An Avenue to Help Fathers Reconnect Fathers recently released from prisons or jails face many obstacles in reestablishing their relationships with their children. Family relationships may be tense and communication with the children may be awkward. Milwaukee’s Social Development Commission (SDC) may provide an avenue for these fathers to reconnect with their children. Since 1963, the Social Development Commission has established itself as a leading advocate for low-income individuals and families in Milwaukee County by planning, coordinating, and providing human service programs. SDC staff attend Welcome Home information sessions at the Probation and Parole office. They share information with those being released from prison about services provided by the Social Development Commission. An example of SDC programs designed to build relationships between fathers and their sons and daughters are READ Night Outs. READ stands for “Reading, Eating, and Activities with my Dad.” The READ Night Outs are sponsored by the Social Development Commission’s Head Start Program. The evenings highlight an “On My Shoulders” graduation ceremony along with activities engaging children and their fathers that include storybook and poem readings, sand art, hats and mask creations, face painting, jewelry making and gift books. Appetizing dinner menus are also featured. “On My Shoulders” is the Tier III and final segment of a three part curriculum of SDC’s Healthy Relationship & Marriage Enhancement Program which provides relationship education for single individuals as well as unmarried and married couples. The class sessions are designed to foster group discussions, co-activities and shared learning. Healthy couple’s partnership is the focus of Tier I. Men-only classes are part of Tier II. Parenting enhancement and cultivation for men and their children are the instruction modules for Tier III. “It is just phenomenal and very heartwarming to see African American men actively interacting with their children,” says Debora Taylor, Healthy Relationship & Marriage Enhancement Program manager Taylor adds that she is delighted to know of the supportive arrangements made to connect fathers with their children and the effort made to make the events successful. “I am much better in my relationship as a result of taking these courses in the Healthy Relationship program,” said one father who received his Tier III certificate that evening. He added that the classes “helped me and my significant other to better communicate with one another. I have also become a better listener to my children to understand and be sensitive to what they are going through. I highly recommend this program.” “This program is geared towards cultivating the mindset, particularly of our men towards being a more positive and contributing family member,” says Richard Johnson, Healthy Relationship educator. “I love what I do and it was just great and rewarding to see our men on Friday night spending quality time with their kids and to see the joy on the children’s faces having fun with their fathers,” he adds. Johnson is also thankful that the program is able to supply books and developmental reading material so that the fathers can spend time reading to and with their sons and daughters. “We help our dads learn how to teach and nurture their children at home which will make them better equipped students at school and further builds learning skill sets and confidence,” he says. Johnson notes that the program encourages the fathers to keep journals and gives them the courage to “come out of that security box even though their personal comfort zone may be confining and not working for them. We show them the many possibilities that are available and the variety of choices that they have at their disposal.” For additional information on the Healthy Relationship & Marriage Enhancement Program, please contact SDC at 906-2700 2700 or visit their website at www.cr-sdc.org and click on the “Programs” page. Other programs sponsored by Milwaukee’s Social Development Commission include: Employment • Need Help with Transportation to Your Job?: Ways to Work • Help Getting and Keeping a Job: W-2 Training Opportunities • Skills for Getting and Keeping a Job: Boosting Employability & Soft Skills Training (BEST) Asset Development • Free Tax Help and More: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA) • Becoming Money-Wise: Financial Literacy • Making Home Energy Efficient: Weatherization • Housing Preservation: Weatherization, Rehab and Asset Preservation Partnership Program (WRAP) • Fixing Up Neighborhoods One House at a Time: Neighborhood Improvement Project (NIP) Family Strengthening • Building Successful Young People: Youth and Family Development Program • Getting It Together: Community Services Options and Youth Restorative Justice • Rebuilding Foundations: Life and Career Development • Stronger Family Bonds: Creating Lasting Family Connections • Want a Stronger Marriage or Relationship? Head Start Healthy Relationships & Marriage Enhancement Program • Keeping the Homebound Independent: Senior Companions Education & Training • Preparing Preschoolers for School and Life: Head Start • Getting Ready for a GED/HSED: Basic Skills • Special Needs Diploma: Competency Based Diploma • Earn that Diploma: GED/HSED Testing • Volunteer and Internship Opportunities: Success Through Rewarding Internships & Volunteer Experiences (STRIVE) Support Services • Help with Your Utility Bill: Energy Assistance • How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient: Energy Conservation Demonstrations • Feeding Children: Year-Round Food Program • Feeding Kids During Summer: Summer Youth Food Program • Prescriptions & Your Health: Prescription Advocacy & Referral Service (PARS) • Health Education & Referral Center (HERC) • Help for Families in Need: W-2 - Eligibility and Assessment • Educate and Entertain on Cultural Diversity: Community Education • Financial Case Management for Families - Project GAIN http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?3,1640,1640#msg-1640 Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:53:56 -0400 Phorum 5.2.7 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?3,1640,1640#msg-1640 http://www.ceanational.org/phorum/read.php?3,1640,1640#msg-1640
Fathers recently released from prisons or jails face many obstacles in reestablishing their relationships with their children. Family relationships may be tense and communication with the children may be awkward.

