Family Services Summit
January 23-24, 2012
Kelly Inn
100 Fourth Avenue South
St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301
and
St. Cloud River's Edge Convention Center
10 4th Ave. South
St. Cloud, MN 56301
Summit Agenda:
Monday, January 23rd
8:30am-11:30am Pre-conference Institute (optional)
“Fathers in
Families: Diverse Pathways for Reworking
Fathering”
Presenters: Dr. Rob Palkovitz, Professor of Human
Development and Family Studies, University of Delaware and Dr. Glen Palm, St. Cloud State University
The Institute will engage participants
in practical and interactive discussions about fathers in diverse family
contexts and the developmental task of reworking images and practices of
positive fathering. The session will
introduce research and theory related to male adult development, positive
father-child relationships and opportunities that fatherhood provides for
emotional growth and developing relationship skills. Innovative intervention strategies for
supporting men in developing their own positive images of fathering and
strengthening their parenting skills will be presented. The presenters bring both practical and
research experience and will use case studies and small group activities to
assist participants in applying theory and research to practice.
Optional add on -
9:00am-10:30am St. Cloud Prison Tour (limited to 20
participants), bus leaves at 8:00am and returns at 11:00am. Pre-registered required, email Sarah Cheesman
12:00pm-1:30pm Welcome/Lunch/Keynote
“State of the State: Implications
of Demographic Change for Fathers and Families”
Presenter: Tom Gillaspy, Minnesota State Demographer,
Minnesota Department of Administration
This decade, we will see demographic changes throughout the nation and world that are both unprecedented and profound. Changes will affect families, work-life, health care, financing and economics and government programs. Tom Gillaspy will discuss these changes, what is driving them, and how they will affect the nation, Minnesota and each one of us personally.
1:30pm-1:45pm Break
1:45pm-3:15pm Breakout Sessions
- "Ethical Applications in Family Service Agencies"
A growing number of family service agency
professionals are being asked to do more with less. As their caseload expands
and their resources dwindle, many struggle with complex ethical decisions. This
session will help staff address contemporary issues that include client
confidentiality, personal safety, staff boundaries, fiscal management, program
eligibility and service provision that require informed sound ethical
decision-making.
- Fatherhood 101
Join us for this
introductory session for those new to the fatherhood field, the MN Fatherhood
Summit, and/or MFFN. Explore the journey of responsible fatherhood, strategies
to help the fathers and families you serve, data on Minnesota dads, trends in
father involvement, and how you can influence the future of fathering.
- Co-Parent Court Presenters: Hon. Bruce Peterson and Christa Anders
- “Urban Fathers Beyond the Baby Daddy”
This workshop will focus on involving fathers who are in circumstances that may limit the hands-on parenting role. This may be fathers who are consciously or unconsciously influence by the “Baby Daddy” title or syndrome or trapped in hyper-masculine approaches to fatherhood and seeking help.
3:15pm-3:30pm Break
3:30pm-5:00pm Breakout
Sessions
- "Framing 'The Ask,' the Results, the Outcomes: A Storytelling Approach to Building Awareness and Gaining Support"
Within most organizations there are hundreds of stories that highlight the impact of your work and the value it creates for the communities, fathers, and families you serve. The key is using these stories to advance the work you do and to secure your organization’s future. This workshop is designed to help you harness the power of your stories as part of an effort to build awareness of issues, communicate results and the difference your organization or services make, and gain support, financial and otherwise, for the work you do. Learn how to identify the best stories to use and shape them into a compelling solicitation and tool to advance your cause.
- Using the Legal System to Strengthen Families and Foster Father Involvement (CLEs applied for)
The legal system offers and effective means (sometimes the only means) for unmarried parents to establish paternity, custody, and parenting time rights or involuntary adoption. Presenters will introduce family law concepts and court procedures that never married and previously married parents, especially fathers, should understand in order to strengthen their legal standing with their children. Research, tips, and examples will demonstrate the importance of cooperative co-parenting, the benefits of father inclusiveness, and how this strengthens families and improves communities.
- Early Childhood Sector Analysis and Best Practices for Father Engagement
This session will discuss an overview of the sector analysis project, the project design, data from the survey, successful stories and strategies, discussion about specific reports from the analysis, and recommendations.
- Pathways to Responssible Father Grant
- Understanding Trauma
A
system approach of working with families and communities to improve the lives
and future health of children exposed to trauma. Trauma informed systems
utilize child-specific, and developmentally informed models to guide
assessment, intervention, education, therapeutics and policy. Current best
practice calls for coordinated services through a system of care. This session will provide an overview of how
the Minnesota Department of Human Services, Child Safety and Permanency
Division is striving to comprehensively work with traumatized youth and their
families to assure child safety, permanency and well-being.
“How Practitioners Can Navigate
the Political, Social and Economic Waters in Minnesota”
Presenter: Susie Brown, Public Policy
Director, Minnesota Council of Non-Profits
Discussion about opportunities for Minnesota’s father and family-serving practitioners to engage our state’s social capital and community assets to address the unique political and economic challenges of today.
Exhibits open from Noon-4:00pm
Tuesday, January 23rd
8:30am-10:00am Keynote
“Fathering Across the Lifespan for
a Lifetime”
Presenter: Dr. Rob Palkovitz, Professor of Human Development and Family Studies, University of
Delaware
Dr. Palkovitz discusses fathering, intergenerational relationships, and the relationships between patterns of father involvement and developmental outcomes for men and their children. He is currently studying transitions within fathering and characteristics of resilient fathers in challenging circumstances.
