IN CONJUNCTION WITH
THE SUNCHYNE FOUNDATION & THE COMMUNITY PARTNERS ASSOCIATION
PROPOSES
The Young Fatherhood Reclamation Project
& Mothers on a Mission Single
The Young Fatherhood Reclamation Project and Mothers on a Mission Single, submits its proposal to support the Behind the Scenes in Sports and Entertainment & the Adult Life Skills Exposure Program to young fathers and single mothers, between the ages of 18 and 25.
The Young Fatherhood Reclamation Project is a multi-faceted program that uses sports and entertainment as the hook to reel in and educate youth and young parents to the careers that are intrinsic to these two industries. The “ManUp” to Fatherhood/Alternative to Violence Summit, will feature The 3C event (conference, contest and the concert) and the participants hosting the event will be trained in the many roles that insure that these events are successfully performed, such as: refereeing, statisticians, trainers and scorekeepers in sports, and stage production, prop development, light and sound engineering, photography and videography on the entertainment side. Print and broadcast journalism will be a big part of the curriculum. Participants will learn to commentate during the games as well as back stage, deliver sports and entertainment news and write the articles. Participants will also be exposed to the legal aspects of sports and entertainment through seminars and our mentoring program. Public speaking is another skill participants will be able to hone, as those worthy will have the opportunity to tell their story, with the intent on helping others grappling with similar issues.
We also will be grooming talent in sports and entertainment through fielding a basketball team and a cheerleading squad. We will work with potential singers, poets, rappers and comedians who will perform at planned events with community based organizations focused on fatherhood, teenage parenting, combating gang involvement and gun violence, youth homelessness, drug and alcohol prevention, throughout the city, the state and eventually the country.
To reach our goals, the Young Fatherhood Reclamation Project will be aligning itself with the many community based organizations that are currently advocating in areas that are in line with our plight. For example, the New York City Parks and Recreation Department, which has within its programmatic structure, facilities that feature the kind of resources needed to follow through with our mission. We will seek to work with high schools that have curriculums that parallel our objectives, in particular The Academy for Careers in Sports in the Bronx and Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School in Brooklyn, which has a newly built state of the art recording studio.
We hope to align ourselves with Medgar Evers College of Brooklyn, New York, to work with their Male-Initiative Project. We seek to also establish relationships with post-secondary institutions in the following cities: Buffalo New York (SUNY Buffalo), Atlanta Georgia (Morehouse/Spellman), Chicago Illinois (Chicago St. University) and Los Angeles California (University of California at Berkley), so that we could penetrate these communities with the assistance of these higher educational institutions.
The Young Fatherhood Reclamation Project will appeal to the many athletes and entertainers who have been reared in the same communities we hope to make a presence and an impact in, to come back during the 3C events, to share with the young fathers and single mothers the process that led to their success.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Young Fatherhood Reclamation Project seeks funding to provide social, emotional, educational and vocational services to young parents who deserve a second chance. We plan to use sports and entertainment as the hook to reel in the prospective young parents, while creating a constructive environment in which to share with them: anger management, conflict resolution, crisis and family intervention, domestic peace; all which will assist them with attaining and maintaining healthy and safe relationships built on equality and respect. Adult daily living and life skills, including entrepreneurial/job preparation and career development, will be addressed, in addition to SAT, GED and continuing education assistance being provided.
We seek to establish a Maternal and Child Health Outreach Program where a licensed registered nurse and an outreach worker will visit young mothers in their home to provide support for them and the baby’s health while they are pregnant and help them get prenatal and health care for the baby, young children and family. Counselors, behavioral specialists, teachers, business men and women will be solicited to give lectures, seminars, workshops and classes to the participating parents.
