Fatherhood and Mentoring Newsletter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. International Committee - Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiatives (ICFMI) Volume 3 Jan - Feb - Mar 2016 Number 1 “A Quarterly Publication of the International Committee on Fatherhood and Mentoring” © ~~Brother Fairchild’s Corner~~ irst, I want to thank all who are actively involved in working with programs and conducting Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiatives. I F encourage those who have not yet engaged, please do so as soon as possible. You will find that working to help young men through mentorship and helping fathers to be better prepared to be involved in the lives of their children is truly rewarding. You cannot come out of the experience without being affected and touched. Tell our Story - Brothers, there is nothing like getting the word out. I know how modest we can be about the great things that we do. In the Fatherhood and Mentoring area, we have “… we have conducted outstanding programs that are allowed others to significantly impacting our communities. We have received positive feedback and tell our story ...” numerous thank you notes from mothers and fathers expressing sincere appreciation for the work that we are doing. However, we have not been good at telling our own story. I have visited some outstanding programs that are working with fathers and young men in the mentoring area that have never been publicized. The only people that were aware of the activity were the brothers in the chapter and the participants in the program. On occasions I will find out about a program by someone mentioning it in a casual conversation. This we have to change. It has been said that "It’s a poor dog that won’t wag his own tail." Too often we have allowed others to tell our story and that story has not always been accurate nor reflective of the outstanding work that has been done. We must take the time and the opportunity to keep the record straight by telling our own story. This said, I am asking brothers and chapters that are doing work in Fatherhood and Mentoring to take pictures and do one or two paragraphs describing the activity and send them to me or Bro. George Taylor. We will put the information in the Newsletter or on the soon to be released website. Let us know what you are doing and we will share it with the world. Help us develop and Tell Our Story about the outstanding work that we are doing. If you need help contact your District Fatherhood Chairman or call me @ 703-899-0111. Bro. Robert W. Fairchild Chairman International Committee, Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiatives, NOTICE, ICFMI WEBSITE COMING SOON!!! COMING SOON!!! Volume 3 Jan – Feb – Mar, 2016 Number 1 1 A Quarterly Publication of the International Committee on Fatherhood and Mentoring “… Tell Our Story …”© National News Items: rd A VIEW FROM 1600 PENNSYLVANIA Brother Fairchild, 3 District Representative Zeke Dennison, Alpha Omega Chapter and Area AVENUE Brothers have been supporting Brother Dr. Clark and Washington, DC – Students and staff of the school. This was another historic moment for the Washington, DC’s Richard Wright Charter School Fraternity and its White House partnership with the attended President Obama’s last White House Black President. (Submitted by Bro. Thabiti Boone.) History Month Tour. Richard Wright Charter School was founded by Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., Brother Dr. Marco Clark who also is the Principal of About This Newsletter: the school. The goal is to include information from The students, who have never been inside the White House enjoyed seeing all the Black History each District each quarter about your artifacts and photos and learning about the District Fatherhood and Mentoring importance of Black History Month. They clearly Initiatives. understood how Blessed they were to have had the rare opportunity to tour the White House and be a Specifically, we desire to: part of the President's last Black Ω1. Share what Chapters are doing world-wide History Month celebration. to educate, enhance and engage fathers in closing the gap of father absence in the lives of their children; and, Ω2. Mentor primarily young African American men, focusing on helping them to live a life of aspiration, hope and life sustaining productivity. Submittal Process: District Fatherhood Chairmen should submit at least one Fatherhood Activity and at least one Mentoring Activity from their District each quarter to: Brother George D. Taylor at: [email protected] Brothers Thabiti Boone, Marco Clark and Richard Wright Charter School Students Submittal dates: December 15, for Brother Clark is heavily involved with the Publication January 1 Fraternity. He and his students attended several of the Fraternity's Congressional Black Caucus March 15, for Forums. He runs a highly regarded school based Publication