Dr. Crain becomes a “National Program Consultant” for WATCHD.O.G.S.
See “Opportunities” for more information on all our programs!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
WATCH D.O.G.S. Across America, the Springdale, AR born school based father involvement program that is sweeping the country, has selected Dr. Matthew Crain of Paragould as one of 8 National Program Consultants. Growth of the national organization has made it essential that additional support be available for the growing demand. Dr. Crain’s work with WATCH D.O.G.S. will be a complimentary addition to his work with the Center for Fathers and Families.
National Program Consultants help market the WATCH D.O.G.S. program to schools and school districts. Individual schools rely on the consultant’s experience to prepare for a successful launch event each year. Program Consultants are also available throughout the year to help schools successfully follow through with the program, now in its eighth year. As programs grow, they are eligible to be recognized as “Power Programs” by the National Organization and their affiliation with Tyson Foods.
Program Consultants also share the vision of this dynamic program with corporate sponsors who often fund the kick-off event or the entire program. Each consultant is issued a school kit for demonstration purposes to help schools see the quality and effectiveness of the supporting materials. Upon the decision to launch a WATCH D.O.G.S. program in their school, officials participate in a one hour training telephone call where they are trained how to successfully conduct a Pizza Night launch event and properly organize these fathers who usually volunteer by the hundreds.
August and September will be busy months for schools and program consultants as dozens of programs launch early to take advantage of a full year of parent involvement. Schools wishing to increase father / father-figure involvement may contact Dr. Crain through the WATCH D.O.G.S. office toll-free at (888) 540-DOGS (3647) or by email at [email protected].
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, May 5, 2006
The Center for Fathers and Families of Arkansas is pleased to announce it is now licensed to provide the acclaimed Boot Camp For New Dads program in NE Arkansas. This addition compliments a full slate of services that have provided mentoring for young fathers, training for parents, and support for school interested in involving dads on campus by the hundreds. Both Jonesboro hospitals have contracted with CFF to provide 12 Boot Camps during the remainder of the calendar year.
Background: Boot Camp For New Dads, was formed in 1988 to enable new fathers to “hit the ground crawling” when their first baby arrives, and head in the right direction in forming a new family with mom. Boot Camp is a highly successful program in which “veteran” fathers bring their 2-5 month old infants back to provide a hands-on training experience to “rookie” dads who are expecting their first baby. The program uses a proven man-to-man training approach based upon the best traditions of sports and military organizations. It also uses a very soft touch in the form of babies that are brought by their veteran dads.
The combination of rookies, veterans and babies in a room for three hours makes for great chemistry. The rookies are all eyes and ears as they watch the veterans feed, burp, change and care for their babies while hearing their experiences and advice. A strong sense of solidarity quickly develops between these men and peaks when the vets give their babies to the rookies for hands on training. The strongest emphasis is placed on the tremendous support new moms need from dads with additional advice on a broad range of issues including bonding, work hours, forming a parenting team, safety, preventing child abuse, dealing with relatives, etc.
The experiences of over 120,000 Boot Camp graduates in 40 states and Japan provide the course content and also dispel a variety of myths that persist about new fathers. The primary concerns of these men are not losing playtime with their buddies or their sex lives and their mates. With an average of 2 months experience, the typical dad is concerned with the best way to support his mate and new mom, balance work and family responsibilities, and develop the patience required of new father.
Boot Camp also offers the opportunity to help create better fathers for our families and communities that sorely need them. “More than half of our nation’s children will spend at least some of their childhood without a father in the home”, states David Blankenhorn, author of Fatherless America. This causes or aggravates our worst social problems, including gang violence, teen pregnancy, domestic abuse and crime.
However, 90% of the nation’s fathers are present at their child’s birth. Boot Camp’s mission is to help them get connected and positively involved so they remain a strong and constructive force throughout their children’s lives. “Patterns of participation start very early”, explains Bishop. “Our experience clearly demonstrates that men find a close bond with their baby to be very rewarding, and this provides a powerful motivation to deliver on their new family’s needs. This track leads to ongoing growth as a father while limited involvement leads to separation from the family altogether.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 10, 2006
Paragould’s First WatchDOGS Begin In Group Fashion
WatchDOGS Across America, the Springdale, AR born father involvement program that is sweeping the country, has made its way to Paragould’s Greene County Tech Primary School where 20 dads will spend all day today as volunteers on their child’s K-2 Campus. This will be the first group of WatchDOGS to volunteer on a Paragould School campus since the organization’s beginning over 8 years ago.
Pizza Night with Dad was a huge success on March 16 when 292 dads brought 320 of their children to eat pizza, watch an informative DVD and hear how they could be more involved on the campus of their child. Center for Fathers and Families Director Dr. Matthew Crain spoke to the crowd that night encouraging them to sign up before leaving. Dozens did just that, standing in line with their children for as much as 20 more minutes. Parent Coordinator Rebecca Murry organized the evening after hearing CFF’s Administrative Assistant Kerry Combs sing the praises of the program that is involving dads at school by the hundreds.
Other schools wishing to increase parent involvement may contact Dr. Crain at the Center for Fathers and Families, (870) 236-1323 or toll free at (866) 933-3237.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, Sept. 30, 2005 Contact: Matthew Crain, Director (870) 236-1323
Center for Fathers and Families Wins Compassion Capital Fund Award
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced awards totaling $49 million through the Compassion Capital Fund (CCF) including one to Paragould’s new faith-based non-profit organization known as the Center for Fathers and Families. The award was granted to help grass roots, faith-based and community organizations enhance their ability to provide social services to those in need including the homeless, at-risk youth, rural communities, the elderly and families transitioning from welfare to work.
“President Bush recognizes the effectiveness of faith and community-based organizations in mobilizing communities to serve those in greatest need,” HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. “These funds help strengthen organizations that perform acts of mercy in their neighborhoods.”
CFF’s award for $49,862 is part of the $15,192,810 portion for 310 faith-based and community organizations under the CCF Targeted Capacity-building Program. These funds will improve their ability as a rural community service provider to deliver services to young fathers through the LifeHouse Pregnancy Center in Paragould. Ten new mentors will be trained to expand an already successful pilot program at LifeHouse.
The Center’s own facility will also receive much needed furnishings, equipment, software and supplies to carry out their work in the community. Training for board members and their new director, Dr. Matthew Crain, will insure that they can be a viable force for fathers and families for years to come. Dr. Crain and a yet-to-be-named assistant will be partially supported through these funds as well as the consultants for an ad-campaign and the training. Two workshops will also be included in the plans for developing the organization over the next 12 months.
“Faith-based and community groups know how to help people in their neighborhoods,” said HHS’ Director of the Office of Community Services, Josephine B. Robinson. The Compassion Capital Fund, a key component of President Bush’s faith-based and community initiative, is designed to help community organizations partner with the federal government to strengthen social services. Since the program began in 2002, $148 million has been given to more than 3,000 organizations including sub-awards from intermediary grantees. Only two other organizations in Arkansas received awards this year, both located in Little Rock.