|
|
| Welcome to PAPÁS, Supporting Father Involvement and Co-parenting
What's new at PAPÁS ?
Find us on Facebook
Key Dates and Activities for June Fatherhood Month:
- Congratulation to 5th Annual Fatherhood Award nominees for 2013 (Click)
- Saturday, June 15th 7th Annual Father’s Day event and Fatherhood Award 18 W. Lake Ave Watsonville La Manzana Courtyard (Click)"Honoring Fathers, Celebrating Families"
- Saturday, June 15th 101 Fathers Community Campaign survey publication by Register Pajaronian
- Saturday, June 22nd 2nd Annual Father Daughter Dance at MAH 705 Front St Downtown Santa Cruz. (Click)
- Saturday, June 29th Family Movie Night at 225 Westridge Dr, Watsonville (Click)
- Saturday, June 29th Sin Padre: A Night of Entertainment // SCREENING in SAN JOSE at 1700 Alum Rock Ave, San Jose (Click) PAPÁS is proud to support and promote Sin Padre: Winner of the Audience Award San Francisco Latino File Festival 2012.
- Friday, June 7th deadline for Fatherhood Award nomination (Click) Nominate a Dad or Papa who goes above and beyond his duties as a dad and a community member. Nominations are due June 5th!
- Friday, June 7th deadline for 101 Fathers Community Campaign (Click)The 101 Fathers and Father-Figure Community Campaign is produced by PAPÁS Supporting Father Involvement in honor of celebrating Father's Day. The goal of the campaign is to promote positive father involvement through the voices of our local fathers and father-figures in our community.
- Saturday, June 1st Fatherhood Pancake Breakfast at 225 Westridge Dr, Watsonville (Click)
- Saturday, June 8th Fatherhood Pancake Breakfast at 175 Benito Ave, Santa Cruz (Click)
|
| Welcome to PAPÁS, Supporting Father Involvement and Co-parentingPAPÁS, Supporting Father Involvement (S.F.I.) celebrates its 10th year Anniversary in providing educational, advocacy and social change work in Santa Cruz County. PAPÁS, S.F.I is a program committed to the promotion and enhancement of positive father involvement, co-parenting and father-friendliness community for well being of children in our community. PAPÁS provides fathers and father-figures a place to expand their circles of support, gain parenting and co-parenting skills and strengthen their father-child relationship and bond. In addition to providing direct support to families, PAPÁS will continue to be the leading voice in ensuring that services in our community have a father-friendliness focus.Thank you for making a difference – dads and kids need each other! |
A program of Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center (SCCCC) agency a 501(c) (3) charitable organization
|
There are no substitutes for the benefits a child receives as a result of having a positive father or father figure in their life. Children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, having healthy self-esteem, exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior, and avoid high-risk behaviors. Research literature generally supports the claim that a loving and nurturing father improves outcomes of children, families and communities.
It is estimated that in the United States 24 million children (34 percent) that one out three child live without their biological father. Locally, over 28 percent of the children living in Santa Cruz County are being raised in single parent families, and of those 3,281 are between the ages of 0 to 5. Children who live in homes with absent biological fathers are:
- 71% of all high school dropouts come from fatherless homes
- 75% of all adolescent patients in chemical abuse centers come from fatherless homes
- 85% of all youths in prisons grew up in a fatherless home
- 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes
- 90% of all children are from fatherless homes
PAPÁS, SFI was a part of a state-wide (5 counties) study aiming to positively increase fathers' involvement in their family's lives. We have completed 9 year research project with researchers from Yale University, Smith and U.C .Berkeley to provide evidence-based parent education, father involvement curriculum and father friendly strategies and tools. Until June 2012 the program was supported and funded by the California Department Social Services the Office of Child Abuse Prevention.
Currently, PAPÁS, S.F.I. is a community based, locally supported and funded, evidence based fatherhood program as of July 2012. We promote positive father involvement and co-parenting with emphasis on developing a father friendly social services and community at large. We offer a networking and support groups for fathers and father –figures in their role as care taker, provider and role model to promote father-child connection, relationship and attachment. We offer communication and parenting workshops to encourage and nurture co-parenting skills and attitudes, toward a health marriage and stronger families.
The program is a part of Santa Cruz Community Counseling Center (SCCCC) agency a 501(c) (3) charitable organization. All contributions to PAPAS are tax-deductible.
This website is intended as a resource to learn about our program and support positive father involvement. If you or someone you known need our support or our services please feel free to contact as on how you or they can be a part of PAPÁS, at email us at papassfi@scccc.org or call us 831-763-3123.
