Children's Health Crisis - Family Health

>> THE TYPICAL AMERICAN FAMILY IS NO LONGER TYPICAL. >> TWO KIDS, TWO PARENTS, THEN OUT OF NOWHERE, DIVORCE. >> IN THE U.S. AND TENNESSEE 64% OF PARENTS ARE MARRIED. ONE IN 20 CHILDREN IN TENNESSEE IS RAISED BY A GRANDPARENT. >> I KNEW I WAS GOING TO BE A GRANDPARENT BUT I DID NOT THINK I'D END UP HAVING TO RAISE MY GRANDSON. 2 >> 35% OF THE U.S. CHILDREN LIVE IN A SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLD. IN TENNESSEE, 71% OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN LIVE WITH A SINGLE PARENT. >> WE HAVE 24 MILLION CHILDREN WHO WAKE UP IN AMERICA AND DOESN'T HAVE PRESENCE OF A FATHER IN THEIR HOME. THAT'S A HUGE NUMBER. >> STATISTICS SHOW CHILDREN WITHOUT TWO INVOLVED PARENTS MAY LIVE SHORTER LIVES. CHILDREN LIVING WITH STEPPARENTS AND SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS AND WITH GRANDPARENTS ARE AT GREATER RISK FOR BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS, MENTAL ILLNESS, ASTHMA, DENTAL PROBLEMS, AND OBESITY. THAN CHILDREN LIVING WITH TWO BIOLOGICAL PARENTS. CHILDREN WITHOUT TWO PARENTS ARE MORE THAN LIKELY TO BE PARENTS AS TEENAGERS. 3 THEY HAVE A GREATER CHANCE OF BEING INCARCERATED IN THEIR LIFETIME, AND ARE MORE LIKELY TO LIVE IN POVERTY. MAJOR FUNDING FOR NPT REPORTS, CHILDREN'S HEALTH CRISIS, IS PROVIDED BY THE HEALTHWAYS FOUNDATION, ADDRESSING THE CRITICAL ISSUES OF CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND PUBLIC EDUCATION. THE NASHVILLE HEALTH CARE COUNCIL. THE HCA FOUNDATION ON BEHALF OF TRI-STAR HEALTH, AND BY THE METRO PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THROUGH A GRANT FROM THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY THE BAPTIST HEALING TRUST, AND BY MEMBERS OF NPT. THANK YOU. >> HI, I'M KIMBERLY WILLIAMS-PAISLEY. AS ANY PARENT CAN TELL YOU, 4 RAISING KIDS IS A REWARDING BUT DIFFICULT JOB. WE ARE OUR CHILDREN'S FIRST TEACHER, THEIR PROVIDER AND THE CENTER OF THEIR LIVES. WHEN ONE PARENT IS UNAVAILABLE OR UNINVOLVED THAT JOB IS EVEN HARDER AND CAN PUT MORE STRESS ON THE FAMILY. WHILE ALL FAMILIES WILL FACE CHALLENGES IN THEIR LIFETIME, HOW PARENTS DEAL WITH ADVERSITY WILL SHAPE THE CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT AND HAVE LASTING IMPLICATIONS FOR THE HEALTH OF THE ENTIRE FAMILY. JOIN ME FOR THIS EDITION OF NPT REPORTS. CHILDREN'S HEALTH CRISIS, AS WE EXPLORE THE ROLES FAMILIES PLAY IN THE HEALTH OF TENNESSEE'S CHILDREN. STAY TUNED. WHEN YOUR KIDS ARE BORN YOU HAVE THIS IDEA OF WHAT YOUR FAMILY WILL BE LIKE, WHAT YOUR 5 KIDS ARE GOING TO DO, YOU KNOW, WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS BORN I THOUGHT OH, WE'LL DO DANCE LESSONS AND IT WILL BE GREAT. MY SON WAS BORN AND YOU KNOW, TWO KIDS, TWO PARENTS, THE