Bringing Back the Dads

1. Bringing Back the Dads Engaging Fathers in Child Welfare Cases

2. Who we are Why father involvement in child welfare cases is important Barriers to father engagement Resources from the QIC NRF Key strategies to engage fathers Overview

3. A project operated by: American Humane ABA Center on Children and the Law National Fatherhood Initiative A Project of the Children’s BureauAdministration on Children, Youth and FamiliesAdministration on Children and FamiliesUS Department of Health and Human Services2006-2011 Quality Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers and Child Welfare

4. “How is overall child well-being impacted as a result of increased father and paternal relative involvement in the public child welfare system?” QIC-NRF Research Focus

5. Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in Tarrant County Collaborating Fathers Program: Fatherhood Coalition of Tarrant County Indiana Department of Child Services in Indianapolis Collaborating Fathers Program: Indiana Fathers and Families Center Division of Children and Family Services in King County, Washington Collaborating Fathers Programs: Divine Alternatives for Dads and Fathers In Need El Paso County Department of Human Services in Colorado Springs, CO Collaborating Fathers Program: Center on Fathering QIC NRF-Funded Research Sites

6. Studies have found that: 63% of black children, 35% of Hispanic children and 28% of white children do not live with their biological father. In 1997, 65% of poor children did not live with their biological fathers, compared to 25% of children who were not poor. 20% of all non-resident fathers are believed to earn less than $6,000 a year. [From: Father Facts, National Fatherhood Initiative (2007)] Facts About Father Involvement

7. Youth from father-absent homes are more likely to experience: Poverty Emotional and behavioral problems Substance abuse issues Incarceration Problems at school (e.g., repeating a grade, dropping out, poor performance) [From: Father Facts, National Fatherhood Initiative (2007)] Consequences of Father Absence

8. A review of nearly 100 studies on parent-child relationships found that the child’s relationship with his/her father was equal or more important than the relationship with his/her mother for: Happiness, well-being and social and academic success Predicting a child’s emotional instability, lack of self-esteem depression, social withdrawal and level of aggression (based on parental withdrawal) Delinquency, conduct problems, substance abuse and overall mental health and well-being [From: Father Facts, National Fatherhood Initiative (2007)] Benefits of Father Presence

9. 2008 Report: More about the Dads: Exploring Associations between Nonresident Father Involvement and Child Welfare Case Outcomes Involvement by nonresident fathers associated with more reunifications and less adoptions. Higher levels of nonresident father involvement associated with substantially lower likelihood of later maltreatment allegations Highly involved nonresident fathers’ children exited foster care more quickly [Based on case file data for children discussed in What about the Dads study] Benefits of Father Presence

10. 2006 Report: What about the Dads? Data based on telephone interviews with 1,222 caseworkers in four states Barriers to Father Engagement

11. QIC NRF conducted “key informant interviews” asking groups to identify barriers. Their responses: Courts Lack of training Individual biases/concepts of father engagement No ongoing oversight of agency location efforts No questioning of family regarding NRF whereabouts Failure to ensure NRF and paternal kin are notified of FGDM/FTM No agency reporting on how visitation or other contact goes between NRF and child Barriers to Father Engagement

12. Child Welfare Agencies Lack of training Unfriendly ‘father’ environment Lack of interagency collaboration to locate NRFs (e.g. child support agency connections) Lack of policy/procedure to help identify, locate, contact NRFs Worker reluctance to contact NRF Feeling that it makes case management more difficult Mother as ‘gatekeeper’ At NRF’s request Protecting informal support arrangement DV issues Does not know his identity Barriers to Father Engagement

13. The CFSRs assess each child welfare agency on: whether they made concerted efforts to involve parents in the case planning process on an ongoing process whether the caseworker had frequent and high quality meetings with the parents whether the caseworker demonstrated concerted efforts to provide visits of sufficient quantity and quality to promote continuity in the child’s relationship with the parents and siblings The CFSR results from almost every state have been disappointing in all of these measures Child and Family Service Reviews

14. “A primary concern identified was an inconsistency with regard to agency efforts to contact fathers, even in cases in which fathers had been caretakers and/or maintained connections with the children.” (Pennsylvania) “A primary concern identified was the lack of consistency among workers in providing fathers with adequate attention with respect to their service needs.” (Oklahoma) “There was a lack of attention to fathers in particular in case planning.” (Georgia) “A particular concern identified in some cases was the lack of effort to incorporate fathers into any aspect of the case process.” (Washington) CFSR Final Reports: State Examples

