CHI - St. Joseph's Health - MN

A Worthwhile Cause! The FATHER Project has received support from local businesses, churches, and community members, as well as a number of grants from community and state institutions, including: 2015 Touchstone Energy Community Award from Itasca-Mantrap for the FATHER Project's outstanding contributions to the community 2014 Minnesota Hospital Association's Community Benefit Award for CHI St. Joseph's Health and the FATHER Project's innovative programs and excellent leadership in healthcare 2013 Certificate of Recognition from the Minnesota Department of Health for the Project's outstanding contribution to public health T he Fostering Actions to Help Earnings and Responsibilities (FATHER) Project, a Goodwill-Easter Seals Minnesota program, settled into Hubbard County as part of CHI St. Joseph's Health violence prevention initiative. "We began looking at violence in our county and the secondary issues that were involved," says RaeAnn Mayer, RN, PHN, MSN, CHI St. Joseph's Health Community Health Director. "We engaged in a year-long process of looking at how father- friendly our county and the surrounding areas were, and one factor we found was there were many single-parent families with absent fathers. Research shows when a father is separated from his children, the outcomes aren't good. Children are more likely to engage in unhealthy or dangerous behaviors or commit suicide." Determined to take a proactive approach in addressing the issue, Mayer contacted Minnesota Fathers and Families Network—an organization whose goal is strengthening families. They suggested the FATHER Project, and Mayer brought the program here. Mayer and her dedicated team worked with the FATHER Project to set up their own program based on the original model, with the ultimate goal that every child in the area belong to a nurturing family. MISSION: POSSIBLE The Project's mission is to help low-income, noncustodial fathers learn healthy parenting skills and behaviors, as well as overcome barriers that have prevented them from providing emotional and financial support for their children. By participating in a step-by-step, multi-class program, participants learn an array of fathering skills that include healthy disciplinary approaches, parenting and communication styles, and co-parenting with their children's mothers. Some go on to become "citizen fathers," a special achievement for dads who excel in the program and exemplify strong leadership and fathering skills. Helping Fathers Be Great Dads The FATHER Project: Since launching in 2011, CHI St. Joseph's Health Community Health FATHER Project has been making a positive impact in the community by providing life-changing support for families. (Back Row, Left to Right): Colton Vander Heyden, Father; Joe Johnson, FATHER Project Coordinator, and Ryan Branham, Father, (Front Row, Left to Right): John Tinker, Father and Brian Stoehr, Father CHI St. Joseph's Health | www.CHISJH.org 6

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