groups
Learn more about male help-seeking behaviors and how you can better provide support
Know fathers love their children—don’t judge even if they do not participate in process or appear angry
Many fathers have good intentions as well “starts & stops”
Examine/be prepared to change your own beliefs, values, fears, and thoughts about the role of fathers—reach out to fathers you know and trust for insights
Assure early appointment of attorneys for all parents, including non-custodial fathers
Assure early appointment of attorneys for all parents, including non-custodial fathers
Assure that parents’ attorneys do not have inordinately high case loads, and that they receive adequate compensation
Provide attorneys legal training, available at:
www.fatherhoodqic.org/curriculum.shtml
Address mothers’ inability/unwillingness to identify or help locate the father (have her file an affidavit, be examined under oath)
Judge Edwards’ 4 videos: identifying/locating fathers; establishing paternity; explaining rights /responsibilities; engaging father on the www.fatherhood/qic.org site
Address legal issues that stop fathers from coming forward, such as fears regarding child support obligations, immigration status, criminal history
V
Assume all fathers want to engage; male socialization, a father’s childhood or adult experiences may necessitate active outreach
Assume all fathers want to engage; male socialization, a father’s childhood or adult experiences may necessitate active outreach
Educate professionals and the broader community on the value of father involvement (via trainings, workshops, panels)
Provide staff with concrete ways to identify, locate, and engage dads/paternal relatives via trainings and tip sheets
Support father and paternal search efforts via tools, information access, or family finding staff; Agency management should consistently enforce policies
Review policies, practice, and training materials (including language used) to ensure they are inclusive and specifically name fathers as well as mothers
Review policies, practice, and training materials (including language used) to ensure they are inclusive and specifically name fathers as well as mothers
Enforce timely paternity testing practices
To the extent legally possible, implement policies and practices that support the streamlining of intake information, information sharing, referrals, and service delivery
Education mothers on the value of father engagement—for buy-in and to access to information about the father
Consider veteran father mentors and specifically-trained father support personnel to aid and support fathers
Create upper level program manager to: enhance father involvement within the agency and cross-system
Create upper level program manager to: enhance father involvement within the agency and cross-system
Create a local, regional, and state-wide fatherhood father advisory panels to review documents, policies, practice approaches, and training materials, and offer insights on ways to identify, locate and engage fathers
Partner with other local, regional, and state-wide fatherhood coalitions and work with public and community providers as well as father and mother representatives
Incorporate evaluation into your efforts—start with a needs assessment study and ongoing data collection for internal use and to fill the knowledge gap
Currently Available
Currently Available
ABA Legal training & Advocating for Nonresident Fathers in Child Welfare Court Cases book
ABA Service Center at 1-800-285-2221
Your Legal Rights as a Father-WA has a framework to share
Lots of research, inform & organizations just Google
We could only offer one program approach to the fathers; not always the best match given their situation (e.g., out of state/region, incarcerated, etc.)
Culture/environment doesn’t always value fathers or know how to show it
Culture/environment doesn’t always value fathers or know how to show it
Lack of father-specific and father-welcoming services to refer father
Lack of coordination among various systems serving fathers
Crises in fathers’ situation makes it hard for them to prioritize or navigate systems without supports
Program level
Program level
Fathers present many challenges and competing priorities; they feel overwhelmed or unable to maintain participation
One program delivery approach doesn’t meet the needs of all fathers
Length of program may be hard when fathers have limited hope and resources and trying to meet basic needs
About 50% retention rates;
appears to be improving with time.
Enhance systemic processes to promote the programs (referral reminders, supervisory enforcement regarding father engagement, father presentations, the sharing of research)
Enhance systemic processes to promote the programs (referral reminders, supervisory enforcement regarding father engagement, father presentations, the sharing of research)
A systematic, automated, timely approach to father information
A formalized system for an exchange of information between the group facilitator and a point of contact within the child welfare agency for case-specific concerns and needs
Ongoing dialog at all levels of the organization about father engagement and programming is required
