Children's Institute, Inc. Hosts 8th Annual Fatherhood Solutions Conference

USA - English

• France - Français

LOS ANGELES, June 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Engaging disadvantaged fathers and strengthening their parenting relationships will be the key issue for hundreds of attendees at the 8^th Annual Fatherhood Solution Conference on Friday, June 19. The event, presented by Baby Buggy and hosted by Children's Institute, Inc., (CII) will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Westin Los Angeles Airport Hotel, located at 5400 Century Blvd. Co-sponsors include First 5 LA.

The conference was the brainchild of the late Dr. Hershel K. Swinger, CII's Senior Vice President of Clinical Services, a leader in the field of clinical psychology and the founder of the agency's Project Fatherhood^SM. The program has provided help and support to more than 12,000 low-income, culturally diverse fathers, giving them the skills and confidence to rise above their life experiences and play a meaningful role in the lives of their children. Project Fatherhood^SM continues to be recognized nationally for effectively addressing the problem of absentee fathers. Eighteen community fathers will receive the Hershel K. Swinger Fatherhood Award at the noon plenary for their extraordinary commitment to fatherhood.

More than 500 child welfare professionals, nationally recognized experts, community activists and fathers are expected to attend. Keynote speakers include: Robert K. Ross, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, The California Endowment; Patrick Mitchell, internationally-recognized expert on optimizing male involvement in children's early development; and Terrence Roberts, PhD, psychologist and member of the Little Rock Nine (nine African-American students who desegregated Little Rock Central High School in 1957). Author and Social Welfare Professor Jorja Leap, PhD, of UCLA, will sign copies of her new book, Project Fatherhood.

Workshops will cover a variety of issues including: Cultural Specific Models of Service Delivery; What Every Father Needs to Know about Child Custody; and Re-entry Fathers: Their Unique Challenges and Solutions. More than 40 workshop presenters include: Dr. Joy DeGruy, author, educator and researcher; Keith Zafren, founder, The Great Dads Project; and David T. Pisarra, Esq., Men's Family Law. The event will also feature a Fatherhood Track (including Spanish/English sessions), designed specifically for fathers in attendance. The track includes, Fathers Supporting Fathers-Navigating the Child Welfare System, and the Impact of Domestic Violence on Children, and more.

Children's Institute, Inc. (CII) helps children in Los Angeles's most challenged communities heal from the trauma of family and community violence, build the confidence and skills to break through the barriers of poverty, and grow up to lead healthy, productive lives.  Established in 1906, CII now reaches more than 24,000 children and families each year through treatment, youth development, early childhood and family support services.  We also work to inform the larger field of children's services through the research and professional development efforts of our Leadership Center. For more information, visit www.childrensinstitute.org.

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SOURCE Children's Institute, Inc.

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http://www.childrensinstitute.org