■BN M M h I K ?r <■• KÍ. JL N E 17, 1998 Page A5 (Elje JJortlanh © bseruer //, nP P y F a t h e r ’s Single Fathers Are Great Dads And Make Great Romantic Dates Walter George III, Erie Beaeoatsand Don B. Walkei are among Black single fathers who talk about how to successfully juggle parenthood and romance. Walter George o f Atlanta says, “ Dating makes me feel like someone out there wants me around.” Eric Becoats o f Baltimore, Maryland says his 3 year old son Braxton is his top priority and he looks at his dates as friends. These men make up 10% o f Black single parent households throughout the country. They juggle the ballet recital and the happy hour, the birthday party and the bachelor party, the Boy Scout troop and the out o f town weekend excursion with a lady friend. “ It is possible to date, be a single father and have a great life, but it has to be done cautiously, so that no one gets hurt,” says Don S. Walker o f Dallas, Texas. Jeffrey Mitchell o f Houston is also a romantic single father and says it took him more than two years to start dating after the death ofhis wife. “It was a little awkward to get back to that,” says Mitchell. “But after awhile you have to do it for your own sanity.” Experts agree that dating and being a dad is a struggle full o f compromises, but by prioritizing and planning dads are finding out they can be a great date, a great parent, and produce a great child. Workshops On Effective Fatherhood Fatherhood beyond the stereotypes of deadbeat dads FATHERHOOD USA, a two-part documentary exploring fatherhood beyond the stereotypes o f deadbeat dads and Mr. Mons, airs on PBS this month (check local listing). The first program, “ Dedicated, Not Dead­ beat,” loeks at fathers in Baltimore and Boston who are finding commu­ nity support in trying to be good fathers. The second program, “Jug­ gling Family and W ork,” focuses on three men, in intact families, who confront the daily dilemma o f being a dad and handling the pressures o f a workplace that isn’t always “father- friendly.” The documentary is hosted by former U.S. senator Bill Bradley. Actor Yaphet Kotto narrates the first program and actor John Shea nar­ rates the second program. * “ D edicated, Not D eadbeat” Absent fathers, unmarried fathers, deadbeat dads — negative depictions o f fathers have becom e a media staple. But what about men strug­ gling to stay involved with their kids despite a legacy o f fatherlessness, poverty or incarceration? What does it take to keep men connected to their families? This program looks be­ yond the stereotypes at what happens when men in fragile families find an environment that support their im ­ portance as fathers. * If a father is unmarried and pro­ vides little financial support to his young son and daughter, can he still be a good family man? Paul Hope, 21, an unemployed father o f two, seems poised to repeat the legacy o f fatherlessness in which he grew up. Convicted o f assault fora street fight, he may be sent to jail. He joins Bal­ timore M en’s Services, part o f a lo­ cal Healthy Start Program, starts a job in a federally funded housing/ work program, and isdetermined not to be an absent father. * Jeremy Stevens, 28, has five children, is unemployed, and has a criminal history. He seems likely to repeat the domestic abuse with which he grew up. Arrested for hitting his girlfriend, Vicki, he nearly lands in jail. But a judge orders him to join a program that aims to break the cycle o f violence and train him to become the father he him self never had. * “Juggling Family and Work" This program looks at men from across the country as they confront the daily dilemma ofbeing a working dad. It deals with one o f the most important business issues o f the fu­ ture: creating a family-friendly work­ place for mothers and fathers. * Shortly after a massive heart attack, Bart M orrison, 44, was downsized from his executive job. When Bart is home, unemployed, he takes responsibility for the care o f his two small children while his wife works, and he unexpectedly discov­ ers the importance o f his role as a father. * Don Hicks is a factory w orker on a rotating shift, with a schedule typi­ cal o f hundreds o f thousands o f line workers today. Don and his wife Karen are on the verge o f a divorce that will only further distance him from his two teenage daughters. IIt- works to turn his life and marriage around, joins a fathering group and learns to take on his share o f house­ hold responsibilities. * A1 F ran co , 35, w orks for the Los A n g eles D epartm ent o f W a­ ter and Pow er, one o f the n a tio n ’s best co m p a n ie s for w o rk in g fa ­ thers. A1 and his w ife S andra are ju g g lin g w ork and c a rin g for th ree p re sc h o o l ch ild re n when th e ir old est girl com es dow n with w hat m ay be a serio u s d isease. Al co n sta n tly leaves w ork to care fo r her and his c o -w o rk e rs give him a h a rd tim e fo r “ b e in g m o m m y ,” b u t th e c o m p a n y ’s co m m itm en t to su p p o rtin g dads h elp s him through this c ritical Study V o lu n t e e r s N eeded HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE period. How can men play a more active role in their children's lives? What can community agencies do to sup­ port the involvement ofdads—regard­ less o f their marital status’’ What can employers do to help fathers balance- work and family life—for the benefit o f families and the bottom line? The four workshops cover I ) the Importance o f Fathers, 2) Father- Mother Communication, 3) Juggling Work and Family and 4) Fathers and Social Support. Contact your local PBS station outreach or Ready to Learn department to find out if they are participating in this project. I f no, copies o f the two one-hour videos and workshop kits can be purchased by contacting Media Library at 800 343-5540. For further information on PBS Outreach, contact Pat Dressier, SC ETV , I 800 2 7 7 -0 8 2 9 , em ail dressler(fl scetv.org or fax 803 737- 3544. African American volunteers are needed fo r a 30 week hypertension research medication study. If you are 18 years or older with high blood pressure and in general good health, you may qualify. Volunteers w ill be thoroughly screened by the research team and their private physicians consulted. Study medication, study-related clinic visits and testing will be provided at no charge for these who qualify. Reimbursement for travel will be given. For information call 228-3217, Mon.-Thur. 9 to 4. F r i.- 9 to 1 . Clinical R e s e a r c h G roup o f Oregon 1221 S.W . 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