Fatherhood Classes and Collaboration Started by the Center
In collaboration with Children’s Institute, Inc. (CII), a local non-profit specializing in the treatment and prevention of child abuse and neglect, the Harriett Buhai Center is working to address the problem of absentee fathers. Through “Project Fatherhood” the Center is helping to engage low-income dads in the care and upbringing of their children. Through the project, fathers learn to be more nurturing, responsible parents and active participants in their children’s lives.
The Center’s project specifically targets fathers who are completing cases in Children’s Court. A team from the Center teaches workshops on child support, custody and visitation.
Staff Attorney Katie Ojeda Stewart reflects on the Center’s new project: “The fathers have been among some of the most engaged students I have taught – they take copious notes, ask great questions, and use the class time to learn from each other’s lived experiences. I look forward to seeing how this partnership grows and how we can better serve the fatherhood community.”
The Center is uniquely qualified with its extensive history of providing legal education classes informing low-income persons about family law, providing them with tools to make informed decisions and increasing their awareness of community resources.