(MEMPHIS, TN – June 20, 2023) Local non-profit Families Matter, Inc. and Shelby County Juvenile Court are partnering to bring more fathers into AFIRM. AFIRM, which is an acronym for A Father’s Involvement Really Matters, is a free program that helps low-income fathers learn parenting tools and skills, find jobs and better manage child support orders. AFIRM is led by Families Matter, Inc., which is working closely with Maximus, a leading employer and worldwide provider of government services. AFIRM is funded by the Tennessee Department of Human Services’ Tennessee Opportunity Act.
AFIRM is currently recruiting low-income fathers from Shelby County between the ages of 18 and 40 who are connected to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which helps low-income families provide basic necessities for their children, or who have a recent child support order.
Shelby County Juvenile Court magistrates are the officials who hand down child support orders to parents. The magistrates have agreed to support the efforts of Families Matter, Inc. by encouraging low-income fathers with recent or established child support orders to take part in the AFIRM program.
“Low-income fathers who are not part of their children’s primary household can sometimes feel isolated and unable to provide the emotional and financial support their children need,” said Carol Jackson, Executive Director of Families Matter, Inc. “We believe that AFIRM can help these fathers become the best dads they can be.”
AFIRM has three main goals:
- Develop healthy parenting tools and skills to strengthen father/child bonds
- Increase fathers’ ability to earn more over time
- Improve fathers’ ability to consistently pay child support
AFIRM focuses on three main needs:
- Fatherhood coaching and parenting support
- Career building and job placement
- Help with managing child support orders
AFIRM Fatherhood Facilitators help dads throughout their time in the program. The facilitators are teachers, trainers, and expert group leaders. The magistrates wanted the Fatherhood Facilitators to be the first point of contact for fathers they send to the AFIRM program. Families Matter, Inc. agreed to make this happen.
“By sending fathers to this program, our magistrates can help strengthen families and father/child bonds for thousands of Shelby County families,” said Shelby County Juvenile Court Judge Tarik Sugarmon. “A father is an essential part of a child’s life, and we want to give these fathers the support they need to become great dads.”
To contact a Fatherhood Facilitator, fathers can call 901-679-2863, 901-213-6036, or 662-931-0888.
About Families Matter, Inc.
Founded in 2004, Families Matter, Inc. is a non-profit organization and resource center that serves families via schools, churches, hospitals, and a variety of community partners to educate, enhance, and encourage our clients to become their best selves. Their educational offerings include workshops for couples and single parents and offerings for youth and a parenting boot camp for new dads. They also can connect individuals and couples to counseling services around their area. To learn more about Families Matter, Inc., visit www.familiesmattermemphis.org.