Region V Fatherhood Collaboration Call Archives

Scroll down the page to view the 2004 to 2018 archives. 
Thanks to Lois Rakov for spearheading and organizing these calls!

15 years ago, Lois Rakov hosted the first fatherhood collaboration call in Region V (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin) on behalf of the regional office of the Administration of Children and Familes.  The successful quarterly calls have explored issued related to fatherhood programming, provided resources to practitioners and advocates, celebrated best practices and connected fatherhood advocates across the region.  On July 9th, Lois Rakov will host the call for the last time.  Please send your thanks to Lois for her tireless efforts on behalf of fathers and families!  Click here to read a wonderful article describing the calls and their history.

OPNFF is honored to be the web host the Region V Fatherhood Collaboration call information and archives!

2019

The title of the April 9th call was 21st Century Dads: Engaging & Supporting Fathers Raising Children with Special Needs

  • David Hirsch, Founder and Director, 21st Century Dads - Chicago area native and father of five ages 22-29.  He is an outspoken advocate for father involvement, initially through the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative starting in 1997 and more recently through the 21st Century Dads Foundation. He is the author of 21st Century Dads: A Father's Journey To End the Cycle of Father Absense.  Click here to listen to the TEDX Talk he gave entitled: Why We Need to Break the Cycle of Father Absence.  Professionally he is a Senior Vice President with UBS Financial Services.
  • The 21st Century Dads Foundation is a non-profit whose signature program is the Special Fathers Network, a dad to dad mentoring program for fathers raising children with special needs.  One of the tools 21CD created is the SFN Dad to Dad Podcast, which are some of the all-time most inspiring fathering stories full of insights, lessons and hope. 21stCenturyDads.org  
 
  • Brian N. Rubin, a practicing attorney since 1976, is the parent of three children, one of whom, Mitchell, has Autism.  Brian’s law practice, since 1982, when Mitchell was one year old, has been dedicated to serving the legal and future planning needs of his fellow families of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, developmental disabilities, and/or mental illness.  He is also the president of the Special Needs Alliance, a group of 150 attorneys from across the U.S. who have dedicated their practices to serving the special needs community.  Brian is also a Special Fathers Network Mentor Father and a SFN Dad To Dad Podcast Dad.  Click Here to listen to his podcast. 
  • Jason Tietz, an Early Intervention Service Coordinator with Clearbook Early Intervention


The title of the January 8 call was  Empowering Fatherhood Programming and Family Services: How Ohio Infuses Fatherhood in Human Services Programs with Child Support, Child Welfare and Health Services

2018

The title of the September 25th call was Male Involvement and Fathers' Health: Working in Support of Healthy Start's Initiatives to Reduce Infant Mortality.  The presenters were: 
  • Dr Jeffrey M Johnson, President of NPCL (National Partnership for Community Leadership) - click here for presentation
  • Kenn Harris, Immediate Past NHSA Board President, VIce President of Community Engagement for The Community Foundation of Greater New Haven, and Director of New Haven Healthy Start - click here for presentation
  • Adnoris "Bo" Torres, Fatherhood Coordinator, Padres Fuertes Initiative - click here for presentation
  • click here to read about Healthy Start Male Involvement Activities in Michigan and Illinois
  • Back to School Tips for Fathers - an article by Jeffery M Leving, published in the Chicago Defender
The title of the June 26 call was Paternity Establishment: It's Importance and Development. Speakers from the Illinois Child Support Services Program were: Pamela Lowry, Christine Towles, Mary Carter, Debra Streeter and Donna Garvey

Materials: The topic of the March 6th call was Pathways to Helping Fathers: A Father and Son Perspective with Neil Tift, Training Coordinator, Native American Fatherhood and Family Association (NAFFA) and Zachary Tift, Program Manager, Avenues for Homeless Youth (Minneapolis)  click here to download their presentation
 

2017


The last Region V Fatherhood Collaboration call of 2017 was Tuesday December 5th at 1:30 pm CT / 2:30 pm ET.  The call featured a presentation by Eric Snow on Watch D.O.G.S. (Dads of Great Students).  Eric was joined by:

Principal Melissa Hesch of Eagle View Elementary in Minnesota - download Watch D.O.G.S. program description and launch timeline
for more information contact Eric Snow at esnow@dadsofgreatstudents.com  and click to http://dadsofgreatstudents.com/university for more information and an inspiring video.