10:00am-10:30am Break and exhibits
10:30am-12:00pm Breakout Sessions
- "Healthy Habits for Fathers, Families and Kids"
- Working with the Schools: How Fathers Get Information and Participate in Educational Programming (CLEs applied for)
In this session we will discuss parents—especially-fathers’ rights to data and to participate in educational planning for their child. We will learn the basics of the data practices act and address issues such as when may dads receive report cards, when can they attend school meetings, conferences, etc. Participants will gain tips that they can use to help fathers—especially non-resident fathers—work with their children’s school (or staff) including information for to fathers for setting realistic expectations. Info about how far the school must (and maybe should) go to include fathers. Examples/case studies for schools or districts that are “father friendly”.
- "Optimizing Fathers"
A follow up to Dr. Palkovitz's keynote presentation
- Mind the Gap—Changing Ex-Offenders Lives By the Work We Do
A panel of partners involved in the Federal Grant for the
Mind the Gap project will provide information on this innovative grant
initiative and how it is changing the lives of ex-offenders and their roles as
fathers. During this session participants will learn how helping ex-offenders
with housing, employment, transportation, parenting, child support, and other
post-incarceration reintegration challenges can help these men get back on
track. Partners will discuss the project, provide information about this
innovative grant initiative, share insightful ideas for replication, and reflections on best practices and
inspirational stories. Mind the Gap, a collaborative effort among six community
partners, is a pilot program serving Hennepin and Ramsey Counties. The project
uses intensive case management services to break down barriers faced by newly
released offenders who are fathers.
"The Minnesota Internet Crimes Against Children (MICAC)
Task Force is responsible for the investigation of child pornography offenses
and the online solicitation of children.
This presentation will outline the objectives of the task force and its
investigative functions, as well as the influence of social network sites and
technology on today’s youth. The
importance of Internet safety, to include the role of parents, will also be
discussed."
12:00pm-1:15pm Lunch/Keynote
“Challenges and Possibilities of
Black Fatherhood”
Presenter: Dr. Rose Brewer, Professor of African American Studies
Dr. Rose Brewer will present information about challenges and possibilities for Minnesota’s black fathers. She has written extensively on black families, race, class and gender, and public policy. Most recently she co-authored, The Color of Wealth: The Story Behind the U.S. Racial Wealth Divide, which was recognized as a “best book” on bigotry and human rights in 2006.
1:15pm-1:30pm Break 1:30pm-2:30pm “Reflections
on Fatherhood in Minnesota and Future Direction”
Panel:
Sam Simmons – facilitator, Neil Tift, Dr. Glen Palm, Rose Allen, and
Clarence Jones
Experts in the field of fatherhood will examine the future
of fathering by discussing the following questions:
· What current
practices or initiatives you think will have a positive impact on the future?
· What do
think are the biggest challenges to fathering in the future?
· What changes
are needed in social, economic, legal, educational, and correction systems that would enhance fathering in the
future?
· What makes
you feel hopeful about fatherhood in the future?
2:30pm-3:00pm Break and exhibits
3:00pm-4:30pm Breakout Sessions
- "Building Consciousness, Vision and Strategy to Work Effectively with Black Fathers"
What do we mean by Black fatherhood? The Strengths of Black Fatherhood? The Challenges of Black Fatherhood? How is Black fatherhood shaped by the complexities of gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexuality, age? And, where do we go from here?
- "Engaging Fathers in Home Visits"
Too often fathers are not involved in home visits, whether that is due to scheduling problems, fathers not living in the same home as the children, lack of interest or effort on the part of home visitors or the father’s reluctance itself. But the benefits of significant father involvement in growing healthy children are more than obvious. This workshop will provide a list of over 50 specific suggestions that home visitors might employ to increase and retain male involvement and include strategies for working effectively with fathers, individually and in group settings. We will discuss how visitors might appeal to fathers and men in families in his role as a protector, a provider and a disciplinarian in the household. The session will explore the impact of language and attitude in establishing rapport with males in the home and discuss the unique parenting approaches that distinguish maternal and paternal instincts.
- "Supporting Minnesota's 'Hidden Heroes'"
When asked, “What can I do to support you?” Military Service Members reply, “Take care of my Family”. In the state of Minnesota, there are more than 15,000 children and youth who have experienced the deployment of a parent serving in our United States Armed Forces at least once. In this session, participants will learn about the military deployment cycle; the unique needs of the children and youth going through it; and ways to support our Minnesota “Hidden Hero’s”.
- "Weighing In: How Father Involvement Fosters Healthier Relationships with Food, Familiy & Physical Activity"
- How do I get my licence back? Demystifying child support enforcement and what you--as a non-child support professional--can do to help parents and care providers (CLEs applied for)
Are you mystified with how to help parents with the child support issues they face? At this session, you will get a crash course on Minnesota’s child support system, with a focus on enforcement activities (what happens if payments aren’t timely after paternity or a child support order is established). You will walk away understanding the tools child support workers use, when they use them, and why certain tools, such as driver’s license suspension and bank levies, are used. These county professionals will arm you with practical tips for helping custodial and noncustodial parents with such issues as payment agreements (to get a license back, for example), arrears management (including forgiveness), child support order modifications, and also show you how parents can obtain information about their case through Minnesota Child Support Online.
Exhibits Open from 7:30am-3:30pm