Contact: Chris Chesrown
Media Relations Manager
480-731-8503

For Immediate Release
Download photo at: http://www.dist.maricopa.edu/marketing/download/120701_2.tif

STRATEGIES TO STRENGTHEN DIVERSE FAMILIES TOP NATIONAL CONFERENCE AGENDA - Southwestern Fatherhood Conference Aims to Help Dads Get and Stay Involved

December 19, 2001 – Fathers, and those who want to help them, will learn the skills necessary to become a better parent as national experts in the field gather to share their research and wisdom.

“We see over and over again what can happen to children when their fathers aren’t involved in their lives,” says Conference Chairman James Rodriguez, MSW. “We need to help children and their parents by finding ways of helping those in poverty get and keep family sustaining incomes, developing healthy relationship skills and increasing their parental presence.”

The conference, “Parenthood… The Most Rewarding Job You’ll Ever Have,” is scheduled for January 30 - February 2, 2002. It is sponsored by the Arizona Fathers and Families Coalition, a network of organizations, this year chaired by Gene Parrish, Ph.D., Director of the Educational Development Training Center at Mesa Community College. Coalition members share the common goal of strengthening families.

Research shows Arizona ranks as one of the worst states for child well being and funding for appropriate high quality programs to help children. Although some services are targeted to single mothers, the demand for fatherhood programs became strong says Parrish, “I knew that the lack of programs for fathers was the missing link to our goals of improving the lives of women, children and families through targeted intervention training and support.”

Acclaimed researchers, counselors and authors scheduled to speak include: Jerry Tello the Executive Director of the National Institute for Latino Families; Garry Mendez, Ph.D., CEO for The National Trust for the development of African American Men who has done extensive work with incarcerated fathers and their children; John Red Horse, Ph.D., the Director of American Indian Studies at the University of Minnesota at Duluth; Jonetta Rose Barras, author of “Whatever Happened to Daddy’s Little Girl: The Impact of Fatherlessness on Black Women; Tommy Epps, Fatherhood Program Coordinator, Division of Child Support Enforcement, Phoenix, AZ; Daniel A. McDonald, Ph.D., Research Specialist, University of Arizona, Tucson; Gina Barclay-McLaughlin, Ph.D., a senior researcher in childhood programs at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville; Preston Garrison, Executive Director NPNFF, Washington, D.C.; and Jeffrey M.Leving, Esq. of Chicago.

Individual, group and corporate sponsorship opportunities are available, which will go to help defray the registration costs for low income attendees. All events will take place at the Hilton Phoenix/East Mesa, 1011 West Holmes Avenue, Mesa. Registration: 1-888-528-6725.

The Maricopa County Community College District is one of the largest community college districts in the nation. It includes 10 colleges – Chandler-Gilbert Community College, Estrella Mountain Community College, GateWay Community College, Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College, Paradise Valley Community College, Phoenix College, Rio Salado College, Scottsdale Community College and South Mountain Community College. The District also includes the Maricopa Skill Center, Southwest Skill Center, several satellite campuses and business/industry, technical and customized training institutes and serves roughly a quarter million students annually. For more information: 480-731-8000, www.maricopa.edu or www.swfatherhood.org.

-maricopa community colleges-

- disclaimer -
We welcome feedback
March 13, 2002