Changing Ways, the lead clinical site for Caring Dads, generally hosts 2-day Basic Training for Caring Dads, twice a year (in the spring and fall) in London, Ontario, Canada.
Basic Training is appropriate for any professionals interested in working with fathers (including biological, step, common-law) who have who have physically abused, emotionally abused or neglected their children or exposed their children to domestic violence or who are deemed to be at high-risk for these behaviors. Our trainings commonly include batterer intervention program group leaders, child protection workers, counselors working within child and family mental health services, victim advocates, probation officers and their supervisors and managers. Other professionals that are sometimes involved include psychologists, violence prevention educators, substance abuse counselors, healthcare workers, police officers, native leaders, clergy and military personnel.
Basic Training by introducing participants to the principles and values that guide the Caring Dads program. We then move into interactive training on the program material. Role plays are used to demonstrate key exercises and participants have the chance to acquire and practice skills in leading group exercise.
Topics include:
- Need for intervention with fathers
- Caring dads principles and values
- Program eligibility
- Referral and intake process
- Review of program goals and associated exercises
- Goal 1: To develop sufficient trust and motivation to engage men in the process of examining their fathering
- Goal 2: To increase men's awareness of child-centered fathering
- Goal 3: To increase men's awareness of, and responsibility for, abusive and neglectful fathering and its impact on children
- Goal 4: Rebuilding trust and planning for the future
- Mother contact
- Coordinated case management
Course tuition includes continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments, as well as a Caring Dads program manual.
