United Way programs support fatherhood
Thousands of people are flocking to specialty or department stores to pick out just the right gift for dad on Father’s Day, June 19. Fathers and fatherhood are being commemorated on this special day in recognition of their importance to the family structure. For some families, however, Father’s Day is a reminder of how much they are missing.
There are 24 million children who live absent from biological fathers in the United States. The 2003 Kids Count Data Book shows that in Illinois, 47.2 percent of African-American children live in single-parent families as compared to 52.4 percent of Missouri’s African-American children.
Fathers provide a unique and irreplaceable contribution to children, according to the National Fatherhood Initiative, an organization that promotes responsible fatherhood. When the father’s presence and influence is absent, research shows that children don’t fare as well in their development, educational attainment, general health and well-being and financial stability.
The United Way of Greater St. Louis is addressing the needs for increasing the involvement of fathers in children’s lives through several programs that include the Fathers’ Support Center, St. Louis; the East St. Louis Fathers’ Center, a program of the Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois; Catholic Family Services’ Fatherhood Initiative; Neighborhood House; Lessie Bates David Neighborhood House; Kingdom House and the Employment Connection’s Parents Fair Share Program.
“We couldn’t be here without the United Way,” said Halbert Sullivan, chief executive officer and co-founder of the Father’s Support Center.
In its infancy, the Support Center received a United Way Venture Grant that provided early seed money to support its programs. It started in 1998 as the first organization of its kind in Missouri to provide a comprehensive program dedicated to effectively connecting parents and children. It has been a United Way agency since 2003. It offers fathers a cadre of services for a holistic approach to helping dads become responsible fathers — from health services, job placement/retention, help with understanding and fulfilling child-support decrees and referrals to other social services.
“Our program is mandatory,” said Sullivan. “You will be put out if you are not committed to it.”
A recent graduate of the program agrees that a commitment to change is a first step. “If you want to make a change, they’re ready to encourage you,” said Jeffrey Jones, a 30-year-old father of two daughters, who completed the six-week program.
“They help with getting your attitude together to learn that it’s about more than child support. It’s about taking part in rearing kids.”
The Support Center serves between 150-160 men each year for a six-week cycle, five days a week. Since 1998, more than 800 fathers have enrolled in its day program, with an 80 percent graduation rate. Seventy-six graduates from 2004 participate in an intensive follow-up program.
The East St. Louis Fathers’ Center offers individual counseling and group discussions. The center is a place where men facing crisis or who are unemployed or underemployed can learn to become better husbands and fathers. It recently recognized fathers of achievement in the Metro East during its Ninth Annual Father of the Year Recognition Banquet, held at the Holiday Inn in Collinsville, Ill. The banquet is the center’s largest fund-raising activity to help support its programs.
With the help of United Way support, the center served 1,900 people in 2004, averaging 170 clients a month. The Rev. Phoenix Barnes Jr., program manager, has worked with the program for 12 years. He said the center offers help with fathering skills, counseling services, vocational and computer training along with helping fathers find a job with benefits. One of its outreach services includes sessions with teen fathers in area schools.
For more information on the fatherhood programs supported by United Way, contact the Fathers’ Support Center, St. Louis, (314) 333-4170; the East St. Louis Fathers’ Center, (618) 234-8904, ext. 37; Catholic Family Services, (314) 544-3800; Kingdom House, (314) 421-0400; Employment Connection, (314) 877-0916; Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House, (618) 875-2211; Neighborhood Houses, (314) 383-1733 or phone the United Way Information and Referral Service at (314) 421-INFO or (800) 427-4626.
To support the United Way campaign, phone (314) 539-4101 or for more information, visit www.PledgeUnitedWay.org.
