Frequent Questions

HHS’ Fatherhood Initiative

Around the Regions:
Region 8

Region 8 Home Page
Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming

Thomas F. Sullivan
Regional Administrator
Byron G. Rogers Federal Office Building
1961 Stout Street, Suite 926
Denver, CO 80294
Phone: 303-844-1129
Fax: 303-844-2624

Regional Activity

The Fourth Annual Dakota Fatherhood Summit was held October 26-29, 2004. Part of this educational conference was formal recognition of outstanding individuals and organizations in the following categories:

1. Father of the Year.
2. Fatherhood Advocate.
3. Father Friendly Business/Organization.
4. Dad At A Distance.
5. A Child's View - Why My Dad is Best.

A Father's Day Fair was held at the Denver Department of Human Services (DDHS) on June 17, 2004. The Fair was co-sponsored by the Fatherhood Coalition of Metro Denver, in which ACF Region 8 staff participated. This event offered approximately 20 vendors with information on programs and issues affecting fathers and families. Mayor John Hickenlooper attended and read a Father's Day Proclamation declaring June 20, 2004 "Responsible Fathers' Day." ACF Region 8 staffed an information booth and distributed 225 packets of information about the healthy marriage initiative, responsible fatherhood and relationship skills. There were more than 300 attendees, not including small children. The Director of DDHS personally greeted all vendors, welcomed the Mayor, and visited with many fair attendees.

Region 8 Head Start and Early Head Start programs are making great strides to promote the Fatherhood Initiative. The programs provided detailed reports about the many activities they developed to support this initiative. Key activities of programs' efforts to increase the participation of fathers in Head Start centers are highlighted in the individual state reports.

State Activity

Colorado

Noncustodial Parent Programs

• Boulder County Parent Opportunity Program (POP) Policy Studies Inc. has operated a Welfare-To-Work (WtW) program for non-custodial parents (NCP) in Boulder County since 2002. The program helps NCPs who are unemployed, underemployed, or having trouble meeting their child support obligations. The POP helps these parents overcome barriers to employment by linking them with services in the community or through allowable WtW funds. The program has been instrumental in helping clients increase their wages, child support payments, and visitation with their children. Primary Contact: John Mahaney, (303) 678-6318.
• Denver Work and Family Center (WFC) The WFC is a collaborative effort that receives its funding from the Department of Corrections, the Justice Department, the Rose Foundation, WtW, and the Denver Child Support Enforcement unit. The collaboration is designed to assist recently released felons with reintegration from prison to the community. The WFC has a staff comprised of one part-time child support representative, one part-time family therapist, one-part time family law attorney, several full-time case managers, and employment specialists who work together to assist ex-offenders with obtaining fair child support obligations agreements, viable employment and a relationship with their children when possible. Primary Contact: Mario Salinas, WFC Manager (303) 825-1115.
• El Paso County Parent Opportunity Program (POP) This program is in its seventh year of operation. During the first three years, it operated under a federal grant to develop an innovative approach to create a strong community effort serving noncustodial parents who lacked the means to support their children. The POP now operates as a partnership between the El Paso County Department of Social Services, Policy Studies Inc. (PSI), the Center on Fathering and Goodwill Industries. These partners work in coordination with other community agencies to provide services including employment and training, mediation, parent education, child support assistance and community referrals to unemployed and under-employed non-custodial parents and their families. Recently, POP has partnered with the Pikes Peak Workforce Center to help them serve noncustodial parents eligible for WtW services. An evaluation of the first three years of the program is available upon request. Primary contact: Chad Eddinger, Project lead, El Paso Department of Human Services (719) 444-5210.
• Mesa County Parental Responsibility Employment Program (PREP) This program is designed with "sticks and carrots." Noncustodial parents are referred through the contempt-of-court process or drivers' license suspension enforcement remedies. These parents are told by the CSE unit staff or court personnel to cooperate with the local Workforce Center and the PREP to obtain employment and training if needed, or to get other identified assistance such as budgeting skills. If the parent cooperates with PREP, the contempt action and/or the drivers' license suspension is lifted. In addition, upon completion of the program and upon entering into a repayment agreement with the CSE unit, interest is reduced and, if the noncustodial parent's family receives TANF, the arrears assigned or owed to the State can be reduced. However, if the noncustodial parent fails to cooperate with the PREP, then contempt, drivers' license suspension, interest and assigned arrears continue. Primary contact: Janet Hamilton, Mesa County CSE unit Administrator (970) 248-2787.
• Southwest Colorado's Program of Self-Empowerment (POSE) This program services Montezuma, La Plata, and San Juan counties. POSE is currently operating under a contract with the Department of Labor for Welfare-to-Work funding that is to expire September 30, 2002. They have developed good working relationships with the community's employers and receive referrals from the local child support enforcement units and by word of mouth for the noncustodial parent clientele.
• Note: Jefferson and Montrose Counties have reported starting noncustodial programs, though no additional information is yet available.