Sergio Guzman from the IRS, a former presenter on the Fatherhood Collaboration Call has shared some valuable resources for taxpayers as we enter the tax season.  Click here to download a toolkit full of valuable tips and resources to share with your programs and networks!  Contact Sergio Guzman at sergio.guzman@irs.gov

The topic of the Region V Fatherhood Collaboration call on Tuesday October 24th 2017 was: The Opioid Epidemic and Trauma Informed Care.  The speakers were:
​The topic of the July 11th call was: A Mix of Coaching and Legal Services bring fathers and children together with speakers from Talbert House in Cincinnati:
  • Calvin Williams,  Co-Parenting Coach
  • James Whitfield, Fatherhood Project Supervisor
  • Nancy Ludwig, Staff Attorney for Talbert House Fatherhood Project
The topic of the March 21st Region V Fatherhood Collaboration call was Boot Camp for New Dads.  The speakers were:

Greg Bishop, Founder
Chuck Ault, Training Director
Randy Kimbro, Master Coach
download Why Boot Camp for New Dads Works and check out the websites, www.bootcampfornewdads.org and www.bootcampfornewmoms.com
2016

The topic of the  Region V Fatherhood Collaboration Call, on Tuesday 12/6 was the Putative Fathers Registry.  Speakers included:
  • David Thomas and Jason Roush - Children Protective Services, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services download handouts and father application and registry search
  • Molly Crawford - Minnesota State Registrar -  download presentation and fact sheet
  • Christina M Schneider - Special Assistant, General Counsel, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services - download handout
  • The US Department of Housing and Urban Development shared information on the call about their Annual Father's Day Initiative and asked for help promoting it.  For more information, send questions and/or requests for assistance to natlfathersday@hud.gov
  • Click here to read email blast they used last year to market the 2016 event:
The Tuesday August 9th 2016 call topic was Coalitions and Partnerships: Reconnecting Ex-Offenders with Family and Community at 1:30 pm CT and 2:30 pm ET.  The Speakers:
  • Charmaine Pope, Cuyahoga County Family & Children First Council - Cleveland, Ohio
  • Mary Kelly, Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry - Cleveland, Ohio
The May 3rd 2016 call was titled, "Just Beginning" and 'Baby Elmo": Working for Children with Incarcerated Parents.  The first call of 2016 was Tuesday February 9th, 1:30 pm CT The title and speakers are: Native American Fatherhood Programs, Learning Fundamentals to Become Responsible Fathers and Mothers.
  • Tami Masuca OCSE, Region V
  • Al Pooley, Director of the Native American Fatherhood and Families Association
  • Rodney Loonsfoot is a certified facilitator of Fatherhood Is Sacred from Baraga Michigan.  He has started the "first" program in Michigan and Is sponsored by Inter Tribal Council of Michigan.
2015
The last call of 2015 was Tuesday November 17th Outreach for Fatherhood Involvement: from Essay Contest to TEDx Talk, with David Hirsch, founder of the Illinois Fatherhood Initiative and the 21st Century Dads Foundation and Carey Casey, National Center for Fathering.  
  • Click here for a newsletter describing the 2016 essay contest
  • Please share David Hirsch's TEDx talk, Why We Need to Break the Cycle of Father Absence with your colleagues and networks.  You may want to view it at a staff meeting - it is sure to lead to a meaningful exchange! 
  • David has also released a new book, A Father's Journey to Break the Cycle of Father Absence  In this newly published book (May 21, 2016),  David Hirsch takes us along on the Dads Honor Ride journey from Santa Monica to Chicago and shares personal reflections of his struggles to break his family’s cycle of father absence. David has become an important voice for 21st Century Dads.  All proceeds go to charity
  • Contact information for speakers:

    David A Hirsch - david@21stCenturyDads.org and 21stCenturyDads.org; November 21st Century Dads newsletter; download David's bio

  • Carey Casey - CCasey@fathers.com and Fathers.com
  The August 25th, 2015 was titled Dads Matter: Promoting Father Involvement in Home Visiting Services for Vulnerable Families The April 21, 2015 call was:  Future Opportunities for Change in Child Support - The call presented a discussion of the notice of proposed rulemaking for child support that was released late in 2014 by the Federal Office of Child Support. download the presentation and click here to review comments submitted to the OCSE

