Dads Move

DADS MOVE STATEWIDE FAMILY NETWORK - OVER 100,000 CHILDREN AND YOUTH LIVE WITH SERIOUS EMOTIONAL DISTURBANCE IN WASHINGTON STATE, AND NEARLY 1 IN FIVE HAVE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED SUICIDE. FEWER THAN HALF RECEIVE SUPPORT FROM PUBLICLY FUNDED MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS EVEN AS CALLS FROM FAMILIES REQUESTING REFERRALS FROM THE MENTAL HEALTH REFERRAL SERVICE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH HAVE INCREASED BY OVER 109% SINCE THE START OF THE PANDEMIC. THE FAMILIES OF THESE YOUTH ARE IN DIRE NEED OF EFFECTIVE PEER SUPPORT. THE DADS MOVE WASHINGTON STATE FAMILY NETWORK EXPANSION PROJECT WILL INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF DADS MOVE TO EMPOWER FATHERS TO BE BETTER DADS AND EFFECTIVE ADVOCATES FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THE PROJECT HAS FOUR GOALS: GOAL 1: INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF DADS MOVE TO PROVIDE TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO PARENTS AND PRIMARY CAREGIVERS OF YOUTH WITH SED BY ADDING SIX ADDITIONAL TRAINERS AND 10 REGIONAL PARENT LEADERS TO ASSIST PARENTS IN NAVIGATING LOCAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SYSTEMS AND PROVIDERS. GOAL 2: INCREASING THE LEADERSHIP SKILLS OF FAMILIES OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SED. TRAINING RESOURCES WILL ADDRESS PARENTING SKILLS; WORKING WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS; DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR ADVOCACY; PROMOTING PEER SUPPORT WITH OTHER PARENTS RAISING CHILDREN WITH SED; AND CONVENING/LEADING PEER SUPPORT GROUPS. - ANNUALLY, 210 FAMILY MEMBERS/PRIMARY CAREGIVERS WILL INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF SYSTEMS NAVIGATION. - ANNUALLY, 270 FAMILY MEMBERS/PRIMARY CAREGIVERS WILL INCREASE THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF EFFECTIVE BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT SKILLS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN TRAINING WORKSHOPS. - ANNUALLY, 65 INCARCERATED FATHERS EXITING THE JUSTICE SYSTEM WILL HAVE INCREASED ENGAGEMENT IN THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN WITH SED. GOAL 3: THE DADS MOVE NETWORK AND FAMILY MEMBERS WILL WORK EFFECTIVE WITH POLICY MAKERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SED. - EIGHT FATHER/MALE PEERS WILL BE TRAINED AND PROVIDE INCREASED FATHER VOICE IN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES BY PARTICIPATING IN THE DADS MOVE DADVOCATES PROGRAM. - FATHER/MALE PEER COUNSELORS WILL BE EMBEDDED IN AT LEAST 2 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SITES TO REDUCE INVOLVEMENT OF YOUTH IN CRISIS SERVICES AND/OR JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEMS. GOAL 4: FAMILIES/PRIMARY CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN AND YOUTH WITH SED WILL HAVE INCREASED ACCESS TO PEER SUPPORT AND SOCIAL INCLUSION. - ANNUALLY 60 PARENTS/PRIMARY CAREGIVERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN LOCALLY BASED PARENT/CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUPS. - ANNUALLY 75 PARENTS WILL HAVE INCREASED PEER CONNECTIONS AND DECREASED ISOLATION THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN PARENT RETREATS. - ANNUALLY 20 PARENTS WILL EXPERIENCE INCREASED RESPITE SUPPORT THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN AN EXPANDED PEER ENGAGEMENT AND COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROGRAM. TOTAL PERSONS SERVED DURING GRANT PERIOD: 2,459

WASHINGTON STATE FAMILY NETWORK EXPANSION PROJECT.