The Children’s Institute (CII) will host its fifth annual Fatherhood Solutions Conference on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Sheraton in downtown Los Angeles. Themed, “Strengthening Relationships Between Fathers and Their Children,” “the event will feature America’s Court television judge Kevin Ross as keynote speaker. He will talk to an audience of more than 400 Los Angeles-based community service providers, including probation officers, social workers, policy advocates, government representatives, mental health and public health professionals, and concerned community members.
Conference highlights include an opening address from father and ‘Great Beginnings for Black Babies’ board member Daniel Tabor.
In addition, the CII will welcome John A. Powell, executive director of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State University. Powell is a nationally recognized scholar whose work explores the intersection of race and poverty, race and housing policy, and the use of racial categories.
Other speakers include Dr. Bill Releford, of the Releford Institute for Limb Salvage and Wound Care; Dr. Charles Morgan of the Los Angeles Mission; Pastor Ivory Brown of Memorial Temple/ Project: Caring & Sharing; as well as Dr. Ronald Banks and Anthony Young from CII’s Project Fatherhood.
Topics to be explored are: Engaging Fathers in Children’s Social Services; Father Involvement in Homeless Families; Breaking the Fatherhood Stereotypes: Cultural Competence; a Father’s Role in Stopping Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Bullying; a Focus on Prevention: Collaboration Between Fatherhood and Domestic Violence Programs; Project Fatherhood in a School Setting; Daddy Has Rights, Too: A Fatherhood Legal Perspective and more.
A complete schedule including topics and speakers can be found online at http://www.childrensinstitute.org/events/details/68.
The Fatherhood Solutions conference is a effort of the CII’s Project Fatherhood(SM), a nationally recognized program that gives fathers the opportunity to play a meaningful role in their children’s lives.
According to CII Project Fatherhood (SM) director Alan-Michael Graves, the program serves at-risk children, youth and families throughout Los Angeles County. “Over the past few years, we’ve grown tremendously as the need has grown in our communities,” explains Graves. “We have centers in Watts and in the San Pedro/Long Beach area as well as in 11 early childhood centers and more than 60 family childcare homes throughout the county.”
CII specializes in working with children, youth and families who have been affected by trauma.
For more information on this year’s conference including how to attend, call (213) 260-7604.
