MAYOR BLOOMBERG HONORS OUTSTANDING NEW YORK CITY FATHERS WITH 2013 DADS MATTER AWARDS Ten Fathers Awarded as Key Milestones Announced in Fatherhood Initiative Programs

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Linda I. Gibbs, Citywide Fatherhood Services Coordinator Alan S. Farrell and Young Men’s Initiative Director Jahmani Hylton today honored ten fathers at the 2013 NYC Dads Matter Awards, the third annual celebration of fathers who overcome challenges to become positive and consistent forces in their children’s lives. Mayor Bloomberg also announced that the CUNY Fatherhood Academy and Department of Homeless Services Fatherhood Services Support Groups—Young Men’s Initiative and NYC Dads programs which both launched in 2012—have met or exceeded their goals over their first year; more than 40 percent of CUNY Fatherhood Academy participants have either secured job placements or earned their GED. The Award recipients were honored in a ceremony at Gracie Mansion.

“Two parents in a child’s life gives young people a better chance of staying in school, staying out of trouble with the law, waiting to have a child themselves and fulfilling their potential,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “That’s why New York City has been working to make sure more young New Yorkers have strong relationships with their fathers by helping connect dads with good jobs, providing opportunities for fathers to strengthen bonds with their kids and connecting dads with resources that help them do the most important job in the world: being a good parent and positive role model.”

“On Father’s Day this weekend, children and families will recognize and thank the men who have helped shape their lives,” said Deputy Mayor Gibbs. “The City is proud today to recognize and thank a special group of fathers who exemplify our values when it comes to caring for, supporting and connecting with our children.”

“Today, New York City joins us as we celebrate how the love and commitment of our 10 Dads Matter Honorees have been catalysts for hope and continued child well-being in the lives of their families and their communities,” Citywide Fatherhood Services Coordinator Alan S. Farrell. “These men are truly ambassadors of transformation and represent the best examples of responsible fatherhood. As NYC Dads - The Mayor’s Fatherhood Initiative begins its 3rd year we encourage our schools, houses of worship and other community based organizations to take the lead in their neighborhood and lift up other fathers who are making a difference. We remain dedicated to identifying agency practices and policies that serve as barriers to our fathers becoming all they can be as men and as dads and reaffirm our vision of New York as a more father and family friendly city.”

“On behalf of the Young Men’s Initiative, I want to acknowledge and congratulate these fathers and all fathers that play an active role in the lives of their children,” said Young Men’s Initiative Director Jahmani Hylton. “Fathers that are present in the lives of the children help strengthen families and communities. They also serve as positive role models for youth, particularly black and Latino young men. NYC Dads matter to much more than their families, they matter to our city.”

“NYC’s Child Support Enforcement Program is nationally recognized as one of the strongest anti-poverty programs right behind the Earned Income Tax Credit. In 2012, the program collected more than $739 million for New York City families and assisted a quarter of a million children, helping to keep many of them out of poverty,” said Human Resources Administration Commissioner Robert Doar. “Children who have the emotional and financial support of both parents do better on every indicator of success, like staying in school and getting better grades, which is why our collections record and our co-parenting initiatives like The Parent Pledge Project mean so much to our agency and reaffirm our commitment to NYC families.”

“I join in extending my congratulations to the ten inspiring fathers who were honored today at the NYC Dads Matter Awards,” said Ronald E. Richter, Commissioner of the Administration for Children’s Services. “Children’s Services recognizes that there are more and more fathers playing an active, positive role in the lives of their children, and helping to improve the work that we can achieve together. Engaging fathers at all levels of our work helps to build stronger families, and brightens the future of New York City’s children and youth.” 

“Since 2002, the Department of Youth and Community Development and our Fatherhood Initiative have supported high quality programs committed to reconnecting non-custodial dads with their kids, teaching them effective co-parenting skills, and providing a pathway to good jobs and an education to help them support their children emotionally and financially,” said Department of Youth and Community Development Commissioner Jeanne B. Mulgrav. “The ten outstanding fathers being honored this year are shining examples of why dads matter, and I applaud them for inspiring all of us to become better parents, guardians and role models to our young people.”

“Fatherhood support groups in shelter give dads an extraordinary opportunity to share their experiences and resources with each other, influence positive behaviors among members of the group and encourage healthy family activities,” said Homeless Services Commissioner Seth Diamond. “It’s those kinds of peer interactions that can transform an otherwise difficult time in one’s life into an opportunity for achievement.”

The 2013 Dads Matter honorees were chosen from more than 175 nominated fathers submitted by individuals, City agencies and community programs in the five boroughs. The selected fathers – who range from community educators to U.S. Marines – include Stephen Aponte, father of Jose Aponte, a six year NYPD veteran. A resident of the Bronx, Aponte is an adoptive father of five sons who offers support and counsel to other adoptive parents in his community.

In announcing the 2012 NYC Dads Matter Awards last year, Mayor Bloomberg launched new programs to increase opportunities for fathers and their children: the Fatherhood Academy at LaGuardia Community College, where CUNY prepares 18-24 year old fathers for employment and for entry into higher education by connecting young fathers to services on a college campus; and Fatherhood Support Groups, a partnership with the Department of Homeless Services establishing services in 10 family shelters and three adult sites aimed at increasing employment and independent living, along with increasing self-confidence among men in shelter and assisting in the creation of memorable moments between fathers and their children.

Each of these programs met or exceeded their targets in 2012. In the first year of the CUNY Fatherhood Academy pilot program, more than 37 percent of CUNY Fatherhood Academy participants were placed in jobs over the program’s first year, earning an average wage of $9.20 per hour. Additionally, nearly 30 percent of participants have earned their GED. Fatherhood Support Groups expanded to 24 shelters citywide, where Homeless Services staff and social workers encourage employment through work readiness and job referral services. The Department of Homeless Services also partnered with Carnegie Hall to launch Carnegie Hall Family Concerts, a series designed to support NYC Dads with unique opportunities for fathers to create memorable moments with their children.

Also launched in 2012, The Parent Pledge Project is an innovative community-based approach that brings parents together to address parenting and child support issues in a non-adversarial environment. Research shows that children perform better on every social indicator when both parents are actively involved in their lives financially and emotionally and that fathers who pay child support are more likely to be involved in their children’s lives and are more motivated to obtain and retain work. Enrollment in the program is ongoing, with a substantial increase in participants expected over the course of 2013.

In June of 2010, Mayor Bloomberg launched NYC Dads to strengthen New York City families by helping fathers be active in their children’s lives. Fourteen City agencies (the Administration for Children’s Services, City University of New York, Department for the Aging, Department of Corrections, Department of Education, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Health and Hospitals Corporation, Department of Homeless Services, NYC Housing Authority, Human Resources Administration, NYPD’s Community Affairs Bureau, Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Probation and the Department of Youth & Community Development) were directed to form a task force – the Fatherhood Initiative Working Group – to review their policies and practices to make sure fathers are not unintentionally excluded from or missing opportunities to engage in their children’s lives. The task force was charged with creating opportunities within each agency and through interagency collaborations to support fathers as they increase their capacity to be good dads. NYC Dads’ new initiatives are a result of these robust cross-agency collaborations.

The NYC Dads Matter Awards support the goals of the Young Men’s Initiative. Through an innovative public-private partnership, including contributions from Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Campaign for Black Male Achievement at the Open Society Foundation, the City is investing more than $127 million over a three year period to support new programs and policies designed to address disparities between young black and Latino men and their peers across numerous outcomes related to education, health, employment, and the criminal justice system.