Project Fatherhood

A father has a major impact on almost every aspect of a child’s well-being. Without fathers, children are:

• 5 times more likely to be poor;
• 2 to 3 times more likely to use drugs, and
• More than 2 times as likely to be incarcerated.

Nearly 50% of men in the Skid Row area are fathers, but many have poor to nonexistent relationships with their children. To address this critical societal issue, the Weingart Center Association now offers Project Fatherhood, a program that assists fathers in reconnecting and strengthening their relationship with their children.

Project Fatherhood helps bring fathers together with their children by addressing issues related to absenteeism, substance abuse, violence and trauma. Addressing the destruction of one’s past is one of the most important parts of anyone’s recovery, and having contact with their children often helps men stay clean and sober as well.

Project Fatherhood introduces men to their potential and strength as caring, nurturing parents, and teaches fathers that it’s not too late to reestablish a relationship with their children. Project Fatherhood provides supportive group sessions for fathers and well as separate groups for their children and the children’s significant others to facilitate a smooth family reunification.

Available to Fathers in Skid Row
Project Fatherhood is open to fathers in the Skid Row area, not just participants at the Weingart Center Association. Separate meetings for fathers, their children and the children’s current guardian are available at no cost and are held weekly. A licensed Marriage and Family Therapist conducts the discussion groups for men while group facilitators conduct the sessions for children and significant others.

WCA received a one-year grant from Children’s Institute, Inc. through Dr. Hershel Swinger, who created the Project Fatherhood model and recently launched the Project Fatherhood Community Grants Program in order to expand this vital service. WCA’s Project Fatherhood is the only program of its kind in the Skid Row area of Los Angeles.

To learn more about the program, contact the program manager at slux@weingart.org.