Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

Fatherhood Pilot Programs: White Paper Outlines Lessons from the First Year of Evaluation

In 2006, New York became the first state in the country to enact legislation that consists of two innovative policies that are designed to help low-income noncustodial parents (mostly fathers) find work and pay the full amount of their current child support, which is called the Strengthening Families Through Stronger Fathers Initiative. This report describes this initiative and gives detailed information about the five pilot sites that are providing employment services to low-income noncustodial parents in the following locations: Buffalo, Jamestown, New York City and Syracuse. Continue reading Fatherhood Pilot Programs: White Paper Outlines Lessons from the First Year of Evaluation...

New York State Fatherhood Initiative Releasing DVD to Explore Perceptions of Fathers in the Media

In an effort to provide a tool to stimulate conversation about fatherhood, the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)/Fatherhood Initiative is releasing a DVD titled Perceptions of Fathers in the Media: In Search of the Ideal Father, as well as a training curriculum, to assist service providers in facilitating conversation to deconstruct the images built around media fathers and creating a more reality-based image of fathers in American society.

The New York State Fatherhood Initiative supports the development of collaborative strategies between social services districts and community organizations to assist noncustodial parents in meeting the financial and emotional needs of their children.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 28% of children lived without their father in 2006. Considering the alarming number of father-absent homes in the U.S. prompted OTDA to fund a study to assess the impact media fathers have in constructing children’s perceptions of fatherhood. The study showed that sitcom fathers demonstrate greater guidance, general support and acceptance than do real fathers, indicating the need to provide a forum to explore the complex view of real family life and move away from the often unrealistic portrayal found in the media.

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Roland Martin Stresses Personal Responsibility In Fatherhood Conference Keynote

Personal responsibility was the theme of keynote remarks delivered by noted author and columnist Roland S. Martin during the first-ever Responsible Fatherhood Conference in New York State.

"You could have 5,000 men come through your program but unless they answer, 'What is it that I'm prepared to do?' Everything else is a waste of time," said Martin, also a frequent contributor on CNN.

Drawing on his personal experience growing up with parents who provided a rock-solid foundation, and the not-so-rock-solid experiences of his siblings and nieces, Martin used humor to deliver his message to those who assembled at the Desmond Hotel for a three-day conference that looked at the growing problem of absentee fathers in our communities. Continue reading Roland Martin Stresses Personal Responsibility In Fatherhood Conference Keynote...