Thank you very much and ¡muchas gracias Santa Cruz County Community! PAPÁS Supporting Father Involvement program’s campaign for sustainability was a great success. With the loss of State funding, we needed to find alternative resources. The $30,000 challenge grants provided by George and Gail Ow and the Webster Family Foundation ignited the support of our community and we are grateful for their early investment in our efforts. The County Board of Supervisors awarded a new grant to PAPÁS for $35,000 in recognition of PAPÁS’ important impact on the well-being of families in Santa Cruz County. More than $70,000 was committed from individual donations ranging from $5 to $15,000. We are so thankful to everyone for their support! |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| 101 Fathers and Father-figures speak |
- 1. Name: Bill Monning
- 2. Occupation: California State Assembly member
- 3. How many children do you have or you are father-figure for? 2 daughters
- 4. What does fatherhood mean to you?
- Fatherhood represents one of life's greatest joys and one of life's most humbling responsibilities. I feel incredibly fortunate to have 2, healthy, adult daughters with whom I enjoy a very close and mutually supportive relationship.
- 5. What is the best part of being a father or father figure?
- The joy of watching a child grow from infancy and dependence to adulthood and independence.
- 6. What is the challenging part of being a father or father figure?
- Realizing that a father or father figure is a role model 24/7 - all the time. As human beings we manifest our frailties and it is important that children see how we deal with disappointment, challenges, loss, and life as well as how we display love, joy, and the fulfillment in giving to others.
- 7. What advice do you have for fathers or father figures in our community?
- Realize that you have not only a tremendous responsibility, but also a gift to teach and learn from your children. By being mindful of presenting a strong role model, children can help us to become better individuals and better members of our communities.
- 1. Name: Greg Caput
- 2. Occupation: Santa Cruz County Supervise, District 4
- 3. How many children do you have? 3
- 4. What does fatherhood mean to you?
- Fatherhood means raising children into the world and providing them with safety, protection, guidance and most importantly love. As a father, I hope to give my children security in their selves and the confidence and fortitude to enter the world capable and productively.
- 5. What is the best part of being a father or father figure?
- The best part of being a father is all the smiles and hugs. Seeing my children being happy and well cared for gives me happiness that I lived most of my life not knowing. I also love that I am able to teach them all the values and morals that I myself was taught and instill in them notions of charity and hard work. It's a great joy to incorporate them into the many traditions I was introduced to and I have learned and shared some new traditions with them as well
- 6. What advice do you have for fathers or father figures in our community?
- The advice I would give to fathers is to love the most when loving is the hardest. Concentrate more on controlling your own emotions as opposed to those of your child and in doing so your child will find comfort and grow confidence in you. Make sure that your child always knows that they are loved.
- 1. Name: Neal Coonerty
- 2. Occupation: Santa Cruz County Supervise, District 3
- 3. How many children to you have? 2 - son Ryan Coonerty & daughter Casey Coonerty Protti
- 4. What does fatherhood mean to you?
- I love being a Dad. As a father I was able to insure my children had a childhood filled with love, family and community. I was able to share my childrens' lives as they discovered the world. I was able to show them my values while watching them become the strong individuals with their own values. Being a Dad is the best thing in the whole wide world.
- 5. What is the best part of being a father or father figure?
- At this point in my life, the best part about being a father may be that it leads to an opportunity to be a Grandpa. I now have 2 grandchildren, Claire, age 3, and Devin, 10 months. They both live in Santa Cruz and they are a joy to spoil. When their parents need a bit of a break, my wife and I love to spend some time with our grandkids and go to the park, take a walk or read a book together.
- 1. Name: John Leopold
- 2. Occupation: Santa Cruz County Supervise, District 1
- 3. How many children? Two girls, Rose, 16 and Ana, 11
- 4. What does fatherhood mean to you?
- Fatherhood means a chance to share the world and its wonderful experiences with my daughters and to help train the next generation to care for this community and the planet.
- 5. What is the best part of being a father or father-figure?
- The best part of being a father for me is the opportunity to share a loving relationship with my daughters that helps us all live and learn and grow together. I enjoy sharing experiences with my daughters that builds a mutual appreciation for all that is around us. I enjoy being able to introduce them to new ideas, experiences and adventures. From tide pooling together, to dancing together to watching a baseball game together, we get to build a shared experience that wraps our lives into a whole family.
- 6. What advice do you have for fathers or father-figures in our community?
- Don't let anyone else define your experience with your children. Be open to new experiences and look for opportunities to build a shared history with your children. The time that you spend with your children is precious so don't waste any of it. Live it, love it, and you'll remember it always!
- 1. Name: Mark Stone
- 2. Occupation: Santa Cruz County Supervise, District 5
- 3. How many children do you have? Two, Melissa (19) and Byron (16)
- 4. What does fatherhood mean to you?
- Fatherhood is a blessing and an obligation. In my life, there has been no greater blessing than watching my children grow into young adults. I am so proud to see them use lessons that I have taught them and equally proud to see them learn for themselves. The obligation is both to them and to my wife Kathy. Kids need to make their own mistakes and the best that we can do is to give them the tools to learn from those mistakes and, hopefully, avoid some of the mistakes that we made. My obligation to my wife is to share the burden, be a partner in the marriage and model for our children how a family works together and supports each member in their own endeavors.
- 5. What is the best part of being a father or father figure?