Milwaukee’s Social Development Commission (SDC) may provide an avenue for these fathers to reconnect with their children. Since 1963, the Social Development Commission has established itself as a leading advocate for low-income individuals and families in Milwaukee County by planning, coordinating, and providing human service programs.

SDC staff attend Welcome Home information sessions at the Probation and Parole office. They share information with those being released from prison about services provided by the Social Development Commission.

An example of SDC programs designed to build relationships between fathers and their sons and daughters are READ Night Outs. READ stands for “Reading, Eating, and Activities with my Dad.” The READ Night Outs are sponsored by the Social Development Commission’s Head Start Program.

The evenings highlight an “On My Shoulders” graduation ceremony along with activities engaging children and their fathers that include storybook and poem readings, sand art, hats and mask creations, face painting, jewelry making and gift books. Appetizing dinner menus are also featured.

“On My Shoulders” is the Tier III and final segment of a three part curriculum of SDC’s Healthy Relationship & Marriage Enhancement Program which provides relationship education for single individuals as well as unmarried and married couples. The class sessions are designed to foster group discussions, co-activities and shared learning.

Healthy couple’s partnership is the focus of Tier I. Men-only classes are part of Tier II. Parenting enhancement and cultivation for men and their children are the instruction modules for Tier III.

“It is just phenomenal and very heartwarming to see African American men actively interacting with their children,” says Debora Taylor, Healthy Relationship & Marriage Enhancement Program manager Taylor adds that she is delighted to know of the supportive arrangements made to connect fathers with their children and the effort made to make the events successful.

“I am much better in my relationship as a result of taking these courses in the Healthy Relationship program,” said one father who received his Tier III certificate that evening. He added that the classes “helped me and my significant other to better communicate with one another. I have also become a better listener to my children to understand and be sensitive to what they are going through. I highly recommend this program.”

“This program is geared towards cultivating the mindset, particularly of our men towards being a more positive and contributing family member,” says Richard Johnson, Healthy Relationship educator. “I love what I do and it was just great and rewarding to see our men on Friday night spending quality time with their kids and to see the joy on the children’s faces having fun with their fathers,” he adds.

Johnson is also thankful that the program is able to supply books and developmental reading material so that the fathers can spend time reading to and with their sons and daughters. “We help our dads learn how to teach and nurture their children at home which will make them better equipped students at school and further builds learning skill sets and confidence,” he says.

Johnson notes that the program encourages the fathers to keep journals and gives them the courage to “come out of that security box even though their personal comfort zone may be confining and not working for them. We show them the many possibilities that are available and the variety of choices that they have at their disposal.”

For additional information on the Healthy Relationship & Marriage Enhancement Program, please contact SDC at 906-2700 2700 or visit their website at www.cr-sdc.org and click on the “Programs” page.

Other programs sponsored by Milwaukee’s Social Development Commission include:

Employment
• Need Help with Transportation to Your Job?: Ways to Work
• Help Getting and Keeping a Job: W-2 Training Opportunities
• Skills for Getting and Keeping a Job: Boosting Employability & Soft Skills Training (BEST)

Asset Development
• Free Tax Help and More: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA)
• Becoming Money-Wise: Financial Literacy
• Making Home Energy Efficient: Weatherization
• Housing Preservation: Weatherization, Rehab and Asset Preservation Partnership Program (WRAP)
• Fixing Up Neighborhoods One House at a Time: Neighborhood Improvement Project (NIP)

Family Strengthening
• Building Successful Young People: Youth and Family Development Program
• Getting It Together: Community Services Options and Youth Restorative Justice
• Rebuilding Foundations: Life and Career Development
• Stronger Family Bonds: Creating Lasting Family Connections
• Want a Stronger Marriage or Relationship? Head Start Healthy Relationships & Marriage Enhancement Program
• Keeping the Homebound Independent: Senior Companions

Education & Training
• Preparing Preschoolers for School and Life: Head Start
• Getting Ready for a GED/HSED: Basic Skills
• Special Needs Diploma: Competency Based Diploma
• Earn that Diploma: GED/HSED Testing
• Volunteer and Internship Opportunities: Success Through Rewarding Internships & Volunteer Experiences (STRIVE)

Support Services
• Help with Your Utility Bill: Energy Assistance
• How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient: Energy Conservation Demonstrations
• Feeding Children: Year-Round Food Program
• Feeding Kids During Summer: Summer Youth Food Program
• Prescriptions & Your Health: Prescription Advocacy & Referral Service (PARS)
• Health Education & Referral Center (HERC)
• Help for Families in Need: W-2 - Eligibility and Assessment
• Educate and Entertain on Cultural Diversity: Community Education
• Financial Case Management for Families - Project GAIN]]> Jerry Bednarowski Transition / Re-Entry Tue, 13 Mar 2012 22:34:42 -0400