SCCFF Logo
Father-Friendly Training
 
 
DSS Training

 
(Pictured above: Midlands Fatherhood Coalition staff provide father friendly training to the staff of the South Carolina Department of Social Services).

Through a partnership with the South Carolina Department of Social Services, a written protocol was established and adopted
by the agency for locating, notifying and engaging the non-custodial father as early as the Intake Phase of a child protective services (CPS) investigation. This protocol identifies specific steps at each phase that should be taken by CPS and foster care caseworkers to locate and engage the non-custodial parent. The intent of the protocol is to reduce the number of children who enter foster care by ensuring that the non-custodial parents, who are often fathers, have the opportunity to actively participate during all phases of the investigation, are offered support services in the event they are needed and are considered as a first priority placement option when children are removed from the custodial parent's home.

In an effort to continue building and improving partnerships, father-friendly training recently took place in one pilot site and is scheduled for a second site soon. The Midlands Fatherhood Coalition Lexington site provided training to South Carolina DSS Child Protective Services division over a two-day period October 28-29. The training focused on educating DSS staff of the importance of father involvement and how the local fatherhood program can assist them in proceedings where the fathers historically have not been involved.
 

The sessions allowed the DSS case managers to experience what a typical father experiences when interacting with various agencies and how the barriers can prevent that involvement. Approximately 70 DSS staff members were present and left the training with a new commitment to improving their efforts to include fathers. This will prove beneficial in cases where additional supportive services are needed for non-custodial fathers who are being considered for placement if their child is being removed from the custodial parent's care.  
Father to Father Project Graduation Ceremony 
F2F Graduation Ceremony

Father to Father Project Program Graduates

The Father to Father Project, Inc. completed another year of service in the Charleston community with its Year End Celebration and Graduation Ceremony.  The program was held on December 16, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. at St. Peters AME church in North Charleston. 

The church was almost filled to capacity as eleven participants received their Certificate of Completion during the program.  Several of the participants' families attended the ceremony.  Reverend Sam Dennis acted as the speaker for the ceremony.  He is the pastor of St. Paul AME Church in Kingstree, SC, and is a past graduate of the program.  Several Father to Father Project Board members attended the ceremony, including board chairman, Ron Howard.

St. Peters has been a long standing partner with the Father to Father Project. Father to Father Project Executive Director William M. Jenkins also serves as minister of music at St. Peters.
We've Moved!

Please note our new contact information:

2711 Middleburg Drive, Suite 111
Columbia, SC 29204

Phone:
 
803.227.8800

Fax:
803.227.8806

 
January 2011
 
Enewsletter
 


Quick Links


Follow us on Twitter  Find us on Facebook

Our Website

Follow Our Blog



Join Our Mailing List

Providing the means for fathers to become great dads.

A Ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System