Engaging System-Involved Fathers-Strategies for Effective Outreach, Communication, and Empowerment

Marya Wright, MSW, ASW

Training Description

This training is designed to provide those who support system involved youth with the knowledge, skills, and strategies needed to effectively engage system-involved fathers. Participants will learn about the common challenges faced by system-involved fathers, barriers to father engagement, the impact of lack of father involvement on children, and effective strategies for outreach and recruitment. Participants will also learn how to build trust with fathers and families, communicate effectively with fathers, empower fathers to be involved in their children's lives, and identify and connect fathers with resources and support. Case studies and success stories of effective father engagement programs will be discussed, and participants will have the opportunity to develop an action plan for improving father engagement in their own programs. The material will be delivered by PowerPoint presentation, short video clips, group discussion, breakout (small group) discussions and participant workbook (handout).

Learning Objectives

● Participants will be able to identify at least 2 effective strategies for addressing barriers to system-involved father engagement.

● Participants will acquire at least two effective strategies for building trust with fathers and families who are system-involved.

● Participants will acquire at least 2 skills for effective collaboration and partnership-building with community organizations when working with system-involved fathers.

Agenda

1:00 - 1:10pm  Welcome and Agenda

1:10 - 1:20pm  Objectives  and Learning Goals

1:20 - 1:35pm  Importance of Engaging System-Involved Fathers

1:35 - 1:45pm  Definition of System-Involved Fathers

1:45 - 2:00pm  Common Challenges Faced by System-Involved Fathers

2:00 - 2:15pm  Barriers to Father Engagement

2:15 - 2:30pm  Effective Strategies for Engaging System-Involved Fathers

2:30 - 2:45pm  BREAK (CE Hours will not be offered for this time)

2:45  - 3:00pm  Building trust with fathers and families

3:00 - 3:15pm  Effective communication and collaboration with fathers

3:15 - 3:30pm  Empowering fathers to be involved in their children’s lives

3:30 - 3:40pm  Best Practices in Father Engagement

3:40 - 3:50pm  Developing an Action Plan

3:50  - 4:00pm  Questions/Answers & Closing

Meet Our Trainer

Marya Wright, MSW, is a nationally distinguished social worker, consultant, educator, international trainer, and facilitator with experience in organizational leadership, child welfare services, and curriculum development. She is the President and CEO of Wright Community Services LLC, a company that strives to empower system-involved families through awareness, services, and education while also providing consultation, training, and system specific facilitation to the agencies that services these communities. She is a registered Associate Clinical Social Worker (#81167) with the Board of Behavioral Sciences working to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Marya holds a Master’s in Social Work from California State University, East Bay with a focus on Child Welfare Policy and Research and a Bachelor’s in Social Work with a focus on Child Welfare Services and Motivational Interviewing from San Diego State University. Marya is a qualified expert witness and private dependency investigator for children, youth, and family services as it relates to family law court, juvenile and dependency court. She is an elected Board of Director for the California Society of Clinical Social Work (CSCSW). Marya has conducted considerable research on Child Sexual Exploitation, Foster Care, and published an article on the use of algorithmic decision-making in child welfare. In addition to her clinical social work, Marya is a seasoned lecturer. She has taught in the Sociology Department at Cal State East Bay since Spring 2020. Her course load includes Sociology of Sexualities, Child Welfare Policy, Sociology of Family, and Sexual Violence.

This course meets the qualifications for (2.75) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.