FATHERS DAY 2018: Children's Advocacy Center looks to take fatherhood to a new level

June 16--Building better dads.

The Children's Advocacy Center of Lawrence County Inc. is embarking on a new program that will teach fathers of all ages on how to care better for themselves and their family through a 12-week mentorship.

In Next Level Fatherhood, which is designed to support 50 dads, fathers of all ages will learn how to care for themselves, set a positive example and raise strong children. It is spearheaded by center executive director John Bout; the Rev. David Young, a fatherhood specialist; and April West, a supervisor for CAC,

IN THE BEGINNING

The program, Bout said, originally began working with fathers who were incarcerated in the Lawrence County jail, but with the retirement of Larry Pugh, former fatherhood specialist, and Young taking over the program, the fatherhood focus has shifted to include the general public.

"When Larry retired, it presented us with an opportunity -- as a small program with one fatherhood specialist -- where the men he had worked with, most of them were ready for discharge, and some of them who weren't didn't want to start that relationship with a new fatherhood specialist," Bout said. "During that transition time, April West and I started to talk and as we met with our team here wanted to have a roundtable of community leaders and stakeholders that were committed to men's issues and help fathers.

"My very first phone call was to Young. I was hoping that Young would be interested in being on the roundtable, but what came from that was something much different, something that has been wonderful for, I believe, us as an agency and will be ongoing for the men in the community.

"Through our collective work as a team and looking at different aspects we have put together a model that we feel is a great model for men in Lawrence County."

NEW APPROACH

"Today, one in three children do not live in the same home as their biological father," Young said. "That creates so many other problems. Studies have shown that children with involved fathers do much better in school, they have healthier self-image, and stay away from at-risk behavior. They really do better with the father involved.

"In this region, and probably every other region, there is a lack of father participation. We can sit back and do nothing. But that is why I appreciate the passion of Children's Advocacy Center and their preventative measures for fatherhood. They really want to have a program to help fathers. I couldn't even do the program if they didn't have that compassion."

Young said the program follows the seed-faith principle.

"If we sow the seed, we will have a harvest," Young said. "If we sow no seed at all, we will never have a harvest. The fact we are trying to stir up new ground with John's vision and April, we are able to put together a program that we believe can really engage fathers that can engage fathers, engage children and make this community better."

At the base of the Next Level Father program are five principles. They are: parenting is a learned behavior; mothers and fathers bring a unique set of skills to parenting; universal aspects of fatherhood exist in all cutures; if a father wants to be a good dad, then he can learn to be a good dad; and in order for the program to be successful, you need a good facilitator.

Additionally, there are five characteristics the program is designed to bring out of a father. They are: self-awareness; caring for yourself; being involved in every aspect of your child's life; understanding the impact a father has on a child's life; and building healthy relationships.

Young said the members of the program will take a survey upon entering and exiting the program to show their progress.

"What we are trying to do is give the men more of the knowledge and healthy aspects of fatherhood roles," Young said. "Just being a dad or mother, there is no manual for that at all. If you had a role model of someone you can relate to, that is really helpful. But what if you didn't? So, you go into parenthood with rose-colored glasses and you don't a clue about being a dad. So, hopefully, we are going to empower men how to be a good dad."

A young couple has already discussed the program with Bout, Young and West. The couple plans on getting married in July and is expecting their first child.

"Our history through the seven years is that fathers when working with us in the program gain an awareness and a sense of what it means to be a good dad," Bout said. "They show a desire to be more involved with their child."

FATHERS OF THE ROUNDTABLE

In May, Bout, Young and West put together a roundtable of stakeholders and leaders in the community to gauge the interest of the Next Level Father program.

The input the trio received further cemented their desire to implement the initiative.

"The feedback was awesome," Young said. "They wanted to help."

The roundtable group was comprised of district justices, employees from Children and Youth Services, adult and juvenile program, and school superintendents.

"Our program," Bout said, "the theme for many of the groups who attended, this give men, this gives dads hope. It gives the community a resource where there are few programs geared towards men's health, and specifically fatherhood. This gives the community a resource."

WHO IS ELIGIBLE

The program is open to any father, caregiver, or a prominent male figure in a child's life.

"Fathers, caregivers, involved men in a child's life," Bout said. "If you love a child and care for a child ... this program goes beyond that biological connection. We know that we will have fathers that are biologically connected. We know we we will help serve uncles, paramours, grandparents. So who we help are men who are involved in a loving or caring way.

"It doesn't have to be an outward expression. If they feel that in their heart. A man who is willing to engage positively in the life of a child is who we will serve. That is across lifespan."

POTENTIAL IMPACT

West said the program has the potential to make a tremendous impact on the lives of families in Lawrence County.

"It is not just the man it is going to impact, it is going to impact the whole family," West said. "I am so grateful for David's energy, and the approach he is taking to this.

"It is individualistic in working with the person where they are at, getting to know the dad. Each dad has different strengths and abilities, and with this approach it is not just reading from a curriculum. It is more individualistic as far as what that dad may need."

baddleman@ncnewsonline.com

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