The Father Mentors is a new program designed to encourage fathers about the importance of their role in their child’s or children’s lives, as well as support them during times of difficulty.

The first training for Father Mentors will be at The Tree House Volunteer Orientation on Feb. 4, from 6-8 p.m. Call (770) 868-1900 for details.

District Attorney Brad Smith, who has become involved with the Fatherhood Mentor Program as a concerned citizen, said any meaningful investment in the community has to start with an investment in the children.

"As a single citizen, there is little I can do to stop the negative influences of our modern culture on our children, but if I can help one father learn to be a positive influence on his child, then I have accomplished something," said Smith.

"Or better yet, if I can recruit 10 men to help mentor 10 fathers, we might be on to something," said Smith. "I don’t anticipate being able to quantify the benefit to Barrow County with statistics or cost analysis, but in my heart, I know it’s a good thing. It’s kind of like that kid throwing sand dollars back into the ocean one at a time."

Fathers will be identified through the Department of Family and Children Services/Tree House and will be paired with a Father Mentor who will meet with them on a regular basis and offer the kind of support that only someone who has been there can offer.

The Mentors will be fathers themselves, and will receive training at The Tree House to participate. Most parent support programs are designed towards mothers, and do not have built-in supports for the unique needs of fathers. The goal of this program is to address this gap in support and increase the participation of fathers in their children’s lives.

According to Smith, the goal is to add the Father Mentor Program to already existing programs like those available through the Tree House, Family Connections, or the newly established Drug Court.

"If a father is involved with one of the partnering programs, then he may be identified as needing a mentor and would be referred to the Father Mentor Program," said Smith. "I hope that other men who want to be a positive influence in their community will volunteer to be a mentor."

This Feb. 4 orientation will also offer training opportunities for the Father Mentor Program as well as for regular volunteer programs of The Tree House including:

Supervised Visitation – Children visit with their parents and/or siblings when they are placed in foster care or with a safety-resource family while supervised by a trained volunteer.

Childcare and meals for Parent Support Groups

Heroes Great and Small — Mentors are paired with a child in the setting of a support group for children who have been sexually abused and also for their siblings. The group is to provide education and emotional support one on one with the child in a group setting.

Parent Support Mentor – If you or your child is a survivor of abuse, and you want to provide support for a parent who is going through something right now.

Clerical, cleaning and Special Events.