Every child deserves to grow up in a safe and nurturing home. Social science research shows us that the presence of an involved, appropriate father plays a significant role in a child's school achievement, self-regulation and social competency. Growing to responsible adulthood is hard enough for any child; without a dad the hurdles are much higher.

Most students placed at Boys Republic come from such homes. They are, in fact, part of a multi-generational fatherless cycle. Without intervention, it's a downward spiral that goes like this: from early childhood abuse and neglect into the child welfare system, to juvenile delinquency and out-of-home placement, and eventually to the adult criminal system.

Boys Republic's programs in guidance and education are carefully crafted to reorient at-risk youth toward responsible adulthood. Just this last spring, the agency added a new tool to its offering.

Teen Parenting and Visiting Program

Nearly one in ten of the male teenagers at Boys Republic are already fathers or soon-to-be parents, themselves. From the confines of placement, juvenile dads have little opportunity to bond with their infants or to learn even the most basic skills of parenthood.

The Teen Parenting and Visiting Program (TPVP) is a voluntary, ten-week parenting education program specially designed for juvenile fathers. TPVP involves both classroom learning as well as hands-on experience. Funding was made possible through a grant from First5 San Bernardino.

As part of the TPVP, infants visit with their dads. The young fathers learn many practical skills — how to hold a baby, changing diapers and, in general, how to be appropriately attentive to an infant or toddler.

The class was an instant hit with teen fathers. One satisfied student wrote, “My son was born December 9 and I got busted January 24, so I really didn’t get a lot of time with him so that really broke my heart . . . my biggest fear is to fail as a father. But . . . [TPVP] helped me overcome my fear and gave me the tools to be a good father.”