Jan. 30, 2008

DEARBORN - The sixth annual Fatherhood Conference here begins a month-long celebration of fathers and the role they play in their children's lives.

Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm has proclaimed February 2008 as Responsible Fatherhood Awareness Month for the second year. Her proclamation will be read at the conference, held jointly by the Michigan Fatherhood Coalition and Michigan Head Start Coalition at the DoubleTree Hotel of Dearborn. The conference provides networking opportunities and workshops addressing the most current issues facing fathers and fatherhood professionals.

"Fathers are critical to helping children have better outcomes," said Duane Michael Wilson, who directs the Michigan Department of Human Services Proud Fathers-Proud Parents program. "While the importance of a mother's role in parenting goes without dispute, the role of the father is not always viewed as being vital. Males parent differently and we know children benefit as a result. There's a strong connection between the absence of father involvement and issues like juvenile delinquency, teenage pregnancy, academic performance and poor social skills."

Through the Proud Fathers-Proud Parents program, DHS provides funds for community agencies to deliver programming about responsible male parenting and other services designed to promote healthy marriages and co-parenting efforts. The state-wide program has been allocated $4.2 million for fiscal year 2008.

Proud Fathers provides 14 weeks of group-based instruction for fathers and other male caretakers of children who qualify for TANF services. Proud Parents offers ten weeks of instruction for married or unmarried couples. Both programs stress the importance of nurturing relationships between parents and children as well as family self-sufficiency.

The Fatherhood Conference will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday, Feb. 1. Cost is $55 and includes lunch. To find out more about the conference or to register to attend, call (810)-591-7232 or send an email to info@michiganfatherhood.org

For more information about the Department of Human Services, go to www.michigan.gov/dhs