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW:
The Young Fatherhood Reclamation Project’s mission is to identify those urban areas, beginning with New York City, which has a high percentage of teen age parents. We will expose roles behind the scenes in sports and entertainment to young fathers and single mothers who need a second chance and desire to be in their children’s lives. There are many who love to perform and/or play, but may not be talented enough to make the team or grace the stage. Through establishing relationships with various academic institutions, city government agencies and community based organizations, we intend to strengthen our ability to be effective at offering this population viable resources and opportunities.
They will be exposed to the myriad of careers that cater to sports and entertainment. These roles may not pay as much as the singer, rapper or the athlete, but they do provide a career path that extends longer than the average professional player or performer. As mentioned above, we seek to also establish relationships with post-secondary institutions in the following cities: Buffalo New York (SUNY Buffalo), Atlanta Georgia (Morehouse/Spellman), Chicago Illinois (Chicago St. University) and Los Angeles California (University of California at Berkley), so that we could penetrate these communities with the assistance of these higher educational institutions, and establish satellites. The aim is to offer those that may need a change of venue, the opportunity to transition to an independent living supportive housing program run by the organization, in each of the satellite cities.
DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAMS
PARENTING SKILL DEVELOPMENT:
The Young Fatherhood Reclamation Project works to assist those fathers who have not been able to focus on their responsibility to rear their children. The project will also reach out to single mothers, who may need guidance and support in rearing their children, in particular, bringing their boys into manhood. Both, the young mother and father, will be able to gain the parenting skills necessary to insure that their children have a basic “familial” foundation, built on principals that will foster solid productive and constructive citizenship. The participating parents will also benefit from a variety of programs, structured around the roles performed behind the scenes in sports and entertainment.
EXPERIENCE EXPOSURE & EDUCATIONAL:
Lack of education keeps many fathers from a good job and there are few programs focused on helping fathers in this way. A 1999 Urban Institute study found that 20% of mothers received job search assistance compared to 6% of fathers. Some programs offer GED classes on site while others help fathers enroll in appropriate classes or college programs. Other fathers need access to job training and help finding work. If they don’t have the skills to get and keep a job, there is little hope of them ever providing adequate financial support for their children.
The Young Fatherhood Reclamation Project and Mothers on a Mission Single, seeks to establish linkages with schools on all levels in the local communities. Sports Education & Entertainment (SEE) Productions will expose participants to the educational opportunities that are available, according to the results of a general assessment that will be completed in the admissions process. SEE Productions will catch the participant where they are in their developmental process and provide a curriculum that will assist them with reaching the next level. Those who need to graduate from high school will be given a GED preparation class. If they have the aptitude to progress on the community college and/or university level, they will be given SAT and/or ACT preparation classes. Once they are affiliated with the project, they will be tracked and receive tutorial assistance if necessary.
SPORTS PROGRAM:
If the participants have athletic potential, the Project Student Athlete component will utilize their network of coaches to assist them with gaining entrance into post-secondary institutions, i.e. prep schools to universities. A stellar basketball team will be assembled through a “tryout system” facilitated through the New York City Parks and Recreation Department. The participants will be working on building an educational foundation that will carry them through to the next phase of academia. Some will be able to transition to playing professionally overseas and possibly here in the United States.
Those that express a passion for the game, but may not be as good as those playing, will have an opportunity to be exposed to roles behind the scenes in sports. They also will be prepared academically to move on to the next level of their academic experience. The plan would be for them to be placed in a position to perform the role they were exposed to at the college or university they matriculated into, such as: sports training, refereeing, statisticians as well as athletic directing. The goal would be for them to graduate in a specific field related to sports and/or earn an internship to continue preparing for such a career. We would also like to field a team of cheerleaders made up of the participating single mothers that will travel with the basketball team on selected trips.
ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM:
If the participant has performance and/or entertainment skills, they will be able to exhibit their talent in the showcases that will be planned throughout the calendar year. Those participants which have a desire to perform, but may not be ready to hit the “big stage”, will be able to master roles behind the scenes in entertainment with the idea that they will be able to establish a career in a field that they have a natural passion for. Throughout the calendar year, there will be showcases, games, conferences, workshops and seminars scheduled, where the participants will perform the roles to bring these events to fruition. Roles such as: sound and light engineering, building and breaking down the stage, choreography, photography, videography and journalism (broadcast and print). Participants will also be exposed to the marketing and promotional activity relevant to the entertainment industry.
ENTREPRENURIAL PROGRAM:
Through an affiliation a company that produces cologne and skin cleansing products for men along with a body wash, participants will be able to generate an income through selling these products as independent distributors. Participants will be educated on the art of selling in a profit sharing structure while learning and developing entrepreneurial skills. They will also be able to execute on the job training while planning the sports and entertainment calendar of events sponsored by participating companies. These will include concerts, games, fashion shows, awards dinners, as well as conferences, seminars and workshops. The Young Fatherhood Reclamation Project will work side by side with an upstart publishing company and participants will benefit from learning the tasks necessary to be executed in putting out a magazine whose editorial content is structured to meet the needs of the twenty-first century, post baby boomer parent, in particular, young fathers and single mothers.
TECHNOLOGICAL COMMUNITY ACCESSABILITY AND NETWORKING PROGRAM:
Through a partnership agreement with the Dime Printing Company, participants will be able to learn the basic fundamental skills necessary to lay-out and print magazines and newsletters and use the equipment for individual and group projects as long as they are volunteering in the program. They will be able to use the computers to access the internet for research, word processing and graphic design purposes. We seek to train participants to be able to assist community based organizations that need computer and internet training for their work.
MOMS & POP MENTORSHIP PROGRAM:
Each month participants in the program and their “select” mentors will travel to various historic and educational sites in an attempt to expose these inner-city young parents to activities and experiences that will broaden their perspective on what life has to offer. Most of these trips will take into consideration the role of the parent and what could be done to enhance the skill level of those participating.
PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM:
Peer support programs are a very effective way to help fathers learn to manage problems. Fathers are more likely to open up and address their issues with other dads sharing similar problems. It is important to build the relationship between staff and the fathers since staff can and should serve as positive role models.
POPULATION SERVED:
The Young Fatherhood Reclamation Project attempts to address the many barriers faced by young fathers, between the ages of 18-25 and single mothers in select urban communities across America. The project seeks to locate its office in communities that provide a broad array of social services. A major emphasis will be placed on reaching fathers and single mothers, who have been incarcerated, to provide for them projects that will support changing behaviors, healthy marriages and relationships, improve responsible parenting skills, reduce recidivism and remove barriers to economic self-sufficiency.
Most of these communities are populated by low-income, unemployed and the less informed residents who have not reaped any reward from the economic boom years of the last quarter of the twentieth century or benefit from the technological revolution. It is safe to say that the participants will be from multi-cultural backgrounds and they will range in age from teenagers to those in their early adult years.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
The Young Fatherhood Reclamation project seeks funding for the behind the scenes in sports and entertainment job training exposure program for young fathers between the ages of 18-25 and single mothers. Our approach is catching the participant where they are, using something that they already love to do: sing, rap, dance, write and recite poetry (spoken word), play basketball and cheerlead. In order to cultivate and nurture the participants willingness to grasp the necessary skills to perform these roles, we have established an on the job training format, that will allow them to discover careers in areas they already have a passion for. We believe that the earlier we get the participants involved, the more open and creative they will be in their efforts to utilize the behind the scenes skills for their economic stability and advancement. We will also strive to develop relationships and/or partnerships with a diverse range of community based organizations and schools, while at the same time determine the proper approach to reach the targeted population.
*Educational Approach- Small Groups will be formed to allow for individual attention to be given to students in need of this kind of service.
*Project based Approach -While setting up the various projects, each behind the scenes component will represent an area in which the participant will be able to execute and transfer the acquired skill to an employment opportunity.
