Support for fathers in times of strife
JANIE SMITH
Relevant offers
Two Auckland-based organisations are working together to make sure that dads get the recognition and support they deserve.
The Onehunga branch of Child, Youth and Family has teamed up with the Father and Child Trust, which provides help and advice specifically for fathers.
The two organisations have been working together for several months, with the trust being included on CYF's care and protection resource panel, which is made up of organisations that provide advice and information.
Trust support worker Brendon Smith says this week, which ends with Father's Day on Sunday, is the organisation's biggest week of the year with a range of events happening.
CYF Onehunga site manager Barbara Thomson says fathers play an important role in their children's lives that can sometimes be lost in times of strife.
"Where there's a lot of anger and grief between parents, for the child that's half their family. A child needs to have some contact with their dad or at least their dad's family. Even if dad doesn't live with the family, he still has things he needs to give to that child."
She says even if the father can't provide a positive role model for his children, it's something his family can often do.
"Dads are important."
The organisation has had some happy outcomes where they have been able to get children and their fathers back in touch, or children reconnecting with their paternal grandparents.
Mrs Thomson says CYF can suggest to dads that they might like to go along to the Father and Child Trust for support.
"For mums we have coffee groups but we haven't as a society come to grips with what to do with dads," she says.
"Brendon's group does really good stuff with dads that isn't about fighting through the courts, it's somewhere dads can have a chat about what it's like to be a father and share ideas."
Mr Smith became involved with the trust five years ago as a stay-at-home dad with two young children.
He found the trust's magazine and says it was "a real eye-opener" to discover there were other fathers in the same situation.
He was able to get in touch with other members by email and ended up contributing to the magazine.
"It was the combination of the fact that I wasn't alone and I could contribute. I told my story and it was useful for them. It made me feel really valued."
The trust has a DVD called In Your Hands which features music and interviews from well-known Kiwis such as Tiki Taane and Warren Maxwell.
Mr Smith says it is great for dads who wouldn't necessarily read a parenting book.
In Your Hands is available from www.greatfathers.org.nz.
A range of activities are happening in Auckland this weekend including Dad's Day Out on Sunday in Henderson. Go to www.dad4life.co.nz for more information.
- © Fairfax NZ News
The Plant Market, 2/12
021-817-121... DRIVEWAYS