1 Effective Evidenced-Based Practice for Engaging Fathers in the Child Welfare System Paul Frankel, Ph.D. (with the assistance of many other Colleagues…) Evaluation Specialist, Mental Health Center of DenverMental Health Center of Denver (Formerly) Research Project Manager Quality Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers Bringing Back the Dads!

2 Quality Improvement Center for Non-resident Fathers in Child Welfare QIC-NRF QIC-NRF American Humane Association, Children’s Division ABA Center on Children and the Law National Fatherhood Initiative A Project of the Children’s Bureau Administration on Children, Youth and Families Administration on Children and Families U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

3 Fathers and the Child Welfare System “Is there a difference in family outcomes based on father involvement?” “Are kids better off?”

4 Communities and Agencies are Changing Organizational Cultures QIC-NRF Research & Demonstration Sites: Marion County, Indiana - Indiana Department of Child Services in Indianapolis Indiana Fathers and Families Center, King County, Washington - Division of Children and Family Services in Seattle Divine Alternatives for Dads, El Paso County, Colorado - El Paso County Department of Human Services in Colorado Springs Center for Fathering, Tarrant County, Texas – Texas Department of Family and Protective Services in Ft. Worth New Day Services for Children and Families,

5 Exercise: Who is “Father of the Year?” “Alfonso” (V.I.P. Dad) High paying job Pretty stable marriage Works long hours Travels Moderately affectionate Minimally engaged “Cheng” (Underemployed Dad) Some part-time work Pretty stable marriage Works from home but bored Not the “bread-winner” Mildly affectionate No night “duty” “LaRon” (Step-Dad) Full-time construction Pretty stable marriage Works regular hours Paycheck to paycheck Mildly affectionate Good night “duty” “Chris” (Non-resident Dad) Low paying job(s) Never married Works regular hours Has small apartment Highly affectionate Fairly engaged

6 The Facts of Father Absence Proportion of Children in Father-Absent Homes “The Living Arrangements of Children,” U.S. Census Bureau, 2005U.S. Census Bureau In 1960, 8 million children lived in father-absent homes. Today, over 24 million children live in homes without their fathers. 2 out of 3 African American children live in father- absent homes.

7 What about the Dads? Is there a child welfare system bias? 1,958 children removed from homes where the Father did not reside 88% Agency had identified the Father 55% Agency had contacted the Father 30% Father had visited the Child 28% Father expressed interest in child living with him Malm, Murray, & Geen (2006). What About the Dads? Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau Based on interviews with 1,222 caseworkers 70% of caseworkers had received training on engaging fathers

8 CFSR Case-Level Data: 32 States Differences In Serving Mothers and Fathers Average Across States: Percent of Cases Rated as Strength

9 Interactive Discussion: Challenges to Engaging Fathers

10 Common Barriers to Involving Fathers  Mothers’ reluctance to reveal name or location of father. (“Gatekeeper!” ) * violent or unhealthy episodes. * a new romantic relationship. * protect father from further involvement with the court. * reluctant to bring the current abuse or neglect incident to the attention of the father. “Mama Says”: in 10 mothers (93%) agree that there is a father absence crisis in America today.

11 Caseworker Ambivalence  Caseworkers’ ambivalence about finding fathers due to: * negative experiences with fathers. * suspect that the father is not interested in the child. (Is this true?) * fear that bringing the father into the child welfare case may increase conflict. * the belief that involving fathers is more work and expense for the agency.

12 Effective Father Engagement Strategies  What does “HELP!” look like for these fathers? Strongly influenced by gender roles. No “Sissy Stuff!” Admitting to a problem is not easy. Difficulty in asking for help and depending on others. Being perceived as “weak.”

13 QIC-NRF Father Engagement Curriculum Dad as Part of the Solution: Overview of the Child Welfare System - How does the child welfare system work? A CW representative will join. Dad as Planner: Service Planning in the Child Welfare System – How does the child welfare system give help to families? A CW representative will join. Dad as Part of the Juvenile Court Process: Legal Advocacy and Court Etiquette - How does the juvenile court/legal process work? An attorney for parents will join. Dad as a Healthy Parent: Taking Care of You - What will it mean for my children if I am healthy? Dad as Community Member: Identifying and Accessing Resources - What kinds of help or services are available to me and my children in my community? Dad as Cultural Guide: The Role of Culture in Parenting - What cultures am I a part of? How does my culture influence how I parent my children?

14 Father Engagement Curriculum [-cont’d.] Dad as Parent: Understanding Your Children - What do children need at all ages to grow up in a healthy way? Dad as Part of Children’s Placement: Visiting with Your Children - How does the child welfare visitation process work? Dad as Provider: Supporting Your Children - What is “child support” and what is expected of me as a Dad who does not live with my children? A CSE representative will join. Dad as Team Player: Shared Parenting - How do I get along better with my children’s mother, our extended families and the foster parents or other involved caregivers? Dad as Worker: Workforce Readiness - Why is it important for my children and for myself that I have a job? A workforce readiness expert will join.

15 Effective Father Engagement Strategies Check your attitude at the door!  Address your personal biases.  Resist stereotyping non-resident fathers.  Provide a welcoming physical environment.  First contact by a male (if possible).  Avoiding using “system” jargon! “We have a new family that just entered CPS and we are awaiting TPR. The child may have DD and ADHD, but I’m not sure of the DSM. The MOC told us about past abuse, but we need an assessment by an LCSW or Ph.D. Let’s see if we can use some of our IV-D or IV-E money to help. Also, the child may be under the jurisdiction of ICWA.”

16 Outcomes: Treatment by CPS Percent of Fathers SITE COINTXWAOverall Not at all fairly5.88%14.86%11.11%39.13%16% Unfairly on the whole0.00%4.05%17.78%8.70%8% OKAY17.65%18.92%28.89%13.04%21% Fairly on the whole5.88%5.41%6.67%8.70%6% Very fairly17.65%22.97%20.00%30.43%23% Missing data47.06%32.43%15.56%0.00%25% Total100% Percent within Site of Treatment by CPS at Last Interview (T2)

17 Outcomes: Visitation Percent of Fathers within Site SITE COINTXWAOverall Less than %3.3%40.0%100.0%21.7% 10 to %26.7%50.0%0.0%30.4% 20 to %6.7%0.0% 4.3% 30 to %16.7%10.0%0.0%13.0% 40 to %3.3%0.0% 2.2% 50 to %6.7%0.0% 4.3% 80 to %10.0%0.0% 6.5% 90 to %10.0%0.0% 6.5% 100 and up 0.0%16.7%0.0% 10.9% Total 100.0% Percent within Site of Visits Since Last Interview (T2)

18 Parents are people too… “When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be twenty-one, I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years.” -- Mark Twain ( )

19 For more information please contact: Paul Frankel, Ph.D. Ph. 719/ or 303/ or “I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection.” --Sigmund Freud ( )