DSS official outlines Connecticut fatherhood initiative and personal path to the work
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Summary
An agency official at the Department of Social Services described Connecticut’s fatherhood initiative—which serves more than 700 men annually—listed barriers to engagement and said his own childhood and parental experiences shaped the program’s goals.
An agency official at the Connecticut Department of Social Services outlined the state’s fatherhood initiative and described how his personal experience as a father informs the program.
The official said the initiative aims “to change systems that can improve the ability of fathers to be fully and positively involved in the lives of their children.” He described the programming arm as serving more than 700 individuals each year; participants have an average age of about 33 and typically have two children.
Why it matters: The official said the initiative focuses on systems change and direct supports because many fathers face multiple barriers to engagement. “Some of the barriers to their engagement are low education levels, criminal history, unemployment, lack of housing, child support debt, lack of transportation, and mental health and substance abuse issues, as well as food insecurities,” he said, listing the obstacles program staff see most often.
The official tied those policy observations to his life story. He described being raised by a 16-year-old mother, limited contact with his biological father and the emotional impact of that absence. He recounted becoming a father at 17 and later realizing that financial contributions were not a substitute for daily involvement after his son told him he was “playing catch with my dad.” The official said that moment prompted him to reconnect and remain engaged in his children’s lives.
The talk included examples of how involvement can change relationships: the speaker said he began visiting, writing letters and taking his son on trips, and that those efforts ‘‘made my heart grow’’ and changed how his son addressed him. He also described parenting a middle son with consistent caregiving and becoming a stepfather to a third son, emphasizing that an additional engaged adult can be a positive influence.
The official closed by urging supports for both parents and restating the initiative’s reach and goals. For more information, he directed listeners to the program website at www.ct.gov/fatherhood.
The remarks were delivered as a presentation by a Department of Social Services agency official; no formal votes or policy actions were recorded.
