The Hutchinson Community Foundation is building alliances that connect dads and kids in healthy family and community relationships

	for more information… Hutchinson Community Foundation Sandra McMullen President/Executive Director P.O. Box 298 Hutchinson, KS 67504-0298 (316) 663-5293 hutchcf@midusa.net
	Melissa Lacey/The Hutchinson News Used with permission
	Ernest Bradley, coordinator of the Fatherhood Committee of Hutchinson and director of the Boys & Girls Club there, believes that fathers who get involved in the community dramatically impact the lives of all children.

The issue of fatherhood is undeniably a hot topic. Newspapers and magazines are quick to post grim statistics about “deadbeat dads,” absentee fathers, and the desperate need for fathers to be more involved in the lives of their children.

But not all the news is gloomy. Federal, state and local agencies, neighborhood organizations, church congregations, civic groups, and community foundations are working to celebrate and support healthy families.

This proactive movement is a shift in philosophy and culture for many organizations. The goal is not to create programs or expert solutions that address issues created by lack of father involvement; it is to prevent problems by connecting fathers and children—and working with others to connect fathers and children—in healthy family and community relationships.

Such is the case of the Hutchinson Community Foundation, which launched The Fatherhood Project in 1996. “Our goal was to increase community awareness of the vital role fathers play in their children’s lives,” says Sandra McMullen, Hutchinson Community Foundation president and executive director. “But the outcomes are greater than that. Fathers are learning and teaching effective parenting techniques. They’re volunteering to work with other children in the community. And local church leaders are involving their congregations in celebrations of fathers and the promotion of responsible fatherhood.”

Promoting Fatherhood Outside the Home

The Fatherhood Project was launched in 1996 with a $1,000 grant from the Coalition. Area dads and kids spent some precious one-on-one time together on a bus ride to a minor league ball game. On the way home, the conversation turned to the importance fathers have on their children’s lives and the positive influence they can have with other children in the community. By the time the trip was over, several dads had committed to becoming involved in the Boys & Girls Club. Response was so positive, the community foundation was convinced to expand their work on fatherhood issues.

Upon receipt of a Coalition “Next Steps” grant, the Hutchinson Community Foundation invited other area groups to collaborate on events focused on fathers that would help strengthen family ties and relationships in the community. A part-time coordinator was hired to lead the process, events for fathers and children were planned, and the community began to respond immediately.

How Community Building is Taking Place

• At one event, a local pediatrician talked with 20 fathers about the physical, emotional, and intellectual development of young children, and the vital role fathers play in their lives.
  
  
• A four-part program called “Common Sense Parenting” brought more than 25 fathers together for skill-building sessions on the effectiveness of praise, teaching self-control, stopping bad behavior, and preventive parenting. “The program was getting such positive feedback, we were asked to open it to moms, too,” says Ernest Bradley, coordinator of the Fatherhood Committee.
  
  
• Another event, sponsored by the Boys & Girls Club of Hutchinson, brought children ages 6-12 and “the most important adult male in their lives” together for a dance.
  
  
• Four African-American churches collaborated on a “Soul Food Evening” featuring dinner and an address by Dr. Bernard Franklin from the National Center for Fathering, located in Overland Park, Kansas. “Dr. Franklin truly brought home to us the need for active participation by fathers in children’s lives. His talk inspired all of us,” says McMullen.
  
  
• Promise Keepers got involved, too, by sponsoring an early morning breakfast and meeting to discuss specific fathering issues and ways to become more involved with black men in their churches. “This event in particular has had some positive outcomes at the grassroots level,” says McMullen. “A number of clergy attended this meeting, then stayed after to work on ways of engaging their church families in the discussion of fathering on an ongoing basis.”

NEW ALLIANCES ARE BEING CREATED
“These outcomes are just the beginning,” says McMullen. “We have vowed to do more than fund programs that address the issue of fatherhood here. Dr. Franklin will return to train men who volunteer to teach others tips for effective fathering. And we’re encouraged by ongoing participation from our church leaders. Several are involving their church families in teaching, supporting, and
celebrating fathers. We will continue to partner with others in our community to improve the lives of our children, young people, and families.”