The January 2, 2015 call topic was: Community Organizations: Outreach to Child Support and from Child Support. Speakers included:
  • Glenn A. Harris, Action for Children - Father Factor
  • Susan Brown, Christina Nichols & Dolores Torriero, Franklin County, Ohio - Child Support
  • Joan Weiss & Mary Carter, Illinois Child Support Enforcement

The second topic on this call concerned legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President in September of 2014. The Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (Act) contains some child support provisions. One provision requires that the Department of Health and Human Services submit a Report to Congress by June 30, 2015. This report is to be completed in consultation with stakeholders including state, tribal, and county child support directors, judges who preside over family courts and organizations that represent them, custodial and noncustodial parents and organizations that represent parents, and fiduciaries such as financial institutions and employers. The Act also requires that DHHS solicit public comment.  Since many of the participants in our calls are stakeholders in the child support program, we would like to use part of January's call to discuss this opportunity to provide comments on the child support program.

2014
The October 28, 2014 call topic was: Building Assets for Parents and the Next Generation. 
  • Tracy Frizell, Economic Awareness Council - view presentation
  • Athena Riley, Ohio Office of Child Support - view presentation    promotional materials
  • Steve Killpack, Ohio Practitioners' Network for Fathers and Families
  • Amy Burgoon, Kansas Child Support Services Program - view presentation
  • Melinda Lewis, Kansas Child Support Services Program
  • Ryann Moore, Region V OCSE
The June 17, 2014 call topic was Building Partnerships for Fathers, Families and Communities
  • Sequane Lawrence, Director: Father, Families and Healthy Communities, Illinois
  • Rev. Eli Williams, Director: Urban Light Ministries & Fatherhood Clark County, Ohio download presentation
  • Leslie Crew, Director: Family and Children First Council, Clark County, Ohio
The March 11, 2104 call presented The Ohio Commission on Fatherhood - Reaching Out to Fathers and Families Throughout the State.  Presenters: Kimberly Dent, Executive Director, Ohio Commission on Fatherhood and a number of members of the Commission - OCF Commissioners  Materials and Information for the call:
2013
The December 2013 call focused on The Challenge of Sustainability: How to keep the work of the grant going after the grant money has run out
  • Doris Wilson, Catholic Charities WIC, Chicago
  • Cathy Reed, SIU Carbondale Head Start, IL
  • Jan Hayne, Dads Make a Difference, MN
  • Becky Glasure, HARCATUS Head Start, OH and Joseph Maiorano, OSU Extension
  • Maggie Watson, Parenting Time Opportunity Grant, Monroe County, IN - download presentation
The September 18, 2013 call topic was Parenting Time and Visitation. Speakers on the call and materials included:

The Tuesday June 18, 2013 call topic was Working with Teen Dads.  **Since the presentation of HHS Office of Adolescent Health Associate Director Medrano on the call, the grantees have been announced for the new Adolescent Health grants. All grantees were required to include a focus on serving young fathers.  Click here for a list of grantees, including MI, MN and WI, http://www.hhs.gov/ash/oah/news/ .  Speakers on the call included:

  • Courtney Simek, Program and Community Engagement Manager, Teen Parent Connection, Glen Ellyn, IL, teenparentconnection.org
  • Victor Medrano, Acting Division Director, Program Development and Operations, Office of Adolescent Health, HHS, download presentation (pdf format);
  • Sarah S. Saxbe, Program Coordinator - Teen and Pregnant Program, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, download presentation (pdf format)
The Tuesday March 5, 2013 call focused on Working with Fathers to Support Positive Coping: The relationship between infant crying and father well-being: working with fathers to support positive coping. The Presenter was Dr. Leslie Katch on:
  • Also, information on tax preparation help will also be shared: There are Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) programs throughout Region V where individuals with incomes under $51,000 can get free electronic tax preparation and access to financial services. Most sites are open January 19 through April 15. Here is an IRS website that will help individuals locate VITA sites: http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Free-Tax-Return-Preparation-for-You-by-Volunteers
  • Dr. Katch conducts research on infant regulation, parenting self-efficacy, and the relationship between father well-being and infant crying and fussing. Her clinical work has focused on families concerned about their infant’s behavior. She currently provides consultation for infant/toddler programs in Chicago. Dr. Katch is an Assistant Professor at National Louis University in Chicago.
  • In addition, three documents related to federal policy will be referenced on the call:
    • The President's Plan to Ensure Hard Work Leads to a Decent Living - White House Press Release, 2.15.13
    • Child Well Being and Non-Custodial Fathers - Congressional Research Service

2012

The December 4, 2012 call focused on: How does the Affordable Health Plan affect fathers and families?

