2008 Father's Hall of Fame Winner, Emerging Father Category
Joel Stephen Willis with wife, Jeanette and his children
Monthly Meetings
1st Tuesday of each month
8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Catholic Charities
249 West Thornhill Dr
(817) 534-0814
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About Us:
The Fatherhood Coalition of Tarrant County is a collaborative partnership consisting of over twenty organizations committed to promoting responsible fatherhood in Tarrant County. The stated mission of the Coalition is "to strengthen the role of fathers, men and families in the lives of children in Tarrant County."
The Coalition began as the Fatherhood Initiative, organized in 2000 by the Tarrant County Workforce Development Board (dba Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County) which later that year joined forces with a community-based effort under the leadership of Charles Scoma, then mayor of North Richland Hills, to form the Fatherhood Coalition of Tarrant County.
Since inception, projects include “Celebrate Fatherhood” events, pilot partnerships, Office of the Attorney General of Texas supported, “Dad’s Pocket Resource Guides”, participation in the P.A.P.A. curriculum training since 2003, sponsor an Annual Father’s Hall of Fame Banquet, and a recent grant from the Children’s Bureau to partner with the Texas Dept of Family and Protective Services on a project, “Bringing Back The Dads” to the child welfare system.
The Coalition also actively participates in community events: health fairs, wellness fairs, school round ups, and job fairs. We thank members of the Coalition for their volunteer time to make our community a better place to live.
Over the years, the Coalition Executive Board has chosen to remain a community of organizations rather than become a 501(c)3. The Coalition operates on a limited budget, which is overseen by Coalition member, NewDay Services for Children and Families.
HISTORY OF THE TARRANT COUNTY FATHERHOOD COALITION
In October of 2000, Workforce Solutions began efforts to develop a county-wide initiative to promote responsible fatherhood and strengthen the role of fathers in the lives of children. We began by inviting community-based and social service organizations in Tarrant County to a series of public forums and discussions focusing on fathers and their children.
In November of 2000 on the South campus of Tarrant County College, sixty Tarrant County service organizations were represented at an informational meeting hosted by Workforce Solutions staff and community leaders. Committees were formed to develop strategies to address specific needs of four target populations of fathers—teen fathers, incarcerated fathers, fathers with OAG child support orders, and “at-risk” fathers. An at-risk father was described as any father subject to being disconnected from his children, either physically, emotionally, and/or by lack of financial support.
In January of 2001, a fatherhood advisory task force was established to guide and develop a comprehensive Tarrant County Fatherhood Initiative.
In March of 2001, this initiative joined forces with a community-based effort under the leadership of Charles Scoma, then Mayor of North Richland Hills. This collaborative partnership resulted in a community forum in conjunction with the Texas Fatherhood Initiative to promote broad-based awareness of the importance of responsible fatherhood. This event served as the springboard for the organization of a formal coalition and planning for the first annual “Celebrate Fatherhood” event held in Tarrant County in June of 2001. Each year since that time the Coalition has sponsored an annual event to promote and celebrate responsible fatherhood.
OVERVIEW OF FATHERHOOD COALITION ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- (2001– 2010) Fatherhood Coalition sponsors annual events to celebrate responsible fatherhood.
- (2003) Workforce Solutions awarded demonstration grant to partner with Office of Attorney General (OAG) for outreach program to noncustodial fathers.
- (2004) Fatherhood Coalition partners with OAG to begin P.A.P.A. training in Tarrant County.
- (2005) Fatherhood Coalition receives grant from Amon Carter Foundation to develop and print “Dads Pocket Resource Guides.”
- (2007) Fatherhood Coalition establishes “Fathers Hall of Fame” to celebrate and recognize responsible fathers in Tarrant County.
- (2008) Workforce Solutions is selected by the Texas Workforce Commission, along with five other workforce board areas
in Texas, to pilot a NonCustodial Parents program.
- (2008-2011) Fatherhood Coalition participated as partner in national demonstration grant awarded to the Department of Family and Protective Services to test strategies for outreach and engagement of fathers of Tarrant County children placed
in foster care.
- (2010) Fatherhood Coalition sponsors first Regional Fatherhood Conference in Tarrant County.
WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS SUPPORT OF FATHERHOOD COALITION
Workforce Solution’s sustaining support of the Fatherhood Coalition is strategically related to our best work with fathers through our NonCustodial Choices Program, which began as one of the pilot sites among local workforce boards in 2008. Because of highly successful outcomes and innovative practices-- consistent job placement rate and child support payments of over 70% among participating noncustodial parents-- our NCP program is now fully funded by the Texas Workforce Commission. NCP Choices is a program offered to unemployed or under-employed noncustodial parents who are behind on their child support payments and facing possible jail time. It is collaboration between the Office of the Attorney General, Texas Workforce Commission, and Child Support (IV-D) Courts. Workforce Solutions began participating in 2008 and was among the first group
of NCP pilot locations selected by TWC due to the strength of our fatherhood initiatives and relationships established through
the Fatherhood Coalition
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