DOG, GREAT GRANDPARENTS. IT WAS GREAT, THEN KIND OF OUT OF NOWHERE, DIVORCE. >> I KNEW THAT I WAS GOING TO BE A GRANDPARENT BUT DID I NOT THINK I'D END UP HAVING TO RAISE MY GRANDSON. IT WAS A SITUATION THAT HE COULD EITHER GO TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES OR THE GRANDPARENT COME AND STEP IN AND TAKEOVER, SO HE CAME HOME WITH ME. HE WAS BORN IN A HOSPITAL, AND THE DAY THAT HE WAS RELEASED AFTER THREE DAYS, I HAD TO BE THERE TO PICK HIM UP AND TAKE HIM HOME. 6 HE HAS BEEN WITH ME ALL THE WAY UP FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS. >> FAMILY STRUCTURE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST 50 YEARS. >> THERE HAVE CLEARLY BEEN HUGE INCREASE IN DIVORCE COMPARED TO 50 OR 60 YEARS AGO BUT THAT'S KIND OF SLOWED DOWN NOW BECAUSE PEOPLE AREN'T GETTING MARRIED AS OFTEN. WE'RE SEEING MAJOR DELAYS IN WHEN MARRIAGE HAPPENS. RELATED TO THAT, WE'RE SEEING LARGE INCREASES IN NON-MARITAL CHILD BEARING IN THE 20S. CHILDREN WHO ARE BORN TO UNMARRIED PARENTS IN THEIR 20S DON'T DO MUCH BETTER THAN THE CHILDREN BORN TO TEEN PARENTS SO THAT'S A MAJOR CHANGE FOR FAMILY STRUCTURE AND THE CHILDREN'S WELL-BEING. 7 CHILDREN FROM SINGLE PARENT AND OTHER COMPLEX FAMILIES, THEY TEND TO HAVE HIGHER RATES OF MOST HEALTH ISSUES, AND THOSE ARE NOT ONLY PHYSICAL HEALTH ISSUES, BUT EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH ISSUES. >> FAMILY STRUCTURE AFFECTS THE AVAILABILITY OF TWO IMPORTANT RESOURCES, MONEY AND TIME. >> ARE YOU FINISHED? LET'S TAKE DISHES. >> BEING A SINGLE PARENT IS HARD. YOU'RE KIND OF THROWN INTO IT. YOU KNOW, YOU GO FROM A 2-PARENT FAMILY, WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITIES ARE KIND OF DIVIDED TO DOING IT ALL, AND NOT JUST WITH THE KIDS BUT KIDS AND WORK AND HOUSE AND BILLS AND YARD AND LAUNDRY AND SO IT'S JUST KIND OF CONSUMING. AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT YOU 8 KNOW, YOU HAVE JUST GONE THROUGH THIS ENORMOUS EMOTIONAL, JUST TRAIN WRECK, AND TRYING TO KEEP THAT TOGETHER AS WELL, AND NOT HAVE YOUR KIDS SUFFER ANYMORE THAN THEY ALREADY HAVE. >> WHOA! GOOD JOB. >> THE FIRST THING I THOUGHT ABOUT WAS, I THOUGHT I WAS DONE WITH THIS. I HAD ALREADY RAISED MY DAUGHTER AND I THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE A TIME FOR ME TO HAVE MY LIFE, BUT ALSO I HAD TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THIS LITTLE INFANT DID NOT ASK TO BE HERE IN THIS WORLD. I DID EVERYTHING ANY OTHER MOTHER WOULD DO. I GET HIM UP, I BATHE HIM, FEED HIM, TAKE HIM TO DAY CARE, I READ HIM STORIES. ANYTHING ANY MOTHER WOULD DO. THE ONLY THING I DIDN'T DO, I 9 DIDN'T BIRTH HIM. IT WAS ONE OF THOSE TYPE OF SITUATIONS BASICALLY I WAS ON MY OWN. I WAS REALLY ON MY OWN. >> ANOTHER WAY FAMILY STRUCTURE