Faith-Based and Community Organization Activities

• On October 1^st and 2^nd, 2004, The Colorado Collaborative for FatherHood and Families, and the Fatherhood Coalition of Metro Denver co-sponsored a kick-off training conference called Journey to Manhood, attended by nearly 30 local fatherhood providers and fathers interested in training. Presenters included James Rodriguez of the Arizona Fatherhood Collaborative and ACF staff. This was the opening session of a one-year certificate program in Fatherhood to be offered by Red Rocks Community College.
• Also on October 1^st, 2004, the Fatherhood Steering Committee of the Colorado Department of Human Services, with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, held a Stakeholders Forum. Many excellent presentations were offered by local fatherhood experts on how to make organizations more father-friendly, and how to address barriers that keep fathers from full participation in child welfare organizations.
• The 14^th Annual Expanding the Visions Conference was held on March 20, 2004. This event, sponsored by the Denver African-American Leadership Conference, was attended by approximately 1,000 boys and their dads. Several hundred packets of ACF-related information were distributed to attendees. This information focused on how to be a great dad and strategies for avoiding divorce.
• Colorado Springs, Colorado: Approximately 200 dads and daughters participate annually in the Father-Daughter Purity Ball. The centerpiece of this evening of formal dinner and dancing is always the reading of a pledge by the dads to model purity and integrity for their daughters and to do all they can to protect their purity.
• In Douglas County, Colorado, Extension Agent Rich Batten has established a monthly e-mail letter for those interested in fatherhood advocacy and committed to increasing the probability of every child being intimately connected to an involved, responsible and loving father or father figure.
• The Denver Indian Family Resource Center has begun a Young Men's Sweat Lodge project, which includes fathers and male mentors. Seven sweats have been held so far.

