Focus on Fathers – Happy Fathers Day!June 16, 2008 |
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 Last week, just in time for Father's Day, First 5 LA attended the 2008 Children's Institute, Inc.'s (CII) In Harms Way conference, The Fatherhood Solution. Traditionally focusing on general child abuse prevention, this year's theme instead highlighted how nurturing the special relationship between a father and child contributes to that child's healthy development. Studies show that without their fathers, children are five times more likely to be poor, two to three times more likely to use drugs, and more than twice as likely to be incarcerated. With the social service community encouraging stronger father and child relationships, these negative outcomes may be avoided. The conference welcomed key speakers, including the Rev. Gregory J. Boyle, a Roman Catholic priest and the founder and executive director of Jobs for a Future/Homeboy Industries; Ken Canfield, founder of the National Center for Fathering; and the Honorable Michael Nash, presiding judge. Culturally based family unification, community and family violence, fatherhood programs and research, fathers and early childhood development, and the impact of war on children were among the workshop themes. There was also a special performance by actor Daniel Beaty, known for his one man performance "Emergency." First 5 LA interviewed Rev. Boyle, Canfield, and Steven Jackson, a father who has participated in Project Fatherhood, a CII initiative designed ensure that fathers are emotionally and financially supportive parents. Rev. Boyle makes reference to a "baby and me" class for fathers and their babies that is offered through Homeboy, and how that has changed the fathers that come through his organization. Steven Jackson comments on how it feels to be a dad. Project Fatherhood has helped him raise six children on his own after his wife died of cancer. Click below to hear the interviews. ‹‹Back to this week's Monday Morning Report
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