CAN AFFECT CHILD WELL NECESSARY IS THROUGH EXPOSURE TO STRESS. >> I THINK WE CAN RECOGNIZE ALL FAMILIES HAVE STRESSES OF ONE KIND OR ANOTHER SO FAMILY STRUCTURE IS ONE TYPE OF STRESS. IF CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO ALL KINDS OF CHANGES, PEOPLE MOVING IN, PEOPLE MOVING OUT, MARRIAGE BEING FORMED, A MARRIAGE ENDING, COHABITATION HAPPENING AND COHABITATION ENDING. THAT'S REALLY *** CHILDREN. PARENTS IN THESE KINDS OF FAMILIES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE DEPRESSED AND THAT AFFECTS 10 CHILDREN. WE KNOW FROM LOTS OF RESEARCH THAT CHILDREN WHO ARE EXPOSED TO PARENTAL STRESS AND DEPRESSION DEVELOP LESS WELL. >> YOU RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND SWEAR TO DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, YOU KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING INTO. THAT YOU'RE GOING TO PUT YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY. DID WE THINK IT WOULD EVER HAPPEN TO THIS EXTENT? PROBABLY NOT. BUT, THAT'S WHAT WE TRAINED FOR AND THAT'S WHY WE SIGNED UP. >> IN THE LAST 10 YEARS, THE MILITARY HAS BECOME ACUTELY AWARE OF WHAT HAPPENS WHEN FAMILY STRUCTURE IS DISRUPTED. LONG WARS, REPEAT AND FREQUENT DEPLOYMENTS AFFECTED NOT ONLY SOLDIERS BUT THEIR FAMILY. >> I LOST COUNT OF THE NUMBER OF DEPLOYMENTS HE'S DONE. I JUST KNOW IT'S BEEN A LOT, MORE THAN BEING AT HOME. THE STRESS LEVEL HAS GONE UP A LOT SINCE 9-11. HARM'S WAY IS NOW THE WAY OF LIFE FOR ANYBODY WHO IS IN THE MILITARY NOW. >> YOU THINK OF STRESS IN A LOT OF SITUATIONS BEING LIKE A RUBBER BAND. WHEN WE'RE ALL STRESSED, WE STRETCH THE RUBBER BAND, BUT WE KNOW IF WE STRETCH IT TOO MANY TIMES IT NO LONGER DOES THE PRIMARY FUNCTION, WHICH IS HOLDING THINGS TOGETHER. WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS HOLD THE FAMILY TOGETHER AND MAKE EVERYTHING WORK FUNCTIONALLY. >> TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND 12 YOUR BUDDY AND TODAY I WANT TO ADD, TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY. WELCOME HOME. (CHEERING). >> BECAUSE OF THE CONNECTIONS BETWEEN FAMILY AND SOLDIER READINESS, ARMY MEDICAL COMMAND HAS DECLARED FAMILY HEALTH A PRIORITY FOR NATIONAL SECURITY. MEDICAL COMMAND FOCUSED PARTICULARLY ON THE IMPACTS OF DEPLOYMENT AND BREAKS DOWN THE DEPLOYMENT CYCLE INTO THREE PHASES. PRE DEPLOY MEN, DEPLOYMENT AND REDEPLOYMENT BACK INTO THE HOME ENVIRONMENT. EACH HAS A UNIQUE SOURCE OF STRESS, HOW A CHILD RESPONDS TO THE STRESS OF DEPLOYMENT CAN DEPEND ON THEIR AGE AND DEVELOPMENT. >> DURING THE DEPLOYMENTS IT VARIES WITH EACH CHILD AND THEN IT VARIES WITH EACH DEPLOYMENT AS THEY GET OLDER AND MATURE. LAST YEAR MY THEN 7-YEAR-OLD SON, WHOM I THOUGHT WAS HANDLING IT VERY WELL FOR AWHILE, JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN