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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 22, 2003
CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119
POLK COUNTY FATHERS AND FAMILIES COALITION TO HOLD CONFERENCE AT DRAKE MONDAY, SEPT. 29
The newly formed
Polk County Fathers and Families Coalition aims to bring together people
and organizations to identify
and promote services and target gaps so
that all children in Polk County thrive because they have healthy relationships
with both of their parents.
The coalition is sponsoring a conference from 8 to 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29,
in Drake University's Olmsted Center, 29th Street and University Avenue.
The conference will feature national experts such as Julie Baumgardner and
Rosario
Slack of First Things First in Chattanooga, Tenn. First Things First is a
nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening families in the Chattanooga
area. The
organization serves as a community resource that collaborates with and is
supported by a broad cross-section of community organizations groups and
individuals.
Baumgardner, executive director, of First Things First, will discuss "Mission
Possible: Changing Attitudes and Behaviors toward Marriage and Fatherhood." Slack,
director of fathering and urban initiatives for First Things First, will talk
about "Connecting with Urban Fathers and Teen Boys."
First Things First has been recognized as a national model for communities
wishing to form an initiative around healthy families, fatherhood, and marriage.
In addition to the representatives of First Things First, two additional
nationally recognized leaders in the fatherhood arena will be making presentations
at
the conference attendees. They are Ken R. Canfield, Ph.D., executive director
of the Kansas City-based National Center for Fathering, and Neil Tift, director
of professional advancement at the National Practitioners Network for Fathers
and Families in Washington, D.C.
Canfield's presentation will focus on "Responsible Fatherhood: How it
Affects Fathers, Mothers, Children and the Community We Live In." Tift
will discuss "Reconnecting Fathers with their Children."
The conference will give the attendees the opportunity to gain new insights
and perspectives from these experts through keynote speeches and interactive
breakout sessions. Attendees also will be informed of the work of the new
Polk County Fathers and Families Coalition and given the opportunity to join
the
group and work towards better outcomes for the children of Polk County through
the strengthening of fathers and family relationships.
For the past several months, a group of community representatives from business,
faith and community based organizations, human service agencies, corrections,
education, family violence, Head Start, #1 Question - Is it Good for the
Kids, and others have been meeting to talk about family needs in the Des
Moines area.
The group believes that the community will benefit when all children have
the opportunity to grow up in healthy relationships with both of their parents
even when one parent is no longer in the home. The goal of the conference
is
to learn how some other communities, states, and regions have succeeded in
achieving these stronger parental relationships and how local groups might
be able to work together to achieve this outcome in the Des Moines area.
Registration for the conference is $15. To register or obtain more information,
call (515) 271-2345. The registration deadline is 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept.
24.
The conference agenda is listed below:
DID YOU KNOW ...
CONFERENCE AGENDA
SEPTEMBER 29,2003