Increasing educational opportunities and access to funding to funding for low-income fathers who are interested in post-secondary degrees or certificate programs.

Creating more accessible visitation sites within faith and community based organizations.

Using TANF monies to increase services to fragile families, including : relationship and marriage education programs, and co-parenting education, mediation, and counseling interventions.

Johnny Rice, II has been promoted to the newly developed position of Chief Operating Offices for the Centers for Father, Families, and Workforce Development (CFWD). The COO will coordinate and facilitate efforts with the President and CEO Joe Jones and other key staff to add the work of CFWD as a leading organization that provides critical services in the Baltimore Community and beyond. As COO he will be charged with providing fiscal and programmatic oversight for the Men’s Services responsible fatherhood program, STRIVE Baltimore Job Reach program, 50-50 Parenting Pilot, Marriage Curriculum development, Violence Prevention and Protection by Dr. James Calvin of Johns Hopkins University, which focused on leadership abilities, organizational growth and succession planning.

During the past three years Mr. Rice has served as the Director of Men's Services within CFWD where he was charged with the general oversight of the fatherhood programming. Mr. Rice has 10 years experience in the public and private sector in the combined fields of the health, safety, and human services. Mr. Rice holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s of Science degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Baltimore and in the past has served as an adjunct faculty in the Division of Criminology, Criminal Justice and social Policy. He is currently pursing his Doctor of Public at Morgan State University. He is a member of the Baltimore Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and serves on various boards and committees that focus on strengthening family communities. He is married and has one son.

Headquarters

3002 Druid Park Drive

Baltimore, MD 21215

Telephone: 410-367-5691

Fax: 410-367-4246

Email Address: CFWD.ORG

Dear Father,

Your presence is so important! Thank you for being a part of your children’s lives.

This holiday is quickly approaching and many of us feel rushed and are a loss to find “things to do” with the kids. Parent/child activities do not have to be expensive, elaborate or pre-planned. Spending quality time with your child should be fun for both of you. Here are a few, fun activities that you can do over holidays or anytime!

Buy packaged sugar cookies, a container of white frosting and decorating green and red sugar. Spread icing on the cookies and shake the colored sugar on top. (If you have access to a kitchen, you can buy “slice and bake” sugar cookies and bake them. Make sure you allow your child to cut with a plastic knife a place them on a cookie sheet. When they cool, frost them.)

You can sit in a quiet area and read a couple of books to your child. They love to be read to!!! If you are unsure as to what kind of books to select, ask the librarian. They love to help.

Even when it is cold children should play outside for short periods of time. You can go for walk and collect leaves, stones, or sticks. You can bounce a large ball back and forth to each other or kick it to each other. Short races are also fun for children.

Prepare simple dinners together. Make sure you sit with them, and eat together. “I’m sure you can probably think of foods that your child likes, but here a couple of easy, nutritious meals, just in case:

Have fun with your child. The things that you do together will have a positive, long lasting effect on them.

Sincerely,

Diana Chaffee, M. Ed.

SECO Head Start

Education Coordinator

“Paternity” is the legal term that identifies a person as the biological father of a child. Once paternity is established, the father becomes legally responsible for support of his child. A custodial parent may seek to establish paternity to obtain support from the father or may be required to establish paternity to be eligible to receive Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF) or other forms of public assistance. Paternity also gives a father the right to seek custody or visitation with his child and entitles the child to benefits such as retirement and social security.

There are several ways that paternity can be established in Maryland. First, if a child is conceived during marriage, Maryland law presumes that the husband is the father of the child, but this presumption can be challenged in court. If the mother of the child is not married, there is no presumption as to the identity of the father. In order for a man to be given any legal rights or responsibilities for that child, paternity has to be established either a court or with the consent of both the mother and father.

A common way that paternity is established when the parents are unmarried is by the signing of an “Affidavit of Parentage,” which must be notarized. These forms are available at the Department of Social Services and the local Baltimore City Office of Child Support Enforcement. These forms are admissions of paternity and are legally binding. The mother or father can cancel the affidavit within 60 days, for any reason; however, after 60 days, it becomes more difficult to have the paternity finding set aside. No one can force an individual to sign an affidavit or acknowledge paternity.

If one parent cannot obtain the consent of the other as to paternity, the matter may be taken to court by the filing of a motion to establish paternity. The parent can file this at the courthouse or go to the child support office to do so. The court will order the parents to appear at a hearing and may order genetic paternity testing. If a party is ordered to attend a hearing or to submit to testing and he or she fails to appear, the court can issue a warrant for arrest. The court may also enter a default judgment determining paternity, without a paternity test, if he fails to appear.

Either party can also challenge paternity, in order to have it withdrawn or set aside, by requesting a paternity hearing and genetic testing at any time before the child turns 18. The person challenging paternity may be responsible for paying for the test. If the individual requesting the test is impoverished, they can request a “waiver” of the fees of the genetic test through the court. The court must provide the individual with a waiver if that person proves he or she is indigent.

Baltimore City residents who need assistance filing a motion to challenge paternity or establishing paternity can go to the Pro Se Office in room 114, Courthouse East, 111 N. Calvert Street. The Paternity Division Clerk’s Office is located in room 109 of Courthouse East.

For questions regarding paternity, intakes for new clients are conducted at the Legal Aid Bureau, 500 E. Lexington Street, by walk-in Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, or contact Toni St. John at the Legal Aid Bureau, 500 E. Lexington Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, (410) 951-7777.