STARTED MISBEHAVING IN THE CLASSROOM. REFUSING TO WORK, BACK TALKING, DESTRUCTIVE, JUST NOT TYPICAL OF HIS BEHAVIOR, AND I IF NICHELY THOUGHT HE WAS BEING A STUBBORN LITTLE BOY TRYING TO EXERT HIS INDEPENDENCE AND IT'S LIKE THE LIGHT BULB WIN ON. AH, THAT MAKES SENSE. HE'S NOT JUST BEING A STUBBORN LITTLE BOY, HE'S HAVING PROBLEMS COPING. >> EASY RULE, STRESS ISN'T FAIR, IT'S NOT DISTRIBUTED EQUALLY AND SOME MEMBERS OF SOCIETY HAVE A MUCH, CARRY A MUCH HEAVIER LOAD OF STRESS THAN OTHERS. 14 >> WE'LL GO THROUGHOUT INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE TEST AND THE TEST --. >> DR. BRUCE COMPAS AND HIS TEAM AT VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY STUDY STRESS. >> WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS SOLVE THE PUZZLE OF WHY IT IS IF I HAVE 10 PEOPLE ALL EXPOSED TO THE SAME STRESSFUL CIRCUMSTANCES; SOME OF THEM SEEM TO GET THROUGH IT AND THEY'RE RESILIENT, AND SOME OF THEM SEEM HIGHLY VULNERABLE, AND SO THE TASK AS A STRESS SCIENTIST IS TO FIGURE THAT PUZZLE OUT. >> SCIENTISTS LIKE DR. COMPAS FOUND HUMANS ARE NOT IDEALLY EQUIPPED TO RESPOND TO THE STRESSORS OF MODERN LIFE. >> WE'RE WIRED TO MAKE THAT CLASSIC FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE. OUR BODY REFERS UP, THE HEART RATES, SHUTS DOWN THINGS WE DO IN THE BODY THAT ARE LONG TERM MAINTENANCE AND REVS UP THE THINGS WE NEED TO DO FOR SHORT TERM RESPONSE SO THAT'S AN ACUTE STRESS REACTION. IT'S A GOOD THING, A HEALTHY THING WE DO THAT. WHEN WE HAVE SOMETHING IMMEDIATE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT SAME ACUTE RESPONSE IS ACTIVATED HOUR AFTER HOUR, DAY AFTER DAY, WEEK AFTER WEEK, IN RESPONSE TO CHRONIC STRESS, THINGS THAT KEEP HAPPENING, THAT'S WHERE WE COULD GET INTO THE PROBLEM PART OF STRESS, KEEP REVVING UP THE BIOLOGICAL SYSTEMS, WE CAN'T MAKE THAT PHYSICAL RESPONSE AND THAT'S WHERE WEAR AND TEAR ON THE BODY AND ON OUR EMOTIONS START TO COME IN. >> WEAR AND TEAR FROM CHRONIC STRESS HAS BEEN CONNECTED TO INCREASED RISK FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, CARDIOVASCULAR 16 DISEASE, ASTHMA, DIABETES AND EVEN CERTAIN RECURRENCES OF CANCER. MOST OF THESE CONSEQUENCES SHOW UP LATER IN LIFE, BUT THE EARLIER SOMEONE IS EXPOSED TO CHRONIC STRESS, THE HIGHER THE RISK FOR NEGATIVE OUTCOME. >> CHILDREN ARE MORE VULNERABLE SO THEY DON'T HAVE RESOURCES PERSONALLY TO DEAL WITH AWFUL THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN THEIR LIVES. >> A CHILD'S DEVELOPING BRAIN IS ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE TO STRESS. >> STRESS AFFECTS BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND BRAIN FUNCTION, PARTICULARLY IN THOSE PRE FRONTAL REGIONS THAT WE USE TO TRY TO COPE WITH STRESS. THOSE REGIONS