Educational Services Of Hampton Roads Inc

EDUCATIONAL SERVICES OF HAMPTON ROADS, INC. PRIMARY PURPOSE - PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, TRAINING AND ADVOCACY SERVICES TO FAMILIES IN THE HAMPTON ROADS AREA. PRIMARY PROJECT - THE FATHERHOOD-MENTORING INITIATIVE PROGRAM IN CONJUNCTION WITH PORTSMOUTH DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR FATHERS TO INTERACT WITH OTHER FATHERS GAINING PARENTING SKILLS IN A FUN AND POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT. THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE PROVIDED AS BOTH A MEANS TO IMPROVE FAMILY RELATIONS AND AS A WAY TO PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF FATHERS BEING ACTIVE IN THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN. FATHERHOOD SKILL BUILDING SESSIONS ARE OFFERED THROUGH THE PROGRAM CURRICULUM. THE CURRICULUM FOCUSES UPON THE PREMISE THAT EVERY FATHER NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND THE UNIVERSAL ASPECTS OF FATHERHOOD SO THAT MEN OF ALL CULTURES, RACES, RELIGIONS AND BACKGROUNDS CAN LEARN TO BE EFFECTIVE FATHERS. PARTICIPANTS WILL HONE THEIR FATHERING SKILLS AS THEY LEARN ABOUT BEING A BETTER MAN AND THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT FATHERS PLAY IN THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILY. IN ADDITION, PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN IMPORTANT WAYS TO STRENGTHEN THEIR RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEIR WIVES OR CHILDREN'S MOTHERS. FURTHERMORE, THE PROGRAM SHOWS PARTICIPANTS HOW TO DEVELOP EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO MANAGE THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH AND TO HELP THEM BALANCE THEIR WORK AND FAMILY COMMITMENTS. IN ADDITION, WITH THE HELP OF PROJECT FACILITATORS AND OTHER PARTICIPATING FATHERS, THE FATHERHOOD-MENTORING PROGRAM WILL HELP MEN BEGIN THE PROCESS OF GROWTH THROUGH TRAINING STRATEGIES. THIS IS ALL NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE EFFORTS OF MEN IN THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH TO BECOME BETTER CITIZENS AND BETTER FATHERS TO THEIR CHILDREN. IN ADDITION, THE PROGRAM ALSO PROVIDES INFORMATION ON POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION, FINANCIAL AID, EMPLOYMENT AND APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. THERE ARE THREE TEN-WEEK SESSIONS PROVIDED FROM SEPTEMBER TO JUNE THAT SERVE AN AVERAGE OF 60 MEN PER YEAR. ALL SERVICES ARE FREE TO THE PARTICIPANTS.