Important Roles for Fathers, Grandfathers, and Father Figures in Families, Programs and Systems
3:00-3:30 p.m. ET / 2:00-2:30 p.m. CT / 1:00-1:30 p.m. MT / 12:00-12:30 p.m. PT / 9:00-9:30 a.m. HT (view your time zone)
DESCRIPTION
This webinar will cover multigenerational approaches to systems change grounded in the assumption that the health of young children depends on the health of caregivers—including custodial and non-custodial fathers and father figures, grandparents, and other kinship caregivers. We will meet David Armstrong, a grandfather who accompanied his grandson, DeAndre, on his journey through school, health, and behavioral health systems. Mr. Armstrong will describe how his advocacy for sustaining appropriate early childhood and school-age services and supports for DeAndre grew into leadership roles in local and national systems-building work. We will discuss how the case of one family highlights the importance of including nontraditional caregivers as partners in our efforts to keep family voice and needs at the center of our systems transformations work.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- The experience of fathers, grandfathers, and father figures in accessing supports in child-serving systems that are designed for mothers and children
- The value of partnering with fathers and grandfathers in children’s mental health systems transformation work
- How to incorporate a multi-generational approach into your SOC
INTENDED AUDIENCE:
- Grantees who are building and expanding family partnerships in ways that are inclusive of fathers and grandparents as key stakeholders in guiding services, management, and policymaking
- Community partners who are interested in learning more about how to leverage the experience of fathers and grandparents in system of care (SOC) work
MEET THE FACILITATORS
DAVID ARMSTRONG After David Armstrong and his wife became full-time guardians to their grandchild with special healthcare needs, this passionate grandfather turned the challenges of navigating multiple service systems into an opportunity to contribute to state and national policy. From president of the PTA at his grandson’s elementary school, to multiple speaking roles at national research conferences, David has served in a range of leadership roles at the local and national level. Over the years, David has worked tirelessly to advocate for better supports and services that can more comprehensively meet the needs of children and families.
PAMALA TRIVEDI is a licensed psychologist, nationally certified school psychologist, policy expert, and applied behavioral health researcher with more than two decades of experience supporting young children and their families. Pamala is committed to strengths-based, resilience-focused approaches, and brings a national policy lens to her work in building and sustaining early childhood systems. Pamala’s interest in leveraging the strengths of fathers, father figures, grandparents and kinship caregivers in systems-building springs from her work in examining natural family and community strengths to buffer the effects of early adversity. Pamala is currently a research faculty member at Georgetown University’s Center for Child and Human Development. As the mom of a child with behavioral health needs, Pamala has been a tireless advocate for embedding social-emotional supports inclusive educational settings.
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