Strengthening families, communities by focusing on fathers
Nearly one in four U.S. children grow up without a father in the home – biological, adopted, or step – and there’s a group trying to change this alarming U.S. Census Bureau statistic. With locations in Lexington, Richland, Sumter, Orangeburg, and Aiken, serving 16 counties, the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition has been leading these efforts for more than 20 years.
The initiative began in the late 90s when three separate programs, all funded by the Sisters of Charity Foundation, were launched to support fathers and their families. In 2006, these three non-profit organizations merged to become the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition so they could align resources and expand their services. Midlands Fatherhood Coalition is a standalone non-profit that is a strategic partner of the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, which was also launched in the late 90s, thanks to funding from the Sisters of Charity. As the nation’s only statewide fatherhood network, the Center provides curriculum, training, and advocacy support to the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition and four additional fatherhood-focused programs that offer direct services in different areas of the state.
Why Fathers?
The National Fatherhood Initiative reports that the 17.6 million children who grow up without a father in the home are at risk for a range of adverse outcomes. These kids are more likely to live in poverty, have behavioral problems, face abuse and neglect, experience health challenges, commit a crime and go to jail, become a teen parent, abuse alcohol and drugs, suffer obesity, and drop out of school. Children whose fathers are present in their lives are protected from many of these negative impacts. In addition to having lower risk for the above outcomes, they are also less likely to be injured or die by suicide.
Organizations like the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition facilitate father involvement by fostering some of the key attributes that make their presence more likely. These factors include stable co-parenting relationships, support from friends, family and employers, positive marriages, open access to children, participation in a fatherhood or parenting program, internalizing fatherhood as a central identity, living with children, confidence in parenting abilities, and an absence of depression, drug or alcohol abuse, and domestic violence.
The presence of these attributes has positive effects on fathers, children, mothers, and other relatives, helping both families and communities thrive. Mothers of children whose fathers are present have healthier pregnancies, births, and post-partum outcomes and experience less stress, more leisure time, and higher marital satisfaction. Involved fathers are happier, live longer, have higher self-esteem, are more engaged in their community and have better physical and mental health. They are also more motivated to adopt healthier models of masculinity, secure stable jobs, save money, reduce alcohol and substance use, and strengthen family ties.
How They Help
With the goals of supporting fatherhood throughout the Midlands and engaging fathers to positively support their children, Midlands Fatherhood offers an array of services. Many fathers find the program on their own or through word of mouth. Some are referred by other agencies and organizations and others are part of the court-mandated Alternative to Incarceration Program, which has saved the communities they serve more than $5.8 million in the past five years. Regardless of how they find Midlands Fatherhood, each dad follows a step-by-step journey that addresses challenges and removes barriers to parental involvement from every angle.
After an initial orientation and assessment of his unique situation, a father works with an intervention specialist to set goals and actions. This is called the One-Man Plan. He then spends the next 24 weeks simultaneously engaged in three major areas of development.
Forty-four percent of fathers served by the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition are under or unemployed. Partnering with a staff member known as a Job Developer, the father works to find employment by receiving training in job seeking soft skills, getting any needed education or certifications, receiving support from Job Search Services, and addressing gaps in job qualifications. If he is already employed, the Job Developer helps him complete an assessment of his current employment and opportunities for advancement.
At the same time, each father participates in a Weekly Peer Support component guided by a community-based curriculum aimed at increasing knowledge and skills in the areas of parenting, economic stability, and relationships. This course also includes education related to men’s health, which is often overlooked or not prioritized due to the importance of more urgent concerns.
The final parallel component focuses on each father’s Individual Development. Here, the Intervention Specialist continues providing support to foster solutions to challenges faced by each individual. These services include facilitating transportation, access to screenings and other health care services, referrals to other community partners, mediation to increase interactions with children, navigating child support and court procedures, and organizing child/parent activities. Partnering organizations for these efforts include the Department of Social Services, the Administration for Children and Families, and the Office of Population Affairs.
While it takes several months to complete the program, the Program Completion Ceremony takes place every fall. However, continued support and an invitation to stay involved in the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition as a mentor or recruiter remains in place long after graduation.
Strengthening Families, Communities
Not all benefits of the Midlands Fatherhood Coalition can be measured, but the organization keeps track of key metrics that show communities, families, fathers, and donors how their support makes an impact. In 2024 they served 897 dads and a total of 480 service enrollees, with the $3,000 cost per participant completely offset by funding from federal grants, state contracts, private foundations, and individual donors. It is the only parenting program in the Midlands to be offered 100% free of charge. Midlands Fatherhood also assisted with nearly $182,000 in child support, saved $115,200 in incarceration alternatives, and contributed an estimated $30.1 million to the state.
In the past five years, the program has served more than 3,400 fathers. This work has positively impacted over 7,000 children in the Midlands. In this same time period, they have helped 1,200 fathers become employed and another 750 obtain higher-paying jobs so they can better support their children. Overall, 50% of fathers attain employment during their time in the program.
Angela McDuffie, CEO, has served fathers for over twenty years and recognizes the importance and unique nature of the needs of fathers. “We can stabilize a father who comes to us in crisis and help him meet his goals. While often related to custody, visitation, education, and employment needs, we can meet a father where he is, remove barriers to effective parenting, and empower him to reach his goals. Brighter futures for children are the end result and community support is critical.”
To continue and expand these impacts on the Midlands community, volunteers and donations are always welcome. While volunteers help make the everyday components of the program possible, financial contributions can be general or specific, such as sponsoring meals, holidays, and father-child activities, or contributing to the emergency needs fund.