Early Childhood Education / Male Involvement Programs

• Adams County: In March of 2005, 15 Adams County Heads Start dads met and developed a strategic vision for their Centers. A Fatherhood Leadership Council is now implementing their vision via 5 specific actions to increase activities and support projects for dads. On May 6^th, 2005, an all-staff training session on fatherhood was held.
• Akron Head Start: During the 2002-2003 school year, the program held seven Fatherhood meetings and sponsored numerous events. Speakers that attended the meetings spoke on topics such as, Communicating with Your Children, Age Appropriate Discipline and the Laws Regarding Abusive Discipline, and The Importance of Reading Early to Your Child. In addition, the program held an event in conjunction with the Baby Bear Hugs Gala which focused on "Tools for Healthy Brain Development" and "The Important Role of Fathers in Child Rearing."
• Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments-Fremont County Head Start: The Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments has supported the fatherhood effort through the inclusion of fathers on the Policy Council. In addition, the program has recruited fathers to serve as Teacher Assistants, providing positive male role models in the classroom.
• Boulder County Board of Commissioners Head Start: This past program year, Boulder County HS has collaborated with Boulder County Prevention Connection to provide a seven-week parenting class in Spanish for fathers. This series, called Love and Logic, took place in both Lafayette and Boulder. The program's other fatherhood activities include a "Donuts for Dads" day where dads stopped by for doughnuts and to see the great things their children were doing in the classroom. On April 30, the program also celebrated the Day of the Child targeting Spanish-speaking fathers for a fun day of activities.
• Catholic Charities EHS: The Head Start Family Services Coordinator attended the Fatherhood Toolbox Conference in Jefferson County and has been implementing a father-friendly atmosphere and father-friendly activities. For the past two and a half years the Family Service Supervisor has consistently participated in the Fatherhood Coalition of Metro Denver, bringing many suggestions and ideas back to the program. Some of the accomplishments made with the help of the Coalition include an annual Walk-A-Thon for Dads, identification of gaps in service provided to fathers, and participation in a Sunday morning radio show. Efforts to continue updating staff on the importance of fatherhood include a father/male discussion panel and a male involvement workshop offered at the 2003-2004 Pre-Service Staff Training.
• Cerebral Palsy of Colorado: The program actively plans for and promotes male involvement through the implementation of bi-monthly male events focused on activities with children and bi-monthly newsletters and Men's group focused on incorporating trainings and program planning. Male involvement events are also held three times a year, with an increased focus on literacy. Last year, 217 families were reached with male involvement activities. A total of 38 male parents completed a 22-hour parenting class curriculum, which incorporated classroom instruction, participation, and discussion.
• City of Lakewood: Through its fatherhood grant, the grantee organized a Fatherhood Leadership Forum at which 65 dads and 102 children participated. From this group, 32 dads were recruited to form a Fatherhood Leadership Council. The Fatherhood Leadership Council recently created a three year strategic vision for their Head Start which will be implemented during the fall of 2005.
• Community Partnership for Child Development: The centerpiece of the programs fatherhood involvement program is Calling All Men who Parent (CAMP). Monthly CAMP meetings are held in which fathers gather to learn more about their child's development and how to assist their child to reach his/her full potential. The CAMP program includes a Book Bonus Bucks activity were fathers read to their children and can earn free books after three hours of participation has been completed. This activity has been extended to single mothers where a group of Air Force Academy cadets read to the children and earn free books while the mother participates in a parent workshop session.
• Denver City and County-Denver Great Kids Head Start: Through their $8,000 fatherhood grant, this grantee is initiating an effort to build staff capacity within each of its delegate agencies which will ultimately translate into a major Fatherhood Summit. The Fatherhood Summit will hopefully mount enough city-wide support to have the city establish a Fatherhood Commission. Individual delegate agency efforts include:
  • Catholic Charities offered staff training to teachers and Family Service Workers focused on successful inclusion of fathers in the program. Recently, nursing rooms for moms were adjusted to accommodate feeding times for dads.
  • Mile High Montessori Early Learning Centers sponsored father involvement breakfasts, made efforts to hire more male staff, trained staff on how to work with fathers, and selected 12 fatherhood related themes for each month.
  • Clayton Family Futures sponsored a fatherhood basketball tournament, a father-child luncheon, and developed a Father Interest Survey.
• Developmental Opportunities (First Steps EHS): First Steps EHS has been continuing their fatherhood involvement efforts with help from the Fremont County Family Center, a partnership that began in 2003. Several fathers from the Head Start program have been trained in the "Los Padres" curriculum as well as the "Dialogic Reading" program. Work has begun with the local hospital to provide pre-natal fatherhood classes. Two male staff members attended the Fatherhood Training held in Dallas, TX in June, 2004.
• Durango 4-C Council (Tri-County Head Start): The program schedules time to share information at Parent Center Committee meetings and general parent meetings. The program provides a "Focus on Fatherhood" handout and the "Fatherhood Facts" book is available to staff/parents. Also provided are pamphlets about involving men in the lives of children, monthly Father/Male Mentor newsletters, the Colorado Fathers Resources Guide, and parenting classes — "The Incredible Years."
• Iliff Community Center Inc.: The Iliff Community Center, Inc. HS has involved fathers in the program for many years. One activity that has been a great success for the program has been Lunch for Dads. Fathers are encouraged to select one day each month to volunteer in the classroom. This year the staff has begun sending both parents information about their child when they reside in separate houses.
• Jefferson County Board of Commissioners: The Family/Community Specialist and a father from the program attended the Fatherhood Initiative Training in Dallas, TX. Some of the improvements made since then include a monthly fathers-only meeting, the use of a Father Friendly checklist to ensure centers are maintaining a father friendly environment, and the addition of a fatherhood section in the monthly newsletter.
• Limon Head Start: An all-day staff fatherhood training took place in March. The creation of a Fatherhood Leadership Council is scheduled for September.
• Montrose County School District RE-1J: The program has implemented several activities to encourage father involvement. The most significant activities, called Guys Night, encourages fathers to bring their child to a two-hour event which is designed to include activities from a typical preschool day, such as gross motor skills, fine motor skills, literacy, and nutritious meals. The program has also provided training to staff in the area of fatherhood involvement. In June, 2004 two males were sent to the Fatherhood Instituted held in Dallas, Texas.
• Poudre School District: The program's Early Childhood Program hired a part time employee beginning in the summer of 2004 to initiate a program, which supports significant mails in establishing and maintaining healthy relationships with their children.
• Rocky Mountain SER Head Start Fatherhood Initiative: The Fatherhood Initiative is connected with the Fatherhood Coalition of Metro Denver. This Coalition is composed of representatives from over 50 different services organizations and community members from Denver and the surrounding area. These representatives meet monthly to network and share information on resources and develop community activities that recognize, celebrate and support fathers. This year the Coordinator of the Fatherhood Initiative led the members in writing a Proclamation for Fathers Day.
  
  Father Advocates made inroads in developing relationships with the fathers in several centers increasing the participation of fathers in the HS centers. This was the heart of the program. Each of the Advocates learned to network with other resources in their communities for the benefit of the fathers in their programs. All of the Father Advocates participated in the Los Padres Training.
  