April 1 community initiative called MAN THE BLOCK, June 15, for which, through the support of male organizations Publication July 1 and volunteers, provide a safe environment for September 15, for students after school. The Men patrol the school area Publication Oct 1, and and neighborhood, creating a safe passage for December 15, for Publication students to walk home safely. January 1 of each year. Volume 3 Jan – Feb – Mar, 2016 Number 1 2 A Quarterly Publication of the International Committee on Fatherhood and Mentoring “… Tell Our Story …”© FROM WHERE I SIT: This column and the next will deal with foundational legalities with the status of being a father. Let’s start at the beginning. How Did I Get Here? The obvious answer is that you (a man) were successful in impregnating a woman, who in turn successfully delivered into the world a new life…your child. The birth of that child does not, however, automatically confer upon you the legal status of father, as we presume and refer. In fact there is a “duality” involved in being the father of a “Biologically you child. Biological fatherhood means may or may not be you are the natural father. The other the father of the aspect is as legal fatherhood, which child.” confers both responsibilities and The Honorable Gregory C. Pittman, Esq. rights cognizable and actionable at law. We have all heard the colloquialism “Mother’s baby…father’s “From time to time, I will maybe.” There is legal significance to that phrase. Clearly, there exists share commentary and direct, demonstrative evidence that the child in question is the thoughts, from a legal biological reproduction from mother. Accordingly, the status of “legal” perspective on the issue mother is an irrefutable presumption/conclusion. Father, on the other of Fatherhood.” hand, is far from being a resolved issue at the time of birth. Biologically you may or may not be the father of the child. Biology ***** is best and most reliably established by means of DNA testing. Presiding Judge Brothers, if there is any question in your (or the mother’s) mind Family Court regarding who, biologically has created this new life, I implore you to State of Michigan seek DNA testing immediately… not on Maury 3 years and thousands of dollars in Child Support payments later! DNA testing does not identify the male as the biological father, rather it eliminates the rest of the male population, to a medical certainty, from being the bio dad. Once Biological results are established, the mechanism for determining legal status is now in place, for all possible scenarios. How legal status as father is conferred: These are general principles that are applicable in virtually every jurisdiction in the United States: 1. If the child is born during the term of a couple’s marriage, the law presumes that the husband is the legal father and he is recognized as such for every situation imaginable. That presumption is however, rebuttable, meaning that through appropriate legal process it can be determined that husband is not bio, and therefore may be adjudged no longer legal dad. This process is fairly recent in practice and law, in many states. It can be complex, lengthy, and expensive. Hence my earlier caveat, if there is some doubt…get DNA test ASAP! 2. Children born outside of marriage (which is quickly becoming the norm with Millennials) get their legal father (i.e. Paternity is established) primarily in the following ways: a. Affidavit of Parentage: This is the voluntary acknowledgement by you that you represent yourself as the bio and legal father of the child, without benefit of DNA testing. This is one of the more common ways the paternity is established. You sign the birth certificate at the hospital, Volume 3 Jan – Feb – Mar, 2016 Number 1 3 A Quarterly Publication of the International Committee on Fatherhood and Mentoring “… Tell Our Story …”© or at some time later, sign a binding legal document (i.e. Affidavit of Parentage in the State of Michigan) accepting the responsibility and rights of being the legal father. b. Putative Father Proceedings: Commonly called a “Paternity Case or Suit”. This a civil lawsuit wherein you are identified by bio mom as the man who is bio dad (thereby known as putative) and should be determined by court order to be legal dad. (In future columns we will talk about how you can effectively navigate this legal action, for the best interest of your child and your relationship with that child.) This is a lawsuit in every sense of the term. It is not a quasi-legal, or informal type of thing. All remedies and responsibilities apply in the litigation of this type of case, and you better be ready to represent or be represented just as you would any other type of lawsuit. Anecdotally, this is where men usually begin to misunderstand and fail to avail themselves of knowledge and resources to assist them in advancing their position, whatever that may be.