Fathers Empowered to Learn, Lead and Achieve Success (F.E.L.L.A.S.): A Community Approach to Prevent Family Violence

Background: Children who grow up without a father are more likely to live in poverty, become involved in criminal activity, including drug use, and become incarcerated in their lifetime. Those children are also more likely to experience emotional and physical abuse. Family violence among urban, low-income fathers is of serious concern and statistics show that most violent offenders are male.

The Irvington Family Development Center, a program of the Northern NJ Maternal/Child Health Consortium, is implementing a community-based fatherhood initiative in Essex County, NJ called the F.E.L.L.A.S. (Fathers Empowered to Learn, Lead and Achieve Success) Fatherhood Program.

Activities/Methods: The overall goal of the F.E.L.L.A.S. program is to prevent family violence (including child abuse and neglect) by empowering and supporting fathers through the following activities: individualized support; fathers support groups; fatherhood training via 24/7 Dad curriculum, and; a community advisory board (CAB).

Results: The F.E.L.L.A.S. program will enroll: 100 fathers in individualized support; 135 fathers in support groups; 135 fathers in the 24/7 Dad Course; and 15 fathers in the Community Advisory Board per program year. 90 participants per program activity (except CAB enrollment) will show an increase in knowledge and skills and progress towards set goals.

Conclusion: This program will assist fathers and fathers-to-be living in Essex County, NJ to develop the attitudes, knowledge, and skills they need to stay positively involved with their children. Program participants will also report having sustained newly acquired skills 6 months after completion of the 24/7 Dad Course.