• St. Vrain Valley Child Development Council (Longmont): The program conducted Fathers at the Pool night and a 14-week training program for Hispanic fathers, called Los Padres. It involved sessions on early childhood education, communication, and community leadership. Three fathers completed the training successfully and received commendations from Governor Bill Owens. Bookshelves were built for the fathers' homes to promote their own family libraries as well as specific books about dads in Spanish and English. Each child also received a set of magnetic letters (English and Spanish) to do a variety of activities at home with their father.
• Summit County Head Start: The Fatherhood Initiative has developed a program called Parents as Teachers, funded through the Colorado Children's Trust Fund. Workshops for new and expecting dads and dads of 2-3 year-olds are offered along with a father & child monthly playgroup. This program serves both custodial and non-custodial fathers. Primary Contact: Cindi Harris-Krane at (970)-668-4188.
• Thompson School District R2-J: The program has held several events specifically with fathers in mind which include Men's Softball Games, Classic Car Show, Basketball game, and Men's Tour of the Loveland Foundry. Fathers are also encouraged to take part in the Family Partnership Agreement and in their child's individual learning plan.
• Wray School District RD-2 (Yuma County Head Start): The Yuma County HS program serves 34 families with centers located in the communities of Wray and Yuma, Colorado. A sample of the activities which took place during the 2002-03-program year:
  • Provided a "Father/Child Play Night" in the Yuma Center for the fathers in the Yuma Center to spend time in the classroom with their child;
  • During "Community Helpers" week, a policeman (father of one of our students) came and presented information on child safety. Also allowed the children to sit in his police car. Fathers involved in the Volunteer Fire Department in the communities have also presented in the classrooms;
  • HS program, in conjunction with the Wray School District (our grantee) hosted "Parent Academies" for entire families to learn more about the school and their child's education (onsite childcare was provided).

Montana

Early Childhood Education / Male Involvement Programs

• Action for Eastern Montana Head Start: "Fun nights" including all members of the family, have replaced some of the scheduled parent center meetings. Male subject posters have been added in each Center's parent room along with more male-type magazines. A BBQ for important males in children's lives has been held.
  
  Donuts for Dads/Granddads, etc. days are being held. Also, Males Read to Your Kids days and specific projects geared to each center (i.e. design and build a rock garden labeled as "Father's Park"), have been added, and information for fathers has been added into the New Mothers Packets.
  