15. Research 4 Child Welfare Agency Sites Assignment Criteria Initial Male Caseworker contact Peer-Led Support group Resources from the QIC NRF

16. Research Father Friendly Check Up for Child Welfare Agencies and Social Marketing Tools Curriculum for Social Workers Curriculum for Parents’ Attorneys & Article Series Speaking engagements, presentations at state and national conferences Available at: www.fatherhoodqic.org Resources from the QIC NRF

17. Diagnostic tool Helps assess the degree to which your organization’s operations encourage father involvement in the activities and programs you offer. Identifies areas for improvement in the father friendliness of your child welfare agency or organization. The Father Friendly Check-Upfor Child Welfare Agencies

18. Leadership & organizational philosophy Program management policies and procedures Parent-involvement program Program physical environment Staff training and professional development Collaboration and organizational networking Community outreach Father Friendly Assessment Categories

19. Developed by American Humane Currently being pilot tested by AH and NFI Topics Covered: Focus and goals of the QIC NRF FFCU areas of assessment Importance and value of father involvement Importance of culture in understanding male socialization, perceptions and behavior Challenges to engaging NRFs Strategies to involve non-resident fathers in child welfare cases Curriculum for Social Workers

20. Developed by ABA, based on article series Pilot testing in DC, CA, MD To be released by September 30th Four Modules: Constitutional rights and responsibilities of NRFs Strategies for effective advocacy inside the courtroom Strategies for effective advocacy outsidethe courtroom Special ethical considerations involved with representing NRFs Curriculum for Fathers’ Attorneys

21. Nonresident Fathers’ Constitutional Rights Representing Nonresident Fathers In the Courtroom Understanding Male Help-Seeking Behavior Involving Nonresident Fathers: Tips for Judges Representing Incarcerated Fathers Child Support Issues for NRFs Ethical Considerations in Representing NRFs Out of Court Advocacy for NRFs Special Issues: Substance Abuse, DV, Immigration Article Series/Book on Representing Non-Resident Fathers

22. How to Better Engage NRFs: Lessons from Tarrant County, TX www.newdayservices.org www.tarrantfatherhood.org Taking strategies from the classroom into the community.

23. How to Better Engage NRFs: Lessons from Tarrant County, TX REACH OUT—Beyond case management to child welfare “You were persistent. I finally answered on about the 5th call.” - Mihn “I about cried when I got the letter in the mail.” - Edward BE RELEVANT—“How is this going to help my child?” “I’m using this information at visits with my child.” - Jerry BE RELATIONAL—Knowing and being known is transformational. “It’s a good culmination of classes and I loved seeing everyone’s faces each week.” -Donnie “I’ve shared things with the men in this room that the friends I’ve had for thirty years don’t know, and I’m a better man for it.” -Homer

24. BE REALISTIC– How he has been does not have to define Who he wants to be and CAN be. “My experience in this class is like a demolished building being rebuilt from the foundation up. I gained a lot of knowledge from everyone. You have a good method of dealing with us fathers. Lot’s of us didn’t know what a father is and the class helps us see what we’ve never dreamt or been told.” - Patrick BE RESPECTFUL—He is somebody’s daddy. “Thank you for treating us like men.” - Anthony “I wish the caseworker would treat me like a man- not just a client.” - Alex How to Better Engage NRFs: Lessons from Tarrant County, TX

25. BE OPTIMISTIC–There is more to a man than meets the eye. “Ya’ll came in and broke it down to build us up with actions, attitudes, game plan, framework—I was afraid to open up and ya’ll touched on the issues I wouldn’t talk about. I have more to teach my daughter now. Thank you.” -Isaiah BUILD on STRENTGHS—We know we are inadequate, but we often aren’t aware that our presence is our greatest strength for our children. “I was the fastest kids in my high school, but the first time my father couldn’t be at my track meet I quit. I wonder what my absence in my child’s life is keeping him from accomplishing.” -Terrence How to Better Engage NRFs: Lessons from Tarrant County, TX

26. How to Better Engage NRFs: Lessons from Tarrant County, TX • High value placed on family connections • for children should determine policy and practice in investigations, court proceedings, service planning, case management, and permanency planning. • Shapes new attitudes toward the children we serve AND the parents directly responsible for them • Allows us to do casework within the context of relationship building • Determines the nature of services we offer parents • Reshapes client and community perceptions of child welfare service • Reframes how we perceive the strengths in struggling families