OF THE BRAIN, THEY'RE THE LAST PART TO DEVELOP, THEY'RE DEVELOPING ALL THE WAY THROUGH MIDDLE TO LATE ADOLESCENCE SO HERE IS THE DOUBLE HIT. IF I'M UNDER CHRONIC STRESS, HAVING A DIRECT EFFECT ON ME, AT THE SAME TIME IT'S POTENTIALLY ERODING THE PART OF MY BRAIN THAT I NEED TO USE TO TRY TO MANAGE MY EMOTIONS, SOLVE COMPLICATED PROBLEMS, AND THAT'S THE SCARY THING ABOUT EARLY STRESS, IS THAT THE STAKES ARE INCREDIBLY HIGH BECAUSE NOT ONLY MIGHT THERE BE AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT ON THE CHILD, IT CAN CARRY FORWARD INTO LATER LIFE. THE FLIP SIDE IS IT'S A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN TERMS OF PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EVEN BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. CHILDREN ARE MALLEABLE AND ABLE TO BOUNCE BACK AND RECOVER. EARLY HIGH STAKES, HIGH RISK, 18 POTENTIAL HIGH BENEFIT. >> REDUCING THE STRESS YOUNG CHILDREN EXPERIENCE MEANS FOCUSING ON PARENTS. >> GOOD PLAY. >> SO IF WE'RE TRYING TO HELP REDUCE THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF STRESS, WHY FOCUS ON FAMILIES? FAMILIES, THAT'S WHERE WE GROW UP, THAT'S WHERE CHILDREN LEARN ABOUT HOW TO COPE WITH STRESS IN THEIR LIVES. THE 0 TO 6 YEARS ARE KEY IN LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR THE CHILD BECAUSE YOU'RE STARTING OUTSETTING THE WAY THAT YOU SEE THE WORLD. IS IT A SAFE OR LOVING PLACE, A PLACE CAN YOU THRIVE IN OR IS IT A DANGEROUS PLACE, A PLACE THAT YOU'RE NOT QUITE SURE WHAT WILL HAPPEN YOU KNOW THE NEXT TIME YOU TURN THE CORNER? THE WORLD OF INFLUENCE IS FAIRLY SMALL. 19 IT'S THEIR FAMILY AND THE ENVIRONMENT THAT THEIR FAMILY CREATES FOR THEM. >> WHEN I GOT DIVORCED, MY SON WAS 2, AND MY DAUGHTER WAS 6. IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE I THOUGHT, A 2-YEAR-OLD IS NOT GOING TO BE AFFECTED AT ALL. HE REALLY STRUGGLED. I WAS AT A COMPLETE LOSS. I JUST WAS SO FRUSTRATED. MY SON HAD MAJOR ANXIETY, AND HAD STARTED ACTING OUT. HE WAS GETTING AGGRESSIVE, AGGRESSIVE WITH HIS SISTER, AGGRESSIVE WITH ME AND EVERYBODY WAS MAD OR FRUSTRATED AND COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED. >> PICK ONE OF THESE TWO TOYS TO PLAY WITH. OKAY. >> AT A FRIEND'S RECOMMENDATION ERIN CONTACTED THE REGIONAL INTERVENTION 20 PROGRAM, ALSO KNOWN AS RIP. RIP PROVIDES EVIDENCE-BASED BEHAVIORAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS FOR CHILDREN AGED 0-6. INTERVENTIONS ARE HANDS ON, PARTICIPATING PARENTS ACT FIRST AS STUDENTS, THEN TEACHERS WITH THEIR CHILDREN. >> WHEN YOU COME TO RIP, YOU ARE LEARNING ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PARENTING SKILLS. YOU LEARN ALL ABOUT WHAT TO DO IN TIMES OF FRUSTRATION, WHEN YOU'RE FRUSTRATED, WHEN THE CHILD IS FRUSTRATED. WAYS TO HEAD