Engaging Fathers in the Behavioral Health Recovery Process for Youth

WASHINGTON DADS - 2012

Engaging Fathers in the Behavioral Health Recovery

Process for YouthA Practical Perspective

1H1

WASHINGTON DADS - 2012 2

Mission: To Educate and empower Dad, Families and Communities to Improve Behavioral Health for Children, Youth and their Families.

Vision: Washington Dads is the Premier Organization Supporting Male Care Givers for Behavioral Health

Washington Dads


Explore the perspective and challenges of men who are raising behaviorally challenging children

Discover helpful practices to engage men in positive collaboration in the recovery process for children and their families.

Objectives


Behavioral health challenges create stress among family members

Men and women respond differently to stress

Different responses justify different solutions

True or False?


Parenting practices aren’t working Frequent calls from school staff Balancing work/home responsibilities Limited insurance benefits Costly property repairs Family safety concerns Transition to adulthood Criminal activity

Situations creating stress


Behavior30%

Academics17%

Property damage7%

Substance abuse17%

Legal issues13%

Inter-family rela-tionships

13%

Running away3%

Prominent Issues at home with your child:

6H2


Support group31%

Special needs train-ing

15%Financial aid12%

Respite19%

Resources12%

Different program/therapy

8% In-patient program4%

Which of the following do you think would help?

7H3


Fathers feel responsible◦ Dads are role models

Built to fix the problem and move on

Why stress out?


Functional magnetic resonance imaging of men and women under stress showed neuroscientists how their brains differed in response to stressful situations. In men, increased blood flow to the left orbit frontal cortex suggested activation of the "fight or flight" response. In women, stress activated the limbic system, which is associated with emotional responses.

ScienceDaily.com

Male Response to Stress


Numerous studies have shown that there is no real difference in the way men and women experience anger. All people feel anger, and most feel angry about the same things. However, men and women (and boys and girls) express their anger in different ways. Men tend to be more physically aggressive, to engage in passive-aggressive behavior more often, and to be more impulsive in expressing anger.

FamilyEducation.com

The Fight Response

http://life.familyeducation.com/anger/toddler/53395.html

http://life.familyeducation.com/anger/toddler/53395.html


When angry, count to four; when very angry, swear

Mark Twain

Poor Advice Abounds


Men have their own caves on which the sign states "Please do not disturb." Men like to retreat into their own world where they feel they are in control. Women also have caves but the sign on their caves is "I need to talk".

Learning From Dr. John Gray's Seminar on Relationship Enrichment, Men are From Mars Women are From Venus.

Men are from Mars


People have difficulty interacting with those they don’t understand

Repeated exposure to crisis impacts ability to participate

Social isolation has a significant impact upon mental and physical health, and should be classed among smoking and obesity as a major risk factor to health

WorldHealth.net Anti-aging news

Fathers experience isolation

13H4


“Being the parent of a bipolar child has not made me popular. My child has been passed over for parties and had his own invitations declined. Other parents who only know my child by the stories they hear from their own kids are quick to label him as a bad seed. And if he’s a bad seed, surely he must come from bad parents.”

website

Do fathers experience stigma?


“People fear what they don’t understand. Many people don’t understand mental illness. Some of them are closer than you think—friends and family members you never expected to do or say hurtful things”

website


15H5


Stigmatization of people with mental disorders is manifested by bias, distrust, stereotyping, fear, embarrassment, anger, and/or avoidance. – U.S. Surgeon General



Downward Spiral Without Intervention

• Isolation Anger

• Declining father’s health

• Frustration and lack of context

• Declining Child’s Health

Stress Limited Information

Loss of HopePowerlessness

17H6


Intervention Opportunities

• Connected & Confident

• Improving father’s health

• Gaining Skills & understanding

• Improving child’s Health

ReducedStress Seeking

outInformation

IncreasingHopeFeeling

Empowered

Education

Encouragement

+

= Empowerment

18H7


Men earn only 20% of all master’s degrees in psychology – down from 50% in 1970

“Some men, I think, prefer to talk about that – the joy of being a father, the stress, how it’s impacting them – with a therapist who’s had the same experience” – psychologist at University of Texas

Seattle Times article 2011

Male Therapists An ‘endangered minority’

19H8


Fathers are recovering from the condition of feeling isolated & powerless to help a child or youth with emerging mental health needs

Peer support is a promising part of the recovery revolution

Recovery as it applies to fathers

20H9


Hope◦ The driving force to keep going

Empowerment ◦ A sense of some ability to influence my future

Self Responsibility ◦ Personal action steps carry great weight

Meaningful Roles ◦ Competency in assisting recovery

Four elements of one recovery model

21H10


Men need to trust the group before letting down the guard◦ Can these people understand me?◦ Takes time to build rapport

Environment is important◦ Non-judgmental◦ Devoid of distractions

Support groups – are they effective?


