Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood's Annual Symposium Gives Survival Tactics for Single Dads

CHICAGO, Dec. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Governor-appointed Chairman Jeffery M. Leving will host the Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood's (ICRF) annual symposium on December 8^th starting at 2PM at the Hyde Park Art Center, 5020 South Cornell Avenue in Chicago. This free symposium will focus on critical issues facing single and divorced fathers today. The council's goal is to increase the number of children in Illinois that grow up with a responsible father in their lives.

The symposium is comprised of a series of professionals who will present on a wide range of fatherhood-related topics including the benefits of mediation over litigation, surviving DCFS investigations and empowering fathers. The council is made up of experts from all facets of the professional world, each immensely dedicated to supporting single and divorced dads in Illinois.

Chairman Leving, attorney and author of the book How to Be a Good Divorced Dad (Jossey-Bass 2012), has spent his life making significant strides for paternal involvement.

"Absentee fathers are an all too common issue that needs to be remedied. The ICRF is here to provide a solution by promoting positive involvement and contributing resources to support fathers," said Chairman Leving.

Positive father involvement has been shown to improve test scores, reduce the likelihood of teenage pregnancy, and encourage confidence in children. Chairman Leving and council members of ICRF want to ensure that fathers recognize how critical they are in their children's futures and their success as positive members of their community.

The statewide symposium will be held at Hyde Park Art Center on December 8, 2012 from 2PM – 4PM. The Hyde Park Art Center is located at 5020 South Cornell Avenue in Chicago. This community event is open to the public and there is no fee to attend. It is important to RSVP as space is limited.

For more information, go to www.responsiblefatherhood.illinois.gov .

Attorney Jeffery M. Leving is a pioneer in fathers' rights, co-authoring the Illinois Joint Custody Law. Follow him at @fathersmatter on Twitter.

To schedule an interview with an ICRF representative, please contact Jennifer Whiteside at 312.296.3666.  

SOURCE The Illinois Council on Responsible Fatherhood