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Fathering Skills
OUR MISSION
Society has done a great job of painting a picture of the "perfect father" but has done an extremely poor job of teaching men how to develop fathering skills. The programs offered educate men about their roles and responsibilities in being a father and how important they are to their children.
PROGRAM OBJECTIVE
The participants in the Fathering Skills classes will lear to:
- Recognize the difference between manhood and fatherhood
- Appreciate their family of origin but blend it with the mother's family of origin
- Enhance healthy communications within the family
- Understand a child's ages and stages of growth and development
- Set limits with the child for everyone's protection
- Enhance co-parenting techniques and recognize a father's job is never done
- Increase their awareness of fatherhood and bonding with a child
COOPERATING ORGANIZATIONS
These organizations work with OSU Extension, Butler County to refer men to the fathering program to help them expand their fathering skills knowledge and practices:
- High School GRADS programs
- Southwest Ohio Serenity Hall, Inc.
- Catholic Social Services
- Butler County Family Relations Court
- Butler County Juvenile Justice Court
- Department of Living Skills Program
CURRICULUMS AND PROGRAMS
As a part of a land-grant university, Ohio State University Extension has unique opportunities to work with all other land grant colleges and universities across America to teach research based subject matter that has been proven by university research. The curriculums used in the classes have research based subject matter for validity and reliability. Current curriculums used include: "It's My Child Too!" (for young fathers, ages 14 to 28); "Dad's Make A Difference" (for adolescents prior to becoming a father); the "R Factor" (for teens that have become or are becoming a father); and "Responsible Men, Responsible Fathers" (for fathers of all ages).
The programs are designed to be taught in eight week units for teens and adolescents. Adult programs are designed to be taught in twelve week units. The program is presented once a week for one hour. Classes are designed to include group interaction, discussion, case studies, hands-on activities, and educational videos. Participants are expected to keep a diary and homework assignments are administered each week. Classes are taught in various locations depending on the most central location for the class participants. Graduation certificates are awarded to those that meet the criteria set by the class participants at the first class.
The fees for the calsses are base on a sliding scale.
Sucessful programs take into account young and mature father's learning styles and parenting styles. Educational fathering programs are based on four assumptions:
- if offered - young fathers will attend
- services will meet the participant's needs
- once enrolled, they will ussse the services available
- services will be beneficial and produce positive outcomes
HELPFUL WEBSITES
http://www.fatherhoodproject.org
http://www.cyfc.umn.edu/fathernet
http://www.responsiblefatherhood.org