  "Dad's Info" was added to the yearly calendar given out at the start of the school year. Information was compiled from a male-friendly survey given to all parents and staff and the results were sent to all parents. A committee was set up to address areas to improve on male involvement. Attendance of males at parenting classes has increased by sending personalized invitations. Prizes purchased by parents for give-away gifts at meetings now include male as well as female items.
• A.W.A.R.E., Inc. Early Head Start: The program developed a weekly male/dads group, made up of fathers from the program and the community, that is a forum to discuss the challenges of fatherhood. These meetings are conducted in collaboration with the Health Department and A.W.A.R.E. Case Management. At each of these meetings, a literacy activity is sent home with the fathers to share with their children. The program has seen a great increase in the number of dads that participate in the classrooms as a result of their fatherhood efforts.
• Central Montana Head Start, Inc.: The Fatherhood Initiative brought many changes to the agency. Central Montana Head Start, Inc. has provided training to Head Start staff and community partners to increase the knowledge and skills of fathers by promoting active involvement of fathers in their child's education. Staff plan to attend the National Institute on Fatherhood Involvement over the summer.
• Child Start, Inc.: Child Start, Inc. initiated the planning and implementation of their Fatherhood Initiative by conducting needs assessments, purchasing materials to make the program more father friendly, planning activities, recruiting volunteers, and providing fatherhood training for the Head Start staff. The program was also represented at the National Head Start Institute on Father Involvement in Dallas, Texas June, 2004.
• Deer Lodge County Commission: The program is continuing the Mr. Reading program and dedicated a week to the males in the program, whether they are fathers, grandfathers, uncles, or other males in the child's family. Fathers attend and participate in activities around the building with the children, such as getting the yard ready for summer and projects in the classroom. Kiwanis are involved with the males in the program. They also get a large number of high school boys which are part of the key club to come and read with the children, perform plays, and other activities.
• District IX Human Resource Development Council: The program's Head Start Director and Parent Involvement Coordinator attended the Fatherhood Summit held in Helena, MT in October 2002 and used information provided during the conference to focus their father and male involvement efforts. During the winter of 2002, the program held a "Dad's Game Night" where dinner was provided. Games played during the evening were raffled off at the end of the night. During the fall and spring of 2003, children and fathers in the program coordinated to build and paint storage units at the Belgrade and Bozeman sites. During the 2003-2004 school year the program implemented the "Faced-Home Tote" program, which is designed to be self-sustaining without additional grants, and provides books, activities, and materials that can be taken home.
• Families in Partnership, Inc.: A Father Involvement/Family Involvement Specialist facilitates a male involvement group that meets once a month for an activity night. Staff are provided with training and information on the importance of male involvement with children, including non-custodial fathers. Support for fatherhood involvement is also provided by a group of Head Start fathers called Dedicated As Dads (DADs). The group makes an effort to call each father involved in the program to inform them of upcoming fatherhood activities.
• Head Start, Inc.: The program provided numerous activities for fathers and their children. Fathers' activities included: attending a children's play at the local theatre, literacy events, support groups facilitated by professional counselors (FAN Club - Fathers Are Necessary), Dad's Day in the classroom, and a Dad's Newsletter. In the Head Start Inc. program, 149 fathers of 315 participated in one or more events. The plan is to have fathers from the support group help other fathers through mentoring and networking.
• Human Resource Council District XII (Butte): Donuts for Dads days are held monthly. Fathers and other males built a library room in the gym for families and children to use. Fathers attended a class to help the kids make special gifts for their mothers for Mother's Day. A scholarship fund for males volunteering at least a specified number of hours has been established. The male volunteers write an essay to qualify for funds to continue their education goals.
• Kootenai Vally Head Start: A part time Fatherhood Coordinator position was created to assist in the coordination of fatherhood activities. "Guys Night" is held once a month which offers various male focused activities. A local newsletter for men is distributed and a bulletin board with information related to fatherhood topics is displayed.
• Missoula Early Head Start: All of the fathers in the program participate in all activities provided, including a social work intern who started a father's group. The fathers have elected their own leadership, a president and vice-president. They are now deciding on the activities they would like to do during the summer. The vice-president of the Parent Committee is a father in the center-based program.
• Northern Montana Head Start: The program has developed four main objectives to support the fatherhood initiative: Increase the amount of time that fathers positively interact with their children; Increase fathers' knowledge of early childhood literacy development; Increase fathers' recognition of their important role; and Help fathers develop a positive peer support system. The program is working towards these goals by hiring staff dedicated to these goals, purchasing books, and hosting a "21^st Century Exploring Parenting" class.
• Northwest Montana Head Start: The program has held Donuts for Dads days and a parent fair with booths geared toward males (i.e. a car maintenance booth, a hunting booth). Audio tapes are sent home with the child's favorite book for the fathers to read with them. Fathers are on the policy council. Two staff recently attended the Fatherhood summit and collected several resources and materials with ideas to implement next year on their Fatherhood Initiatives. The male involvement is estimated at around 10% in most of their centers.
• Opportunities, Inc.: The program sent four staff members to the Fatherhood Summit in Helena, Montana. The program formed a Fatherhood/Male Involvement Advisory Board made up of Head Start parents, community members, and staff, and has overseen a father-friendly assessment of the program. The program has initiated the "DIG IN" project, which is an incentive program for fathers and males to earn "credit" for one-on-one time spent with children in the program or community.
• Ravalli County Head Start, Inc.: FY 2003 Fatherhood Outcomes as measured against FY 2002: The number of male volunteers increased 37%, far exceeding the program's objective of 15%; training, resources, and support to males as role models in our HS program were increased 30%; exceeding the program's projection of 15%; and strengthening the roles of fathers and other supportive men in early literacy was on average 35% higher than the program's stated objective.
  
  A core group of fathers/father-figures was formed to organize a strategic approach to increasing male involvement in the lives of HS children. These men have planned and implemented activities for the whole family. They also took part in the Reading Fair, RIF Book Give-a-ways, the Parent Expo, and more. The fathers meet twice monthly, aside from events. Altogether, the "Dads, Inc." group planned and held seven monthly outings including bowling, skating, and sledding. Their goal was to provide children with activities they do not typically have and to support healthy family relations including positive fatherhood.
• Rocky Mountain Development Council, Inc.: The program has encouraged 'father-types' to take larger roles in their child's preschool education and their literacy education. They have had a Fatherhood Coordinator on staff since December, 2002. The program has encouraged fathers to attend more Parent-Teacher conferences and be present at more home visits. In addition, the program distributes a "Dad's Notes" newsletter each month. The program is planning a "dads only" support group and is offering a nine-week class on parenting issues and skills that "father-types" are encouraged to attend. One activity that the program provides are "Dad-Child Bookshelf Builds" where the dads and children have dinner, build a simple bookshelf, and then take the bookshelf home along with a new book for the child.