*Community Based Approach -We will focus on a sustained, simultaneous emphasis on families, economic opportunity, school success in early grades, and strengthening community access. There is a need to emphasize developing strategies that integrate responsible fatherhood efforts into education, social services, correction and health care.
CONSIDER THESE THOUGHTS& STATISTICS
The 2003 Parent and Family Involvement in Education Survey of the National Household Education Surveys Program (n = 12,426) shows that 28% percent of White students, 39% of Hispanic students, 69% of Black students, and 36% overall live without their fathers. In bi-variate comparisons, absent-father status is associated with reduced well-being: worse health, lower academic achievement, worse educational experiences, and less parental involvement in school activities. When socio-economic factors are controlled, father-absence is associated with small deficits of well-being. The findings suggest that the conventional wisdom may exaggerate the detrimental effects of father absence.
“Father Absence is a key contributor to fractured families, poverty and many negative social and economic outcomes for children”. – Sisters of Charity Foundation - “Many dads want to help their children but can barely take care of themselves. They aren’t deadbeat but dead broke.” – Jimmy Lewis - “Our dads are isolated, have low self-esteem, work many hours and have few social outlets”. – Katuska Olave - “These fathers are lacking peer support and good role models.” – Sue Guptil“- Absent fathers do realize their children face difficulties without them. They’re veterans, many having come from fatherless homes, and they know the hurdles their children face. Many fathers want a second chance to help their children better navigate life’s waters. Being involved in a fatherhood program gives them that chance.” – Sisters of Charity Foundation - “Fathers have a lot of pride and don’t like to admit they need help.” – Floyd Lasier,Durham Boys & Girls Club
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->24 million children (34%) in America live apart from their fathers;
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Over 32 % of New York City youth 17 years of age and under do not have fathers present in the home and 54% of African-American and 43 % Latino youth grow up without having a father in the home.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Almost half of the fathers who do not live with their children have no contact with their children at all.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Children under age 5 living with single mothers are 20 times more likely to live below the poverty level than those where the father/husband is present.
According to a 1999 report of the Department of Health and Human Services:
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Girls without a father in their life are two and a half times as likely to get pregnant and 53 percent more likely to commit suicide.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Boys without a father in their life are 63 percent more likely to run away and 37 percent more likely to abuse drugs.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Both girls and boys are twice as likely to drop out of high school, twice as likely to end up in jail and nearly four times as likely to need help for emotional or behavioral problems.
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->According to 72.2 % of the U.S. population, fatherlessness is the most significant family or social problem facing America. (Source: National Center for Fathering, Fathering in America Poll, January, 1999.)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->An estimated 24.35 million children (33.5 percent) live absent their biological father. (Source: Krieder, Rose M. and Jason Fields. Living Arrangements of Children 2001. Current Population Reports, p. 70-104. Table 1. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005.)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Of students in grades 1 through 12, 39 percent (17.7 million) live in homes absent their biological fathers. (Source: Nord, Christine Winquist, and Jerry West. Fathers' and Mothers' Involvement in their Children's Schools by Family Type and Resident Status. Table 1. (NCES 2001-032). Washington, DC: U.S. Dept of Education, National Center of Education Statistics, 2001.)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->Sixty-three percent of black children, 35% of Hispanic children, and 28% of white children are living in homes absent their biological father. (Source: Krieder, Rose M. and Jason Fields. Living Arrangements of Children 2001. Current Population Reports, p. 70-104. Table 1. Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau, 2005.)
<!--[if !supportLists]-->· <!--[endif]-->The 1997 Gallup Youth Survey found the following among U.S. teens:
33 % live away from their father; 43% of urban teens live away from their father. ( Source: Youth views, Gallup Youth Survey 4)
What conclusion can we draw from this information? The impact of the number of children who will be raised by a single mother without substantial father involvement is enormous. Children raised primarily in single parent households are at higher risk of negative physical, cognitive, behavioral and academic outcomes and being poor just compounds these problems.