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Project
Dads:
Project Dads was developed as a pilot
program in October 1994, as a comprehensive outreach program aimed
at helping teenage fathers become more responsible and effective
parents.
The program strives to give dads the knowledge and confidence to
develop meaningful relationships with their children, thereby
reducing the incidence of abuse and neglect in their homes.
We achieve this through positive adult male mentoring, intensive
casework services, parenting instruction and peer support during
group work.
Our Staff: A
Project Dads outreach worker will visit your home and begin working
with you to develop a contract detailing where you want your parenting skills
to be at the end of the program. You and he will also develop
a method to measure your progress.
What is "Project
Dads?":
The curriculum involves two aspects: individual sessions & group sessions:
1. Individual
casework with a special emphasis on mentoring and role
modeling is a "hands-on" approach, and you'll get to
work with a male outreach worker.
The program's most important aspect is the mentoring relationship
and direct input from the adult male outreach worker in helping
to strengthen and support the teenage father in his parental
role. In addition to this emphasis, you'll go through a more
formalized parenting education program.
As a result of this
program and in addition to learning parental responsibility
through male mentoring, teen fathers will learn to facilitate
positive child health and personal development. They will
also have increased self-esteem and will have gained knowledge
about utilization of community resources.
2. Group work
will allow for peer support and community speakers on such topics as:
- Life
skills
- The father's
responsibility
- Self esteem
- Basic infant
care
- Coping with
stress
- Effective social
skills
- Peer pressure /
conflict mediation
- Relationships
with significant others
- Community
resource utilization
- Family planning
/ pregnancy prevention
- AIDS 101 /
sexually transmitted diseases
- Career
counseling
- Employment
skills
- Paternity
Who Can Receive the
Program's Support?:
Any teen or
under-21 dad who needs to improve or learn parenting skills, and who
lives in the United Way of Central Alabama's service area.
This area includes Jefferson, Shelby, Walker, Blount and St. Clair
counties. If fathers older than 21 are interested, their
admission to the program will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Why is "Project
Dads" Important?:
Each day, more children are born out of wedlock. Shattered
families, where children live in homes without their fathers, have
become an American crisis. Broken homes can lead to an
increase of violent crime, drug use and failure in school.
This program targets "at risk" teen fathers and teaches
them how to be responsible and effective parents.
How Do I Get Involved?:
For more information on gaining admission or volunteering for the
program, please contact the Children's Aid Society office (205) 251-7148.
The Project Dads Outreach Worker will be happy to assist you.
Our services are free and confidential.
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