North Dakota

Early Childhood Education / Male Involvement Programs

• Community Action Agency VI: Each parent committee plans one activity per year that is focused on father/child interaction in addition to fatherhood classroom activities that are planned twice a year. Information is mailed to the non-custodial father to ensure he is kept up to date on his child's progress in school. The "Father Times" newsletter is distributed to every father in the program while a special section focused on fatherhood related topics is included in each sites monthly newsletter.
• Community Action Partnership (CAP): The program provided training to parents and staff to increase their skills and knowledge of the important role fathers play in children's and family's lives. Father and father figures of the program were fully involved as parenting partners for all the program activities such as parent-teacher conferences, field trips, home-base socializations, parent committee meetings, and parent training. In addition, a Fatherhood Week was hosted for fathers to spend at least one hour in their child's classroom.
  
  Partnerships of Understanding were developed with key community agencies. West Dakota Parent and Family Resource Center provides specific parenting training for families, some of which is geared specifically toward fatherhood involvement. The Dickenson Public Schools Early Childhood Speech and Language Pathologists developed a series of Borrowed Boxes containing a book, a list of suggested follow-up activities and instructions, and needed materials to complete the activities by parents. CAP also established partnerships with other community, state, and nationwide agencies to support early literacy development and fatherhood involvement.
  
  The program hired a Fatherhood Initiative Coordinator who organized a Fatherhood Advisory Committee comprised of fathers and father figures. The committee organized fatherhood activities throughout the program year.
• Grand Forks Public School District: S.A.F.E. (Strong Active Fathers Educate) is an active program committed to involving fathers in every aspect of the Head Start program including promoting special events planned especially for fathers and mailing weekly newsletters to fathers who live out of town. Two Head Start parents that are involved in the S.A.F.E. program attended the Fatherhood Conference in Dallas, Texas.
• Mayville State University (0-5): The program encourages father involvement through monthly parent/child activity days, participation in Donuts for Dads, requesting assistance from fathers in helping out around the facilities, and providing fatherhood materials for families. University male sports team members volunteer in classrooms and males provide childcare for Policy Council and Parent Trainings and meetings.
• Newport School District #4 (TGU): The program invited a local famous racecar driver to the HS site to meet with the children and their fathers. He also brought his racecar. The children and their fathers were able to have their picture taken with the driver and his car. They also held a race with Matchbox cars that children brought from home.
  
  A MAPS (Males Achieving Parental Success) newsletter is sent monthly to each father in the program. Articles include Fathering Non-Custodial Children, Fathering, Couple Relationships, Kids, etc.
• Williston Public School District #1: Outreach to male participants has increased over the past year, through an effort led by a father-friendly evaluation of the program, with the guidance of a father on Policy Council. Male support was reflected in many ways: through parent surveys, parent meeting agendas, resources specific for fathers in the parent lending library, male involvement events, and with fathers volunteering in the classroom. The Trenton HS center has books on display featuring fathers joining their children in the classroom, participating in literacy activities for a "Daddy, Donuts, and Me" event, and family activities. Last year events focused on fatherhood included a game and fish program, bowling night, ice-fishing project, and a football game.

South Dakota

Faith Based and Community Organization Activities

• A Purity Ball was held on March 11, 2005 in Sioux Falls, SD. Nearly 200 dads and daughters participated in this event, organized by the Abstinence Clearinghouse in conjunction with other abstinence organizations in South Dakota. The evening of dinner and dancing was designed to help young women make healthy choices for their future.
• In April, 2004, the Sioux Falls, SD Fatherhood Initiative held "A Celebration of Fatherhood" in conjunction with a game played by the Sioux Falls SkyForce, a local Continental Basketball Association team, which donated 2,000 tickets for fathers and their children to attend the game for free. The theme of half-time activities was a celebration of Fatherhood. They have also obtained the cooperation of local Krispy Kreme franchisees, who have begun a 'Donuts for Dad' each month. On these days they give free donuts to each father and their children who come into their stores on these days.

