And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers… Malachi 4:6 (KJV)
 
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) TASC program is the only university-sponsored TASC program in the country and one of only two programs with partnerships in both substance abuse treatment and community corrections. UAB TASC serves a variety of adult and juvenile populations in all phases of the criminal justice system. Due to UAB TASC’s strong link with community corrections, the Birmingham Fatherhood Initiative was created in 2002. 

Several issues prompted the creation of this initiative, the most important being the results of a survey conducted with local TASC clients.

Additionally, in 2001, the Annie E.Casey Foundation, which helps disadvantaged children and their families,found that 31.7 percent of children in Alabama were living in a single-parent household. Combined with the fact that the Birmingham TASC program served 700 male offenders during the prior year, these figures presented a prime opportunity to promote improved family ties.The funding enabled the program to use an effective curriculum provided by the National Center for Fathering and to have staff trained as master trainers. The goals of the program are to teach responsible fathers holistic parenting, empower them to assume moral, spiritual, psychological and financial responsibility for their children, and turn dysfunctional fathers into functioning fathers.  

The program includes three key components. First, there are 13 educational and support sessions designed to provide opportunities for appropriate role play to increase knowledge of child development, parenting techniques and communication, and the assignment of a case manager to assist in meeting participant and family needs. Second, there are volunteer opportunities for participants who have successfully completed the 12-week program and express interest in group facilitation. Finally, there is continued support through Alumni Fathers, a peer-led support group that meets once a month and is responsible for planning father child activities and related events.

UAB TASC is creating new collaborations due to the Birmingham Fatherhood Initiative. Currently we have over 900 participants at 9 locations within the Birmingham/ Bessemer area. The Alethia House, Shepherd’s Fold, Birmingham. / Bessemer Family Court, 16th.Street Baptist Church and UAB TASC. (click here for Directory)

The initial goal of the Birmingham Fatherhood Initiative was to serve 325 noncustodial and custodial fathers involved in the Jefferson County criminal justice system. The target population was predominantly black (71 percent) and unmarried (52 percent). During the first six months of the program, 326 fathers were served. Steve Longenecker, the program director’s supervisor, lauded the coercive strategy of the program, stating that it “helps to be connected with the criminal justice system for men to participate.” The program measures performance based on the number of participants who report interacting with their children at least three times a week, the number of fathers who report helping their children with school work at least two times per week, and the number of participants who report spending at least one day a week engaged in a family activity.  

For additional information contact:

Ron Burt
Project Director, Birmingham / Bessemer Fatherhood Initiative
UAB TASC /Jefferson County's Community Corrections Program
Bessemer Court House Annex, Rm. 522
Office: (205) 481-8043
Cell: (205) 566-2223 (for quick response)
Fax: (205) 481-8044

This program is funded through a partnership between DHR and The Children’s Trust Fund of Alabama.

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