Around the Regions Region 1

Region 1 Home Page

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont

Hugh Galligan
Regional Administrator
Administration for Children and Families
John F. Kennedy Federal Building, Rm 2000
Government Center
Boston, MA 02203
Phone: 617-565-1020
Fax: 617-565-2493

Regional Activity

As part of building an effective fatherhood strategy, Region I has developed strong collaborations with local, state and national fatherhood programs and organizations. Working with these partners, the Regional Office produces an annual Fathering Conference that is attended by over 400 participants from throughout New England. The conference, now in its seventh year, features inspiring keynotes, workshops addressing important fathering issues, cutting edge and best practice models in fatherhood programming and service delivery, inspiring fatherhood moments, and numerous learning and networking opportunities. This year's conference participants included Head Start staff, early childhood educators, family service providers, parent educators, social workers, TANF workers, fatherhood program administrators, father advocates, and almost 70 Dads interested in improving their fathering skills and learning more about the important role they play in their child's healthy development. This year the conference was developed around three important arena themes — Dads and family and community, Dads and Personal Development, Jobs and Education, and Dads and the Legal System. Workshops included fatherhood programming for Head Start dads, faith-based support programs, fathering a child with disabilities, men’s health and mental health issues, working with incarcerated dads and their families, understanding child support, developing education and employment resources for dads, knowing what to expect your child can do and when, the power of music and play, helping military dads be good husbands and fathers, and raising sons-raising daughters. A unique feature of this year's conference was a series of three video viewing sessions that were followed by facilitated discussions.

The Regional Office also plays a key leadership role in producing a major Father's Day celebration for fathers and families called Dads Make A Difference. The free public event, now in its 8th year, takes place on the Boston Common, and draws a crowd of over 10,000 participants. The day's activities include onstage entertainment featuring magicians, comedy acts, and multi-cultural music and dance performances, hands-on educational exhibits, fun activities, and over 30 information tables about local organizations and resources to help families and especially dads. The event also honors approximately 75 Super Dads. These fathers and father figures are nominated by children who write a 200-word essay explaining why their dad or other significant male is a Super Dad. The event has several local media sponsors, including radio, TV and print, as well as corporate supporters. For the last four years the event has been coordinated with a prostate cancer awareness walk. This idea for a celebratory Father's Day event is now replicated in several other New England communities in NH, CT and MA.

Region I continues to provide leadership and support for father and male involvement projects both at the national level and in New England's Head Start and Early Head Start programs. For the past two years, the Regional Administrator participated in the Head Start Hispanic Institute producing three mini-plenary sessions on father involvement. The Regional Administrator was also the co-chair for The Father Factor: National Head Start Institute on Father Involvement held in Dallas in 2004. Virtually all of the Region I's Head Start and Early Head Start programs have expanded their parent involvement component and now provide a specific focus on involving fathers in their child's Head Start experience. The Regional Office staff monitors a broad range of father involvement activities through special surveys as well as its regular monitoring activities, allowing us to identify promising practices and local staff who can provide leadership and technical assistance to their peers. The Region’s Head Start Quality Initiative provides technical assistance to Head Start and early Head Start grantees to develop inclusion of fathers in their programs as well as an intentional father involvement tool to help them develop action plans and measure progress.

Regional Head Start conferences routinely feature workshops where local programs share their father involvement strategies and best practices. These conferences are also opportunities to share information about new services and model programs such as Boot Camp for New Dads, Just For Dads literacy program, Nurturing Fathers, The MArriage and PArenting (MA & PA) Parenting program, and NFI's Doctor Dad program. The regionally developed Head Start Self-Assessment Tool Kit which includes a subset of questions relating to father involvement activities, is now used nationally, with programs reporting that the assessment not only helps prepare for PRISM reviews, but also helps keep the importance of father involvement in full view for staff, parents and the local community.

Finally, all of the Region I states continue to provide a wide range of access and visitation services to address access and parenting needs of unwed, divorced, and separated parents. MA recently received 1115 demonstration project funding to provide a wide range of services, including healthy marriage education, to new, young dads and their families and is partnering with community health centers, substance abuse treatment programs, community- based fatherhood programs and a hospital based program for teen mothers and fathers to deliver a 10-week marriage education-healthy relationships program. The regional office remains engaged with state fatherhood initiatives, including serving on state task forces and participating in state fatherhood networks, as well as sharing information about resources available for fatherhood programs.

State Activity

Connecticut
Child Support Arrearage Adjustment. Connecticut offers eligible non-custodial parents who are seriously delinquent with child support payments help with removing some of the barriers to supporting their children both emotionally and financially. Participants in CT's Arrearage Adjustment Program are required to complete the requirements in one of the state's five certified community-based fatherhood programs which help each dad develop a plan for positive involvement and interaction with his child(ren). CT's Department of Social Services received a Responsible Fatherhood grant which will be used to help support and expand their fatherhood program certification process.

Maine
York County Community Action Corporation received a Responsible Fatherhood grant. They are collaborating with a wide range of community partners to provide fatherhood and marriage education programming.

Massachusetts
Massachusetts' Children's Trust Fund has established Fathers and Families Networks throughout the state. They meet on a regular basis for lunch and learn programs, and to coordinate fatherhood programming and activities throughout their geographic area. The State's OCSE 1115 project partners with the Father Friendly Initiative and this year served over 200 dads and their families.

New Hampshire
The NH Commission on the Status of Men was formed in October 2003. The first of its kind in the nation, the Commission holds monthly meetings to review and discuss issues that have an impact upon all men. Fatherhood was one of the first topics identified for review and discussion by the Commission. Child and Family Services of NH received a Responsible Fatherhood grant to work with incarcerated men and their families after they are released.

Rhode Island
Children's Friend and Service received a Responsible fatherhood grant. They will work with Hispanic dads and offer specialized fatherhood groups dealing with alcohol and substance abuse issues. The state has developed a very active network of fatherhood providers, practitioners, and advocates that meets regularly to share information.

Vermont
The Visiting Nurse Association of Chittenden and Grand Isle Counties received a Responsible Fatherhood grant to support and expand their home visiting and parent education and support programs for fathers.

Top of Page

Fatherhood Home

Site Map

ASPE Home