PARTNERSHIP For FAMILY HEALTH

The role of a father as a primary caregiver in the life of his children has been viewed somewhat skeptically in the eyes of healthcare providers, government agencies and social service organizations. Fathers are changing this image as they become more involved and active in raising their children. Male caregivers in families living with HIV/AIDS have begun to develop a unique voice and presence in Title IV programs. In New York City, men have been advocating for appropriate services for a number of years. The Partnership for Family Health is responding to these needs by forming a program specifically for male caregivers.

In 2003, four men from three sites attended the AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families Voices conference with Jay Winig, a social worker from Mt. Sinai Hospital. Using the conference as a catalyst, these men along with several others have begun weekly support/advocacy meetings at Mt. Sinai. The purpose of this program is to provide support and empower fathers to advocate for services that address their unique needs.

Again in 2004, several men attended the Voices conference in Washington DC to attend workshops and meet people from across the country. This year the partner of one of the men also attended and fully participated in the conference. At Voices, they learned more about HIV/AIDS and advocated on Capital Hill for father’s rights and the unique needs their families face because they are living with HIV/AIDS.

For the second year, a Father’s Day dinner was held to honor fathers in their every day struggles and joys of being a parent. The dinner was attended by fathers, partners, and their children.

Support Services

Individual and group services are offered to provide counseling and support to fathers. These services provide a confidential place for men to talk and connect with other men to address issues including stress, struggles of parenting, health issues and any other topics that they or their children are facing. For more information, please contact us at 212.241.4645.

Video

An educational video was produced highlighting some of the struggles men face as fathers infected or affected by HIV. This candid video describes some of the ups and downs that men face in HIV infected families. Although many clinics are family centered they are more geared towards serving women and children and may not always be welcoming to fathers. This video draws attention to the needs of these men and how they are striving to create better systems for themselves and their peers.

»view video

Advocacy

One goal of the male caregiver program is to advocate for the special needs of this population and to empower men to advocate on their own behalf. Men are taking initiative by attending conferences and participating in outreach events with program staff. Direct outreach is also being conducted by the current group of men to recruit more men to participate in the program and help to enhance the development of new programs for fathers.

For more information, contact us at 212.241.4645