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Home
About
Us Email
Calendar
Resources News
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Our
Office
Our Brochure --
updated for 2002/2003!
Our Mission
Our Vision
Our Goal
Our Methods
Our History
The Maryland Regional Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families (MRPNFF)
office for visitors, mail, phone, and member support is:
MRPNFF, 1200 W. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21223
Executive Director: Leon J. Henry leonhenry@mrpnff.org
President, Board of Directors: Johnny Rice, II
phone: 410-244-0751 and 1-800-859-0956, fax: 410-244-0752
Email directly to: mrpnff@mrpnff.org
or use our
Email link
Weekday office hours: 9am to 5pm
has driving directions from MD, DC, VA, and beyond
An updated 2002/2003 edition of the MRPNFF Brochure is nearly ready for printing. The brochure says who we are, what we do, what practitioners do, where we are, and how to join our organization. The brochure emphasizes to members and prospective members that fatherhood issues are pervasive and statewide, necessitating working together with commom purpose for greatest effect.
Promoting Responsible Fatherhood and
Reconnecting Fathers with Children and Families
Practitioners are direct providers of services: The mission of
Maryland Regional Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families (MRPNFF) is
to support and promote family support services in every community across the
State of Maryland such that every child has a father or father figure positively
and consistently involved in his or her life.
The MRPNFF vision is to network a full range of family services for fathers
and children in every community across Maryland. The network will offer basic
support and assistance for fathers, so that every child has a father or constant
father figure (e.g. a stepfather, uncle, or grandfather) positively involved in
her or his life. These men will provide nurturing, guidance and discipline, and
will demonstrate, by example, how to be a responsible citizen working toward a
productive future.
Bringing greater attention and focus to the issues concerning fathers and
their children. Particularly, identifying and removing barriers that prevent
fathers from taking full responsibility for their children, both socially and
financially. This explicitly includes fathers caught in the criminal justice
system, whether incarcerated, paroled, or at risk. These fathers overwhelm
ordinary support services.
To support "fathers and families" by ...
The non-profit Maryland Regional
Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families (MRPNFF) was established
in 1996, originally as the Baltimore Regional Practitioners Network. In
2001, the National Practitioners'
Network for Fathers and Families (NPNFF), itself established one year before
MRPNFF, awarded its first ("founding") affiliate charter to Maryland,
acknowledging MRPNFF's early efforts to establish a professional base of fatherhood
practitioners across the state.
MRPNFF was formed by advocates for fatherhood programs, directors, specialists,
and administrators. At monthly MRPNFF membership meetings, practitioners coordinate
on issues and concerns that impact fathers and their ability to provide responsibly
for their children.
Additionally, members assist in the planning and hosting of annual fatherhood
conferences. For example, ever since MRPNFF was established, we've assisted
with the annual Baltimore Male Involvement Conference supported by the
Department of Human Resources and the Maryland Committee for Children, and held
at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County campus. The level of conference
participation has increased over the years to well over 500. Our membership
has also grown.
MRPNFF currently consists of roughly 200 individuals and groups representing
agencies throughout the state of Maryland (see MRPNFF
Statewide) that work directly with or provide services for fathers and children,
and for the enhancement of the family unit through intense training, counseling,
job searches, and mediation. Many member groups predate MRPNFF, some by decades.
Individual programs within MRPNFF have been featured in news articles in the
District, Baltimore City, Prince George's County, Montgomery County, their local
news sources, and nationally. MRPNFF members have participated in many local
radio and television shows, been featured in a Good Housekeeping magazine
article on fatherhood and have presented for civic groups, the Baltimore City
Council, and at Mayoral and religious awards ceremonies.
Revised 2002/11/27
A Message From The President Of The Board
Dr. Willie L. Barber, Ph.D
A Message to Fatherhood Practitioners
When Leon Henry, Executive Director of MRPNFF, first ask me to write an article for the web site initially I thought about writing concerning the reauthorization of the TANFF legislation and it's implications for fatherhood programs. I also thought about writing concerning the marriage initiative and the various curriculums that have surface across the country or write about State's decision to reestablishing the Maryland Fatherhood Commission. However, I decided not to write on either of those topics but just to give a few words of encouragement to the numerous practitioners who are out there in our communities providing direct services to fathers and their families. This includes direct service providers, supervisors, administers, etc.
I would like to commend all practitioners for having a passion to provided this much needed work. I believe that our main purpose for being here on earth is to provide services to others; therefore, we are living out our main purpose for being here. I have been providing services to fathers, children, families, for over 30 years that have included direct services, supervision, administration, consultation, etc., however, since I have retired I am doing more consultation, direct services, group facilitation, and workshop presentations in addition to my music ministry. I continue to see the need for effective fatherhood programs in the eyes of children whose fathers are either incarcerated, substance abusers, suffer from mental health challenges, have poor relationships with the mother of their children or just not aware of their roles and responsibilities as fathers. Although there are numerous fathers out there who are aware of their roles and responsibilities as fathers and are taking the initiative to increase those skills, there are still too many fathers in our communities that desperately need to be reached from all racial, social and economic levels with the services fatherhood programs provide.
As we provided those critical services to fathers it will not only impact the fathers but their children and their children's children. It has a multi generational impact. So I encourage you to remain focus on what you are doing and the important roles you play in the lives of the men you are providing services to and it's potential impact on the fathers, their children their communities and this nation. Your are to be commended for the quality and committed services you provide in spite of financial and other restraints within and outside of your agency. Stay positive and focused on your clients and it's positive impact for generations.
Also, I hope you are utilizing the skills and information you have acquired in your work to take care of your own families and yourselves physically, emotionally and spiritually so you will have the energy and stamina to provided this much needed service. I also hope you are sharing fatherhood information with your own family members and friends of the important role fathers play in the lives of their children and what happens to children when fathers are not involved. Thank you for your commitment to the fatherhood movement and the Maryland Practitioners Network for Fathers and Families. Your ideas and comments are always welcome and encouraged by the Board and MRPNFF. Be strong and stay focused and committed.
Sincerely,
Dr. Willie L. Barber, Board President, MRPNFF