SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — In the heart of Sacramento's Del Paso Heights stands the Center for Fathers and Families (CFF). The nonprofit was founded in 1994 to help fathers thrive and promote greater involvement of fathers in their families.
"Fatherhood means responsibility, love, sacrifice, greatness and accomplishment," said Terry Moore, director of adult services at the Center for Fathers and Families. "Fatherhood means everything."
The Center for Fathers and Families offers several programs and services , like classes about practical parenting, co-parenting, and taming your temper. Father support groups are also available to help men become better fathers by learning from one another in a group setting.
"There are a lot of organizations serving moms," Moore said. "We believe that if fathers are served as well, everybody will benefit from it."
The Center for Fathers and Families serves all, including the youth. CFF developed the MASTERS Expanded Learning Program in 2007, which stands for "Making After School Time Enriching, Rewarding, and Successful." The program is offered at local districts and schools in the Greater Sacramento region to help increase student academic achievement.
At CFF, one of the main goals is challenging the absent Black father myth. Past research shows Black fathers are more involved in their children's lives compared to other groups.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 2013 National Health Statistics Report, Black fathers (70%) who live with their children were most likely to have bathed, dressed, changed or helped their child with the toilet every day, compared with their white (60%) or Hispanic (45%) counterparts.
Black fathers (78%) were also more likely to eat meals with their children every day compared with white (74%) and Hispanic fathers (64%). And, a higher percentage of Black fathers (27%) took their children to or from activities every day compared with white fathers (20%). Black fathers (41%) in the home were also more likely to help their children with homework every day compared with Hispanic (29%) or white (28%) fathers.
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"The sad thing is that dads have caps on their backs, but they are never shown as heroes," Moore said. "Dads matter because statistics show the differences that they make when they're involved in their child's life. Children need both parents. Both parents add a lot to the child's life, and, when the dad is not there, the child is missing out. Dads are superheroes."
Arthur Threadgill has two sons and said he wants the best for them. He's been with the center for years and said it's made a positive difference in his life.
"The Center for Fathers and Families has been such a great resource for me getting back on my feet," Threadgill said. "Classes have taught us how to enter into mediation, how to express yourself in mediation, how to get more time with your children through mediation. Love is time. I was abandoned as a child. I had a great stepfather that stepped in. However, I refuse to abandon my child. My goal is to make my sons greater than me."
Brandan Jackson has been working with CFF for years too. He said his daughter means everything to him. He goes on to explain that he enjoys the father-daughter dance event most, hosted by the center.
"The center has definitely helped me be able to actually understand my role as a father," Jackson said. "It's more of a spiritual connection and a loving connection. I never would want to have that broken. I started taking my daughter to the father daughter dance when she was like two or three years old. And, she's 16 now. It has been more than a blessing, just to be able to have those moments with her, and just to have her even be willing to still go with me as she's getting older."
With 30 years of service, the Center for Fathers and Families has grown to become a safe haven for fathers of all backgrounds to get support, encouragement, and hope. CFF promotes the theme that “Fatherhood is Forever." At the center, it's all about fathers helping fathers to strengthen families and build stronger communities.
"You can win. We can win. We can all win together," Moore said. "And, when we all win together, the whole world is better."
To learn more about CFF, visit their website.
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