The September 11, 2012 call focused on Urban Jurisdictions Working with Fathers: Challenges and Innovations to Empower Fathers and Families, with speakers from child support agencies in large urban jurisdictions in OH, IN and MN to discuss some of their efforts in the area of fatherhood. The speakers will be:
  • Barry Bloomgren of Hennepin County, MN
  • Susan Brown of Franklin County, OH - prison caseload collections
  • Michael McGuire of Marion County, IN
  • Casey White of Hennepin County, MN
The May 8, 2012 call focused on Building Financial Assets: Focus on Fathers.  Presenters on the call included:
  • Denise DeVan, who is working with the States of the Chicago Region on asset building strategies.
  • Financial Asset Building presentation
  • Asset Building Resources
  • Shannon Pargin of Southern Illinois University Carbondale Head Star
  • Mike Kildee of Bendle/Carman-Ainsworth Learning Community Head Start, Flint M
  • Sergio Guzman of the Internal Revenue Service
2011
The February 14 call focused on the topic, Working Toward Economic Stabililty with Fathers and Families.  Here is the agenda and materials from that call:

Tuesday August 16th - Co-Parenting

May 17, 2011 - Building Partnerships and Collaborations

  • Mike Falatach of Cuyahoga County, Ohio
  • Shannon Pargin of SIU Carbondale Head Start
  • Bill Peltcs of Franklin County, Ohio Child Support
  • Ellen Durnin of the Michigan Child Support Program
February 15, 2011 - Veteran's Administration/OCSE Homeless Veteran Project
2010
November 30, 2010 - Fatherhood Curricula August 31, 2010 - Celebrations that Honor and Recognize Fathers, Part 2
  • Shannon Pargin of Southern Illinois University Head Start - male involvement flyer
  • John Fort, Wayne County, MI HFS Head Start - call notes; Dancing with My Daddy flyer
  • Joe Podlasek, Executive Director of the American Indian Center in Chicago
  • Report on the White House Father's Day event from Joe Podlasek and Dr. Kirk Harris, NFLG
May 18, 2010 - Celebrations that Honor and Recognize Fathers, Part 1
  • click here for a state by state listing of past celebrations
February 9, 2010 - Access and Visitation
  1. Access and Visitation National Overview - download
  2. Michigan Access and Visitation Summary - download
  3. Incorporating Shared Parenting into Title IV-D - download
  4. Administrative Order Authorizing Case Referrals to Mediation in Michigan
  5. Michigan Community Dispute Resolution Program Annual Report 2008
  6. Parenting with a Plan by Joy Moses
2009
November 17, 2009 - The White House Conversations on Fatherhood August 25, 2009 - May 12, 2009 - The Grant Process and Partnerships potential grantees should develop prior to application - links, reports and resources discussed on the call: February 17, 2009 - materials discussed on the call:
  2004-2008
  • November 18, 2008 - State Initiatives, including a report on the Michigan Fatherhood Policy Forum
  • August 18, 2008 - Office of Child Support Enforcement PAID Initiative (Project to Avoid Increasing Delinquencies)
  • April 24, 2007 - Bridging Fatherhood, Healthy Marriage and Domestic Violence
  • July 18, 2006 - Bridging Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood
  • April 18, 2006 - HHS Responsible Fatherhood and Healthy Marriage Initiatives (Deficit Reduction Act of 2005)
  • February 7, 2006 - Helping Children of Incarcerated Parents
  • November 2, 2005 - How Fatherhood Initiatives Empower Women
  • July 19, 2005 - How to Measure Success in Fatherhood Initiatives - Evaluations and Outcomes
  • April 26, 2005 - Teen Parents
  • January 11, 2005 - Reading Makes a Difference for Fathers and Children
  • October 12, 2004 - Parenting and Relationship Building in Fatherhood/Male Involvement Programs

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Ohio Practitioners' Network for Fathers and Families (OPNFF)
P.O. Box 606194
Cleveland, OH  44106
216.245.7842
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