to make real-life decisions for themselves and their children, but assist them in negotiating
successfully within these institutions and systems.
Father Family Advocates
Father Family Advocates are available to all program participants. Father Family Advocates are
non-custodial fathers who serve as role models for the other fathers in the program. They also
serve as links between the person seeking help and the service provider, and draw upon a wide
range of unique experiences, which cannot be observed by anyone else. The primary function of
the Father Family Advocates is to help fathers navigate their way through bureaucratic systems
so that they can get what is rightfully theirs. Father Family Advocates are trained
paraprofessionals who attend weekly classes to practice and refine basic advocacy skills and
review information pertinent to successful father family involvement.
Father-Only Support Groups
Support Groups offer monthly meetings, social events and discussions on issues affecting
fathers. The aim is to promote positive fathering by providing a safe and non-judgmental
environment in which men can talk within a group about the issues they are dealing with e.g.
self-worth, anger, violence, separation, etc. After completing participation in the Support Group,
men are empowered to move forward, make changes, and be better partners and fathers.
Family Group Activities
This activity consists of quarterly planned social events for father, mother and children. This
might include sports events, family/child nature walks, movie matinees and pizza, trips to the
local zoo or playground, community festivals, child sports leagues or playoffs, weekend retreats,
etc.
Community Service Projects
Each program participant is responsible for completing at least two hours of community service
monthly for a total of 24 hours annually. Community service can take many forms, but the
partnership requires that community service enable fathers to develop relationships with their
children and families. As a consequence, we encourage fathers to volunteer with preschool
programs where their children are in attendance, thus enhancing the relationship with father and
child. The partnership also encourages volunteering at child/school events and local community
organizations and institutions where their children are engaged.
Referral Services
Chicago Area Project (CAP) provides referral services to program participants who need help in
locating other services not offered by the Father Family Paradigm Initiative. Program
Participants are referred to community-based organizations, social service organizations and
other agencies and institutions that can be of support to non-custodial fathers. Service referrals
include, but not limited to substance abuse intervention, medical services, mental health services,
56
