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The Essential Voices of Women in Responsible Fatherhood

The Essential Voices of Women in Responsible Fatherhood. International Fatherhood Conference June, 17, 2010. Prepared by Julia Hayman Hamilton & Stacey M. Bouchet Co-Directors, Women In Fatherhood www.womeninfatherhood.org. Introduction.

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The Essential Voices of Women in Responsible Fatherhood

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  1. The Essential Voices of Women in Responsible Fatherhood International Fatherhood Conference June, 17, 2010 Prepared by Julia Hayman Hamilton & Stacey M. Bouchet Co-Directors, Women In Fatherhood www.womeninfatherhood.org www.womeninfatherhood.org

  2. Introduction • Responsible Fatherhood field is growing, but gaps still remain. • One major gap is the need for women’s voices. • This workshop examines the challenges and opportunities for women and men to collaborate in supporting fathers. • Includes information from interviews with national experts focus groups led by WIFI. www.womeninfatherhood.org

  3. Workshop Objectives • Discuss the importance and value of the voice of women in responsible fatherhood policies and programs. • Share the women’s views and perspectives on fathers and responsible fatherhood from Women In Fatherhood focus group and survey data. • Develop strategies to increase the role of women in their responsible fatherhood efforts at the participant, program and policy levels. www.womeninfatherhood.org

  4. Workshop Agenda • Background on Women In Fatherhood • Values Voting Activity • Historical Look at Women’s Role in Fatherhood • WIFI Focus Group Results • Challenges to Collaboration • Creating a Framework for Collaboration • Small Group Activity www.womeninfatherhood.org

  5. AboutWomen In Fatherhood, Inc. (WIFI) • Women In Fatherhood, Inc. (WIFI) is an organized voice of women with diverse perspectives and experiences. • WIFI is a nonpartisan national 501c3 comprised of women with direct or indirect professional involvement in the Responsible Fatherhood field. • WIFI’s Mission: to contribute and advocate for family and community well-being through the support of positive father involvement and healthy family relationships. www.womeninfatherhood.org

  6. AboutWomen In Fatherhood, Inc. (WIFI) • WIFI provides a unique and necessary voice for: • Effective advocacy and support of Responsible Fatherhood in program and policy; • Fatherhood awareness, education legislation, & policy initiatives, which benefit from the input of mothers and other women. • Programs designed to involve fathers--the perspective of mothers and their advocates on cooperative parenting issues is essential to their success. • Start, bridge and continue important conversations among unlikely partners. • We have to look at fathers in the context of the whole family and the whole community. www.womeninfatherhood.org

  7. Let’s Get It Started • Values Voting • This activity is designed to provoke thought and conversation. • There are no right or wrong answers. • We will read a statement and you must decide whether: • A – you strongly agree • B – you agree • C – neutral • D – you disagree or • E – you strongly disagree. • Once you decide walk to the response you chose. www.womeninfatherhood.org

  8. Background • The responsible fatherhood field reflects a mutual agreement that men be expected, encouraged, and enabled to contribute to the social, emotional, and economic well-being of their children. • Recent public policy has dedicated resources at the Federal and State levels to increase opportunities for fathers to participate more fully in the lives their children and families. • Even broader legislative efforts are on the horizon to more comprehensively address the substantial barriers faced by low-income fathers www.womeninfatherhood.org

  9. In the Words of Women • Women have been engaged in supporting responsible fatherhood as researchers, practitioners, policymakers, advocates, and mothers for decades. • Despite the significant contributions of women to the fatherhood field, ongoing debate and tension exists between women’s advocates and fatherhood advocates. • Many of the attempts around collaboration have focused on domestic violence and responsible fatherhood. www.womeninfatherhood.org

  10. The Essential Voice of Women • Expands the base of the responsible fatherhood field • Includes the women’s perspective on issues that impact their families and communities. • Provides responsible fatherhood programs with the opportunity to collaborate with unlikely partners. • Families are served in a wholistic manner. www.womeninfatherhood.org

  11. In The Words of Women • Women In Fatherhood, Inc conducted focus group conversations and online surveys with women to record their thoughts on issues related to fathers and fatherhood. • The questions centered on the areas of women’s views of fathering, father involvement, barriers to father involvement and solutions to increase positive father involvement. • A total of 227 women participated in the project. • The group was diverse in age, ethnicity and SES. www.womeninfatherhood.org

  12. In The Words of Women • Focus Group Results • Fathers’ physical and emotional support for their children matter as much to the well-being of children as much as their financial support. • Fathers face multiple, significant barriers to engaging responsibly with their children • Fathers should receive assistance that will help them better their lives and their involvement in their children’s lives. • WIFI should focus on four elements related to father involvement: Public Awareness, Public Will, Public Policies, and Programs. www.womeninfatherhood.org

  13. Challenges to Collaboration • Fear • Competing for Resources and Competing Agendas • Women, in their roles as both mothers and professionals, can act as “gatekeepers’’ or regulators of father involvement • Domestic Violence www.womeninfatherhood.org

  14. Creating a Framework for Collaboration • Build Common Ground • Identify areas of common ground • Acknowledge preconceived notions • Consider and discuss cultural issues • Build relationships/seek out mentors www.womeninfatherhood.org

  15. Creating a Framework for Collaboration • Address Issues of Program and Practice • Develop and share tools and resources • Provide Cross Training • Move the conversations away from money • Promote best practices in responsible fatherhood • Include fathers in family-focused interventions www.womeninfatherhood.org

  16. Making It PersonalSmall Group Activity • How can you increase the voice of women in your responsible fatherhood activities? • What strategies can you implement? • Who and what do you need to successfully implement the strategies? (resources) • How will it help your families/community? (outcomes) • How will it help your fatherhood/family efforts? (outcomes) www.womeninfatherhood.org

  17. Stay In Touch with WIFI • Sign Up to receive our monthly e-blasts: WIFI Works • Visit our website – www.womeninfatherhood.org • Telephone number – 1-887- 943-WIFI (9434) • Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: • Twitter:  WmninFthrhood • Facebook:  Check out our friends page AND our cause page! www.womeninfatherhood.org

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