27. Eric & Ariel How to Better Engage NRFs: Lessons from Tarrant County, TX Communicating VALUE in Engagement

28. #1: Know NRFs’ Basic Legal Rights #2 Identify/Locate NRFs Early #3 Address & Understand NRFs’ Right to Visit #4 Engage NRF in Case Planning #5 Be Aware of NRFs’ Other Legal Issues How to Better Engage NRFs:Court Perspective

29. Constitutional Rights* Notice of proceedings Visitation Request Custody Hearing before TPR Clear & Convincing Standard *in order for the non-resident father to be entitled to notice, he must: (1) have established a relationship with his child, or (2) have seized the opportunity to establish such a relationship. How to perfect these rights depends on state law and practice: Putative father registry Name on birth certificate File an affidavit of paternity or begin paternity proceedings Married to mother at time of conception or birth (Michael H. v. Gerald D). #1: Know NRFs’ basic legal rightsWhy? Failure to understand these rights may lead to a court’s reversal of agency decisions and actions that may ultimately delay permanency and harm children

30. Even assuming the NRF has ‘perfected’ his legal right to his child, he still might not be afforded the full compliment of constitutional protections custodial parents receive. Different State Approaches Court can assume jurisdiction based on conduct of one parent; can compel NRF to comply with services (e.g. Michigan, Ohio) Court can assume jurisdiction based on conduct of one parent, but must award physical custody to NRF absent a finding of unfitness; can compel NRF to comply with services (e.g. California, Florida) Court cannot assume jurisdiction if there is one fit parent, regardless of the conduct of the other; before dismissal, can award custody to NRF and enter findings against custodial parent. (e.g. Maryland, Pennsylvania) #1: Know NRFs’ basic legal rights

31. Why? Failure to properly notify the NRF may violate his constitutional rights. This may: Delay court proceedings Result in a reversal of judicial findings regarding the father at hearings to which he was not properly notified Deprive the child of important paternal resources (including paternal relatives) before a permanency decision is made Delay permanency #2 Identify/Locate NRFs Early

32. How? In addition to procedures outlined by your child welfare agency’s policy or practice, contemplate: Asking father’s counsel to examine the mother and family under oath to get identifying information about the NRF Request that the mother and her counsel file an affidavit concerning paternity Request that the judge inquire at each hearing about the NRFs whereabouts until he is found See if the NRF has other legal cases that will help you locate him (e.g. domestic relations, child support, criminal) #2 Identify/Locate NRFs Early

33. Why? To ensure the child maintains or establishes important family connections or is not harmed by improper contact with the NRF. Biological parents have a legal right to visit their children. This right may be limited if it may or will harm the child or is not in their best interest (depending on state law). If the NRF is not the perpetrator and there are no safety concerns, the NRF has the right to request liberal unsupervised visitation with his child. (although this is not always allowed by courts wary of previously uninvolved NRFs) #3 Address & Understand NRFs’ Rights to Visit

34. Why? To provide him with appropriate supportive services to maintain or establish a relationship with his child To avoid ‘no reasonable efforts’ findings To expedite permanency either with NRF or another placement option How? Solicit NRF’s and his counsel’s input on elements of a successful case plan Identify supportive services that are gender-responsive Avoid service overload Coordinate services that are accessible and can be completed within a reasonable timeframe #4 Engage NRFs in Case Planning

35. Why? To better assess his service needs and capacity to engage in the child welfare process. Child Support Criminal Domestic Relations Immigration How? Search publicly available court and criminal records Contact child support agency (depending on confidentiality rules) Ask NRF or his counsel in the course of case planning #5 Be Aware of NRFs’ Other Legal Issues

36. Offer training on father’s rights and advocacy for/engagement of fathers Develop forms and resource lists Gender-specific services in your jurisdiction Affidavit for mother to provide info about father Advocate for court rules and policies Questioning of parties regarding whereabouts of NRFs Continued efforts to identify, locate and contact father (beyond just detention hearing and TPR) Accommodations for out-of-state or incarcerated fathers to be able to participate in hearings in person or by phone Early appointment of attorneys for fathers Father Engagement: What CIP Programs Can Do

37. Ron Clark rclark@fatherhood.org Karen Bird fatherhoodctc@gmail.com Tommy Jordan tommy@newdayservices.org Lisa Pilnik pilnikl@staff.abanet.org QIC NRF www.fatherhoodqic.org Contact