Transformational Dads Weekend

Engagement – listen to shared experiences

Education – provide resources and practical instruction

Empowerment– support and encourage

A promising recovery process

23H11


Expectations ◦ None ◦ Not sure what to expect

Leading questions◦ How do you wish things were different at home?◦ What makes you feel powerless?◦ What would you change about mental health

system?

Setting the stage – First evening

24H12


◦ Place to vent feelings Powerlessness Fatigue Crushed Dreams

◦ Place to discuss challenges Limited resources to help kids Education plans not working Home environment is not functional

Engage


“I came expecting nothing…”

"I started losing hope - felt beat down. You mean I'm not alone?”

First Impressions


Individualized Education Programs

Maintaining Peace At Home◦ Collaborative Problem Solving

Behavioral Health Resources

Building a Community Support System

Transitioning Youth to Adulthood

Education – New Enlightening Information

27H13


Downtime provides an opportunity to connect with others ◦ Perceive what we have in common◦ Understand that we do not struggle alone

“You know what I'm going through”

“I have had a chance to recharge myself, discuss other suggestions and ideas, talk about what is or isn’t working in other families.”

Relaxation & Realization


“I appreciate the opportunity to spend the weekend with these special Dads.”

“I have a more positive outlook on our son’s issues. I have never given up hope for improvement, but my hope level has been raised immensely.”

Recovery System Element # 1 Hope◦ The driving force to keep going

Empowerment

29H14


“I feel like a huge brick just got pulled of my shoulder.”

"I came expecting nothing. I came away with everything.“

Recovery System Element # 2 - Empowerment ◦ A sense of some ability to influence my future

Transformation

30H15


Meet a new friend Make a personal connection Maintain occasional contact

The Buddy system

31H16


First Name – ___________________________________________________________ City of Residence – ______________________________________________________ Current County of Residence for Youth. This location is important if it is different from the

caregiver’s and corresponds to a service region within the state. _______________________________________________________________________ Best times and days to reach by phone. List the times and days that someone will be most

likely to be able to reach you by phone. _______________________________________________________________________ Most available phone number. This should be the number you are most reachable at the times

specified above. _______________________________________________________________________ Actively utilized email address. List an email address that is active and that you check

regularly. _______________________________________________________________________ Primary language spoken at home - __________________________________________

Buddy System Info Exchange


I know for sure that I could use help with: Locating mental, substance abuse or behavioral health services in my area Life skill training for youth (job, independent living, etc.) Relationship with school district Behavioral concerns at school Developing an Individualize Education Plan (IEP) Truancy Understanding state law (education, disabilities, criminal, etc.) Managing conflict in the home Working with law enforcement Keeping a dependent from running Healthy socializing skills for youth Juvenile justice issues Reducing stress Other - ____________________________ Unlisted concerns Not sure what I need help with

Buddy System Info Exchange


The Buddy Wall

• Choose someone to stay in touch with

• Similar challenges• Geographically

close


Recent Weekend Data

Understanding state law (education, disabilities, criminal, etc.)

Life skill training for youth (job, independent living, etc.)

Developing an Individualize Education Plan (IEP)

Behavioral concerns at school

Juvenile justice issues

Locating mental, substance abuse or behavioral health services in my area

Keeping a dependent from running

Entry to the World of Work

Working with law enforcement

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Asked for a buddy to help with:

35H17


Enlistment

Recovery System Element # 3 - Self Responsibility Personal action steps carry great weight

Greater dads participationFamilies, IEP Meetings, Conferences, Trainings, Leadership, Advocacy

“I want to pay it forward”

36H18


Evaluators & Research Advocates & Policy Makers Educators & Consultants Service Providers Partners in the Treatment Process Targets for ChangeProviding Context

Roles for Dads in Systems of Care

Recovery System Element # 4 - Meaningful Roles Competency in assisting recovery

37H19


Hope◦ The driving force to keep going

Empowerment ◦ A sense of some ability to influence my future

Self Responsibility ◦ Personal action steps carry great weight

Meaningful Roles ◦ Competency in assisting recovery

Recovery Model Recap


Explore what otherdads have done

EMPOWER

EDUCATE&

ENGAGE

Washington dads


Washington Dads

◦ www.wadads.org

◦ 877-847-3050

◦ P. O. Box 14336, Mill Creek◦ Washington 98082-2336

◦Robert Haffner

Contact Information

40H20

http://www.wadads.org/

Documents

Engaging Fathers in the Behavioral Health Recovery Process for Youth