Early Childhood Education / Male Involvement Programs

• Northeast South Dakota Head Start Inc.: At the beginning of the program year, a Fatherhood Leader is selected/recruited from each site to help organize fatherhood activities in the area of literacy. Activities include father/child readings in the classrooms, father/child bowling, and Donuts with Dad. The program also provides training, fatherhood resources, and Making a Difference videos for parents and staff.
• South Central Child Development: The program has made efforts to train staff and to sustain a father-friendly environment for fathers and father figures. The program has provided ongoing staff and parent in-service trainings, a joint Dakota Fatherhood Conference, the Father Factor Training, and fatherhood materials and packets for both staff and fathers. In addition, a father-focused activity/event is held at least twice a year and in-service trainings are held on healthy marriage for staff to use in collaboration with fatherhood materials to better educate families.
• Youth & Family Services: Staff have attended the Dakota Fatherhood Summit IV, fatherhood involvement awareness trainings, and have added non-custodial parent and fathers/father figures to their mailing list. The program provides activities that involve fathers at least quarterly, and also provides educational opportunities for fathers and children by hosting monthly Father/Child Activity Nights and Father Involvement Meetings. Other efforts to encourage father participation include home visits are conducted with fathers on nights and weekends, development of resources specifically for rural fathers and families, providing training and workshops to staff and families.

Utah

Early Childhood Education / Male Involvement Programs

• Davis County Public Schools in Farmington, Utah: A fatherhood specialist was hired and assisted in the development of a program called F.I.S.H. (Fathers Involved in Shaping Head Start children). Various tools are used to assist the men involved in the program in becoming successful fathers. Some of the tools include an educational video on father involvement, a fatherhood workshop that teaches the men "secrets" to effective parenting, monthly FISHin' trips, and a literacy project called "License to Read".
• Mountainland Head Start, Inc: Many efforts are being made to encourage and involve fathers and father figures. Two Family and Community Service Coordinators attended the Fatherhood Institute held in Dallas Texas June 2004. Several activities have been held to promote fatherhood involvement such as the Daddy Dodgeball activity. Staff are trained to make specific requests to get men involved in the classrooms. The program held a Dads and Donuts literacy program in classrooms offering the opportunity for men read to their child and finish with donuts. Trained Family Service Specialists provide a pamphlet titled "Be there, Be a Dad" to families on their second home visit during the year. A monthly newsletter is sent out, which includes a special page titled "Activities for Men and the Children they Love".
• Ogden-Weber Community Action Partnership (CAP), Inc.: Ogden-Weber CAP has been very successful in the implementation and continuation of father-focused activities. The Transportation Specialist oversees the fatherhood activities in the community. A Fatherhood Committee comprised of current Head Start parents provides input and support for father focused activities.
  
  Funding for the fatherhood programs have been made possible through donations of goods and time by our community partners and very limited Head Start funds. Monthly Fatherhood Newsletters are sent home to all families advertising upcoming fatherhood activities, recruiting fathers for the Fatherhood Committee and providing useful information on how fathers can impact the lives of their children in a positive way.  Ogden-Weber CAP strives to host a fatherhood involvement activity at least once a month. Past monthly events include the following:
  • Storytelling Night at OWCAP in partnership with the Weber County Library. Volunteers from the library read stories to our fathers and their children.
  • Father/Child Hike in Eden in partnership with the US Forest Service. Fathers helped their children identify and match a variety of leaves along the mile long trail.
  • College Football game in partnership with Weber State University. Fathers were able to take their children to a college football game using free tickets donated to the program.
  • Fire Safety/Career Night in partnership with the Ogden City Fire Department. Children were able to examine fire trucks and equipment while firefighters talked to fathers about careers in firefighting.
  • Paper Airplane Night. Fathers and their children made and flew a variety of paper airplanes. This activity was featured in a local newspaper article for bringing children and fathers together.
• Rural Utah Child Development: Each center classroom and home-based unit has elected a Fatherhood Volunteer to assist in the coordination of male activities and the recruitment of fathers to participate in Head Start functions. The Fatherhood Volunteer is also in charge of the "Male Home Work" project which provides ideas and materials for activities fathers can do with their children at home. Many of the ideas come from the fathers themselves. In the past three years RUCD has seen a 60% increase in male involvement.

Wyoming

Faith-Based and Community Organization Activities

• The University of Wyoming, Wyoming Institute for Disabilities, and Wyoming Head Start State Collaboration Office held the Wyoming Conference on the Family in Casper, WY April 21-24, 2004. Ninety professionals from the fields of early childhood, community services, parenting research, and developmental disabilities convened to discuss Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood. The Regional Administrator and Marriage Specialist from ACF Region 8 were among the speakers.