- The best part has been watching my children grow and mature, each becoming their own person. I have tried to give them a strong foundation from which they can grow in their own ways. The more confidence that they have in that foundation, the further they will go of their own accord.
- 6. What is the challenging part of being a father or father figure?
- The hardest part has been watching my children when they are sick, hurt or upset. I cannot always solve their problems, nor should I. Nothing breaks my heart more than seeing one of my children suffer any injury or hurt.
- 7. What advice do you have for fathers or father figures in our community?
- We each need to learn to let go, though not all at once. We need to trust the tools that we give our children to take them on their own journey. The more that we trust in those lessons and we trust and respect them, the closer our ties will be in the future.
- 1. Name: Brian King
- 2. Occupation: President, Cabrillo College
- Don't let anyone else define your experience with your children. Be open to new experiences and look for opportunities to build a shared history with your children. The time that you spend with your children is precious so don't waste any of it. Live it, love it, and you'll remember it always!
- 3. How many children do you have? Two, ten-year old daughter, Celia, and a nine-year old son, Christian.
- 4. What does fatherhood mean to you?
- Being a father is the most important role in my life right now. It is incredibly satisfying to watch my children grow and mature, and to model the kind of behavior and attitudes I expect from them. Kids are great at spotting hypocrisy, so it makes me even more aware that my words and actions need to be consistent.
- 5. What is the best part of being a father or father figure?
- Someone said we teach what we are learning ourselves. The best part of being a father is having the blessing and responsibility of teaching my kids how be healthy, happy, helpful little people. In the process of being a parent, I learn so much from the children about life and how to remain curious and excited about life. Before my wife Cristina and I had our two kids, I always thought it would be fun to be a father. The reality of being a father has been even more challenging and rewarding than I could have imagined.
- 1. Name: Michael C. Watkins
- 2. Occupation: Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools
- 3. How many children do you have? 2
- 4. What does fatherhood mean to you?
- Fatherhood means many things me to; it is very hard to encapsulate those thoughts into just a few sentences, but I will try. First of all it means responsibility. Once one embarks on the journey of parenthood it is a commitment for life, especially in the early and formative years when a child is so dependent on a parent. It is love, understanding and patience. It is giving without expecting something in return. And fatherhood should be viewed as a wonder not a duty or chore. There is no more important job on the planet than being the best father that one can possibly be.
- 1. Name: David Terrazas
- 2. Occupation: Santa Cruz City Council member
- 3. How many children do you have? Three - Two daughters and a son.
- 4. What does fatherhood mean to you?
- Fatherhood means taking an active, involved and fully engaged role in the lives of your children. Helping them to learn to express themselves as individuals while they are young and to strengthen the foundation for them to fully realize their potential as they become young adults.
- 5. What is the best part of being a father or father figure?
- Watching the kids grow as they experience the world and all of its wonders for the first time.
- 6. What is the challenging part of being a father or father figure?
- Fatherhood is a full-time job no matter what else is happening in your life. How we communicate and respond during the tough times, expressing positive ways to deal with conflict or challenges, models important behavior for kids to learn early on and to practice throughout life. Being patient and learning from your children helps to strengthen relationships and to encourage open communication.
- 7. What advice do you have for fathers or father figures in our community?
- Being a father is one of the greatest challenges and most incredibly rewarding experiences in life.Take the time to enjoy your children and their interests. Being a strong role model for your kids means sharing with them all of the joys and challenges of life. Building a strong parental relationship requires participation.
- 1. Name: Manny Solano
- 2. Occupation: Chief of Police
- 3. How many children do you have? 3 sons
- 4. What does fatherhood mean to you?
- Being a father I've found is much more than just providing for their basic needs, it pointing them in the right direction, toward a worthwhile goal, and then, standing back and acting as their coach and cheerleader
- 5. What advice do you have for fathers or father figures in our community?
- Understand what motivates and interest each individual child and then make time to show them you care by planning a fun activity free of distractions like cell phones and email. Spending quality time with dad is more precious than any gift you can buy
- 1. Name: Ryan Coonerty
- 2. Occupation: Former Mayor, City of Santa Cruz
- 3. How many children do you have? One on the way in September
- 4. What does fatherhood mean to you?
- I'm just on the verge of becoming a father, so right now the prospect of fatherhood is pure excitement. I can't wait to be a father with all of the responsibilities, joy and adventures that come with it.
- 5. What is the best part of being a father or father figure?
- I look forward to the chance to discover the world again through my daughter's eyes.
- 6. What is the challenging part of being a father or father figure?
- It will be making sure that I set everything aside and give my full attention to this person who is counting on me... and a lack of sleep.
- 7. What advice do you have for fathers or father figures in our community?
- This community is extraordinary. We have unparalleled natural beauty, a tremendous sense of community, and thriving arts and culture. I'm so thankful to have had the opportunity to be raised in Santa Cruz. Give your children a chance to experience all that this community has to offer and they will be better people.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
Translate to Spanish