OFF THE TRIGGERS. JUST TRYING TO MAKE THE ENTIRE ENVIRONMENT A LOT MORE POSITIVE. >> TOGETHER, PARENTS AT RIP LEARN WHAT KINDS OF ENVIRONMENTS SET CHILDREN UP FOR GOOD BEHAVIOR AND HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT. >> THE BEST KIND OF ENVIRONMENT THAT A YOUNG KID CAN HAVE, IS ONE WHERE THERE ARE ROUTINES. ROUTINE IS REALLY IMPORTANT. RITUALS ARE IMPORTANT TO A CHILD. THEY NEED TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN FROM ONE TIME TO THE NEXT AND THAT DOESN'T MEAN EVERY MINUTE, BUT THEY'RE CONFIDENT THAT I'M GOING TO GET BREAKFAST IN THE MORNING, GOING TO SCHOOL, I'M GOING TO BE FED AT SCHOOL, THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE NOT HAVING SURPRISES ALL THE TIME. >> RIP HELPS PARENTS IDENTIFY A PARTICULAR BEHAVIOR. PARENTS THEN LEARN TO SHAPE THEIR CHILD'S BEHAVIOR THROUGH POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT. >> PARENTS, WHENEVER THEY SEE THE CHILD DOING SOMETHING THAT THEY LIKE, THAT THEY WANT THEM 22 TO DO, THAT THEY'RE GOING TO GIVE THEIR ATTENTION AND LOTS OF IT NICHELY. VERY SPECIFIC ACKNOWLEDGE MEANT OF WHAT THE CHILD IS DOING RIGHT. AT THE SAME TIME, UNLESS IT'S A DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR, WE'RE GOING TO ASK THAT PARENT TO TRY TO PULL THEIR ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE CHILD. >> I CALL IT LIGHTS ON, LIGHTS OFF. IT'S JUST LIKE A SWITCH. YOU TURN YOURSELF OFF WHEN THE CHILD MISBEHAVES AND WHEN HE DOES WHAT YOU WANT HIM TO DO YOU TURN YOURSELF BACK ON AND GIVE THEM PRAISE. >> NICE JOB. 10 EXTRA MINUTES FOR TOMORROW. >> WE STARTED WITH JUST VERBAL PRAISE FOR THE LITTLE THINGS. IF HE ASKED ME YOU KNOW MOMMY MAY I PLEASE DO THIS INSTEAD OF I WANT TO DO THIS RIGHT 23 NOW. YOU WOULD SAY YOU KNOW, NICE JOB USING YOUR KIND WORDS, AND THEN EVENTUALLY WITH THE HELP OF SOME OF THE STAFF MEMBERS AT RIP WE PUT TOGETHER THESE PLANS. SPENCER REALLY LOVED PLAYING THE KINDLE SO HE SAID OKAY, WE SAID OKAY CAN YOU PLAY FOR 20 MINUTES A DAY. NOW, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN 10 EXTRA MINUTES IF WHEN IT'S TIME TO GO TO BED AND I SAY EVERYTHING IS OFF, YOU TURN IT OFF. >> FOUR MINUTES LEFT, BUDDY BEFORE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN UNLESS YOU TURN IT OFF I'M TAKING THE KINDLE AWAY. JUST THAT SWITCH INTO THE MORE POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT, YOU HAVE THE CHANCE TO GAIN THINGS. HERE IS THE INCENTIVE INSTEAD OF I'M TAKING THINGS AWAY. IT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE. 24 >> WE'RE AT AN INCREDIBLE TIME RIGHT NOW WHERE WE ARE SEEING SO MANY DIFFERENT KINDS OF FAMILY STRUCTURES. SAME SEX FAMILIES WITH TWO DADS, SAME SEX FAMILIES WITH TWO MOMS, GRANDPARENTS RAISING CHILDREN. INCREDIBLE HETEROGENEITY