Early Childhood Education / Male Involvement Programs

• Absaroka Inc.: At the beginning of the year, a Male Involvement Survey is given to each family from every center. A Spanish survey is available for males that primarily speak Spanish. If there is no father in the home the staff finds a male role model for the child (with the mother's permission) to fill out the survey. This survey is used to set up activities and to solicit resources from father /males. The program has shared the survey with other Head Start programs in Wyoming. The program maintains a Father Liaison for each center. The program has hosted activities for dads such as:
  • Doughnuts for Dad,
  • Father/Mother Fundraiser competition,
  • Dad Read to Me (A doctor from the community came in and gave this training),
  • Father breakfast,
  • Super Bowl Sunday with fathers,
  • Movie night with fathers, and
  • Fix-it night.
• Carbon County Child Development Program, Inc.: The Carbon County Child Development (CCCDP) has successfully made their program a more father friendly place. They accomplished this through improving the environment, ensuring communication, increasing activities, and implementing trainings. CCCDP staff are diligent in ensuring that fathers receive all communications such as newsletters, and announcements for activities and trainings. The staff is especially conscientious in ensuring that fathers who are absent or have a joint custody arrangement receive these communications so that they can stay involved.
• Children Development Services of Campbell Co. (Gillette, WY): The strategies geared toward Male Involvement at CDS-CC/EHS this program year include; Family Fun Nights, information dissemination on the importance of male involvement and ways to be involved, scheduling home visits and Socializations to fit the father's schedule, networking session at the Wyoming Head Start Association meeting, and additions to our library resources.
  
  Family Fun Nights — These events are scheduled quarterly and staffed by staff volunteers from all program components at CDS-CC. All family members are invited to participate in the activities, which seems to improve attendance. Activities have included woodworking, a barbeque, and kite-making.
• Community Action Laramie County, Inc.: The program is in the beginning stages of creating a comprehensive family and community involvement plan that will include a specific plan for fatherhood development and male involvement. The staff has participated in the fatherhood audio conference as well as several workshops at the regional conference. The staff has received training throughout the year on this issue. The plan will be fully implemented in the fall. The program has a Family and Community Involvement Coordinator and the fatherhood involvement piece is included in the job description. The coordinator compiled resources for the management team to begin the process of developing a plan.
• Laramie Child Development Corporation: In June 2004, the Parent Involvement Coordinator and the Executive director attended the National Head Start Institute on Father Involvement in Dallas, Texas. They utilized the knowledge gained to emphasize the importance of males/fathers in the life of children. Laramie Head Start is now part of the University of Wyoming's Athletic Department-sponsored community program to donate home-game football tickets to children and their families. In addition, the University of Wyoming's men's basketball team is working with Laramie Head Start to plan activities and social events for children and their families. Some of the basketball players are volunteering weekly in the classrooms.
• The Learning Center, Jackson, WY: The program held a meeting of all the fathers in the program and had a discussion on their role as fathers. The meeting was facilitated by a father in the program.
• Lincoln-Unita Child Development Association: The program held four literacy events, with a large participation from fathers, throughout the 2002-2003 school year. The program held two of the events at the local library, that included registration for a library card, and an average of 58% of parents attending the events were fathers. Fathers were encouraged to read to their children at home through a voucher/reward program, where parents signed the voucher when they had read to their child and the child received a free book after returning ten vouchers. Other activities have included, Boats and Books, Dad's Day, Pizza Night, and Book and a Buddy. These activities build on literacy by structuring reading time for father and child and by including books in "take home activity packets."
• Northeast Community Action Program of WY (NOWCAP) Early Head Start: Throughout the past year, more and more men have become active participants in all aspects of the Early Head Start Program. In some cases, home visits are conducted primarily with the father and the child. There are even single parent families, headed by the father, who are actively involved in the program.
  
  NOWCAP Early Head Start includes pictures of males in recruiting materials and these materials are posted in businesses such as hardware stores, service stations, barbershops, farm & ranch supply stores and auto part stores. NOWCAP Early Head Start also incorporates father-friendly curricula like the Florida State Curriculum into the program. This material is rich in handouts for males that include pictures of fathers with the expectant mom and with new babies.
• Sweetwater County School: Fathers are encouraged to attend parent teacher conferences, home visits, and parent meetings. Books and materials that emphasize the father's role, such as dollhouse families, and family Lego sets, are used in classrooms. Staff received training early in the year to address the Fatherhood Initiative. They were provided information regarding the benefits of male involvement as well as instruction on how to encourage families to participate. Teachers report that male involvement appears to have increased and more males attend Head Start home visits and socials than before.
• Wyoming Child & Family Development, Inc. EHS: Throughout the 2003-2004 program year the program has conducted a variety of male-focused activities. The "Fathers, Fitness, and Food" activity brought fathers and children together to have breakfast together and receive free access to the Community Recreation Center fitness equipment. The Drive-in movie night had fathers and their children create cars out of cardboard boxes then take "cars" outside where fathers and children enjoyed popcorn and a short movie. Last but not least, Home Visits have been rescheduled to accommodate fathers' schedules.

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