Increasing the number of engaged fathers.
According to the U.S. Census, 18.4 million children do not have a biological father, step-father, or adoptive father at home. Impacts of Absent Fathers When a child is raised in a home without a father, they face the following problems:
2x Greater Risk of Infant Mortality
2x Greater Risk of Dropping Out of School
2x More Likely To Suffer Obesity
4x More Likely to Experience Poverty
7x Greater Risk of Teen Pregnancy
Benefits of Involved Fathers Children with involved fathers have a strong foundation for their well-being: Lower Risk of Abuse and Neglect
Lower Risk of Criminal Activity
Less Likely To Experience Substance Abuse
Less Likely To Experience Emotional Issues
Information provided by The National Fatherhood Initiative
About Us
The Counties of Isle of Wight, Surry, and Southampton are working collaboratively to create stronger, more successful families by helping fathers build the skills they need to be successful and engaged.
We guide the work of the Fatherhood Program to provide community-based services, support and social activities for fathers to strengthen families
Our Service Offerings
(All services are free for Isle of Wight, Southampton and Surry County residents)
1
24:7 Dad®
Using the NFI 24/7 Dad curriculum, each participant's knowledge of the 5 characteristics of being a better Dad will increase.
• SELF-AWARENESS: a dad needs to be aware of himself as a man and aware of how important he is to his family. He knows his moods, feelings, and emotions. He is responsible for his behavior and knows his growth depends on how well he understands and accepts himself. He also knows that his ability to be with his children is affected by the choices he has made and accepts responsibility for his choices. • CARING FOR SELF: A Dad takes care of himself. He gets annual physicals, eats the right foods, works out to stay in shape, and learns about the world he lives in. He has a strong connection to his family and community and chooses his friends who support his healthy choices. Dads will learn how to model good behavior that’s respectful to themselves, women, and others.
• FATHERING SKILLS Dads should know their role in the family. Dad will learn that he is a model for his sons on how to be good men and fathers and for his daughters on what they should look for in a husband and father for their children to come. He will learn that if possible, he should be involved in his children's daily lives: parent-teacher conferences, sports, doing homework together, and tucking them in at night.
• PARENTING SKILLS Dads will learn how to nurture their children. They will learn that their parenting skills are essential to developing their physical, emotional, intellectual, social, spiritual, and creative needs. These needs are crucial to creating trusting and safe relationships with their children. Dads will learn to use education and appropriate discipline to guide their children, not threats, harm, or corporal punishment. • RELATIONSHIP SKILLS Dads will learn to build and maintain healthy relationships with their children, the wife/mother of their children, other family members, friends, and the community. He will learn how relationships shape his children and their lives. Dad will learn the relationship with his wife/mother of his children affects his children and will do his best to create/maintain his relationship for the sake of his children.
2
1:1 Mentoring
Describe your service here. What makes it great? Use short catchy text to tell people what you offer, and the benefits they will receive. A great description gets readers in the mood, and makes them more likely to go ahead and book.
Get ready for some exciting events!
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Keep an eye out for upcoming events and tickets to include free tickets to Norfolk Admirals and Tides games. Other events include a father/daughter dance and father/children picnic.
Stay tuned for information and join for a fun-filled time!
3
NFI FatherTopics™ Collection for Non-Custodial Dads
Five sessions (Mobile or In-person) that provide non-custodial/custodial fathers with information on and the ability to explore their knowledge, attitudes, emotions, and behavior on the following topics that are critical to their success as fathers:
• Workforce Readiness: This session provides fathers with information about the importance of being gainfully employed and emphasizes the balance needed to handle the demands of employment and parenting.
• Rights and Responsibilities: This session helps fathers understand their legal rights as fathers and, specifically, their rights as non-custodial parents. Fathers learn to appreciate their parental responsibilities from a moral, legal, financial, emotional, and holistic perspective.
• Visitation: This session focuses on the purpose and goals of fathers’ visits with their children.
• Child Support: This session helps fathers better understand the importance of providing child support. They learn what this type of support means for their children and their self identification as fathers. This session emphasizes the value of a father's support (e.g., financial, emotional, and physical). system.
• Money Management: This session helps fathers understand the costs of raising a child.