Transcript Fatherhood Group Programme Oakhill STC

Fatherhood Group Programme
Oakhill STC
The programme is aimed primarily at
young fathers/expectant fathers, but
also at young men at risk at becoming
fathers young
Young offenders are all individuals who come from a
huge range of backgrounds, however, many have had
complex, disrupted childhoods.......
• They are twice as likely to have suffered maltreatment as
children. Many have been or are in care.
• More likely to have been victims of crime and more likely to
have been bullied.
• Majority have parents who are not together and 75% have
no regular contact with their fathers.
• At least 25% have witnessed domestic violence at home.
• More likely to have a parent in prison. The children of
prisoners are x 3 more likely to be involved in anti-social
behaviour and 65% of boys with a convicted parent go on
the offend.
Mental Health needs of young people
in secure settings
Mental health disorders three times more
prevalent in people in secure settings
compared to rest of the population. Most
common disorders conduct disorders, anxiety
and depression. Also high prevalence of
personality disorder, psychosis, attention
disorders, post traumatic stress disorder, and
self harm.
Why an intervention?
Young men in custody are 5 to 6 times more likely to have a child young that
young men in the general population.
Many young offenders have had problematic childhoods, and there is
evidence that problems can be intergenerational. Need to break the
cycle.
Lack of positive role models from many of their own fathers
Teenage fathers often ‘invisible’ and services are often inaccessible to them.
In comparison to young mothers very few services available and young
offenders are often perceived as more of a risk than a resource to their
child.
History of Fatherhood
Programme at Oakhill STC
Started in November 2010
Developed at Oakhill STC, with support from Milton Keynes Brook
(Sexual Health Advice Service for under 25’s)
Emerged organically...changed and developed over time
Nurse running the programme won FPA/Brook award ‘Sexual
Health Professional of the Year’ in March 2013, young father
‘expert by experience’ who supports programme was awarded
‘Brook/FPA Young person of the year and programme was
awarded Youth Justice Board Effective Practice award for best
design.
Still under development.......
Classified as ‘emerging’ by
the Youth Justice Board.
•Tighten up the focus.
•Need to develop a theory of
change.
•Look at the post custody
period.
Course runs for six weeks, one hour
sessions. Young people come in their own
time. Some groups are primarily young
actual or expectant fathers and some have
majority of boys who are neither, but attend
because have requested to.
Outline of course
Introduction to the needs of a child and
factors influencing the capacity of parents
to meet these needs
Practical skills needed to care for a baby.
Caring for an electronic baby over night.
The reality of being a parent and of
relationships from the perspective of a
young mother
The reality of being a parent from the
perspective of a young ex-offender
father
Work in the community
council of young dads
Internal versus external locus of control: Safe
sex and contraception
Resettlement
Focused 1;1’s with young father/expectant fathers to focus on
their individual circumstances.
Liaising with other services – internal and external
Liaising with services in the community. Link to existing services:
MKACT (women’s Aid),Father Engagement Project, St Michaels
Fellowship. There is a lack of support for young fathers. Involved
in addressing this (i.e APPG steering Group, meeting with CSJ).
Challenges
High percentage of young offender fathers who do not use contraception, and
also who have poor relationship skills are becoming ill-prepared parents.
Need for high quality sex, relationship and parenting education for them and
for others as a preventative measure and preparation for the future
School age, young offender father face many barriers both internal (ie own
lack of skills, anger issues, poor coping etc) and external (ie maternal
grandparents, mother, housing, employment housing etc)
Positive factors
Despite barriers, these young men (whether fathers, expectant or neither)
see parenting, relationships and family issues as key to whether or not they
have positive futures. Many have had poor experiences while growing up
(family breakdown, violence, poor parenting) and see this as key to why they
are where they are presently (in custody). Most hope for stable loving
relationships, employment and children but do not have the skills to achieve
this. We need to work to help them achieve these skills.
Support for young fathers should employ their
innate abilities and empower them to take action
for themselves instead of exclusively delivering new
skills within a deficit model.
We need to help young fathers to draw on their own
inate capacities, and at the same time be realistic
about their deficits – we need to be realistic about
any threats they may pose to their children and
mothers of their children, offer support and liaise
with relevant services.
Short film about domestic violence
http://www.youtube.com/wa
tch?v=brVOYtNMmKk