(704) 336-3047
Client eligibility:
Any community individual, group or professional who desires education on a variety of wellness topics addressing mental illness, substance abuse and developmental disabilities.
Services:
- Quarterly community-wide calendar on prevention education/training presentations
- Act I Training: Child Protective and Substance Abuse Services Coordination
- Finding Common Ground: Training for HIV/SA/MH Professionals
- Reading Fathers Program
- Addressing Consumer Depression and Substance Abuse Issues
The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading - is reading aloud to children. Yet, only half of all infants and toddlers are routinely read to by their parents. And a recent survey found that only 10% of fathers read to their children. The Reading Fathers program seeks to change this trend, and help fathers develop closer relationships with their children by reading to them. The program gives fathers an opportunity to practice their reading skills ahead of time, as well as provides books to choose from.
The Reading Fathers Program is currently active in the Mecklenburg County Jail, and has met with success. After fathers have spent several hours preparing for the program, discussing their expectations, and practicing their reading skills, they are allowed an opportunity to have a contact visit with their child(ren). Reading is a major component of the visit.
Reading Fathers is in the process of developing reading clubs in Mecklenburg County Libraries where fathers come together to participate with their children in a reading program. If you are a father who would like to read more to your child, we would like you to join this program. You don't have to be an expert reader. The Reading Fathers Program will provide books, a "Tips for Dads" sheet that gives helpful suggestions for reading aloud to children, a link with the local branch of the public library, and an ongoing support group.
The Reading Fathers program is the recipient of two awards: the 2001 Dean Smith Award for Educational Excellence from WTVI Channel 42's Ready to Learn Service and the 2001 National Association of Counties Achievement Award.