TYPE OF FAMILIES OUT THERE IT COMES DOWN TO DO YOU HAVE LOVING PEOPLE LOOKING AFTER THAT CHILD AND THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE READING TO THE CHILD, MAKING SURE THEY'RE EATING NUTRITIOUS MEALS AND FOOD AND MAKING SURE THEY'RE OUT AND ACTIVE IN THE WORLD. IF THAT'S THE CASE, THEN THAT CHILD WILL DO WELL. YOU READY TO GO TO THE PARK? ONE AREA THAT WE REALLY HASN'T FOCUSED MUCH ON IS THE ROLE OF FATHERS IN FAMILIES. WE KIND OF MOVED AWAY FROM THE 25 TRADITIONAL 1950S MAN GOES OFF TO WORK, MOM STAYS AT HOME WITH THE 2.5 KIDS. WE'RE REALLY MOVING INTO A WORLD WHERE MORE WOMEN ARE IN THE WORK PLACE, MORE MEN ARE STEPPING UP IN THEIR CHILD CARE DUTIES. >> THAT'S A PRETTY YELLOW FLOWER. >> THERE'S EXCELLENT EVIDENCE THAT THE MORE INVOLVED A FATHER IS, THE LESS LIKELY THAT CHILD IS TO ENGAGE IN SEX, THE LESS LIKELY THEY'RE TO HAVE DELINQUENT BEHAVIORS, TO SMOKE, TO DRINK, THE LESS LIKELY TO HAVE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, THE MORE LIKELY THEY ARE TO DO WELL IN SCHOOL SO WHEN YOU PUT ALL OF THOSE THINGS TOGETHER, ONE OF THE GREATEST PLACES WE COULD REALLY FOCUS OUR ATTENTION WITH A GOOD RETURN, IS ON THE ROLE OF FATHERS IN THE FAMILY. >> WHILE MORE FATHERS MAYBE ADDING THE ROLE OF NURTURER ALONG SIDE THEIR TRADITIONAL RESPONSIBILITY AS PROVIDER, FATHER ABSENCE IS STILL A COMMON FACTOR IN CHILD HEALTH OUTCOMES. >> RECHILD KNOWS THEY HAVE A FATHER. WHEN THAT FATHER IS NOT ENGAGED IN THAT CHILD'S LIFE, IT LEAVES THE CHILD TO WONDER WHETHER OR NOT THE FATHER LOVES THEM. WHETHER OR NOT THE FATHER EVEN WANTED THEM. THERE'S THAT EMOTIONAL WEIGHT ON THAT CHILD. THAT CHILD CARRIES THAT THROUGH LIFE, WHICH CREATES ADDITIONAL STRESS AND THINGS THAT YOU WOULDN'T WISH ON ANY CHILD. >> WHEN I WAS 6 YEARS OLD MY 27 PARENTS DIVORCED. THE FAMILY JUST BASICALLY DISINTEGRATE. THAT WAS THE END OF MY MALE COMPANIONSHIP WITH ANY MALE. I DIDN'T HAVE A GRANDFATHER. MY FATHER WAS MISSING OUT OF MY LIFE. I REMEMBER SIGNIFICANTLY AT 8 YEARS OLD THAT YOU KNOW, I REALLY FELT LIKE I WAS KIND OF BY MYSELF A LITTLE BIT. I MEAN I HAD MY MOTHER, BUT AS FAR AS MY CONNECTION WITH ANY MALES I WAS PRETTY MUCH THE END OF IT. >> WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING TO GET FROM THE BOOT CAMP AND WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO SIGN UP? >> NASHVILLE'S PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS TESTING A SERIES OF EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE FATHER INVOLVEMENT IN THE LIVES OF THEIR CHILDREN. THE NEW LIFE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON FATHERS TO MAXIMIZE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF NASHVILLE'S FAMILIES. ONE OF THE NEW LIFE PROGRAM STRATEGIES IS A BOOT CAMP FOR NEW DADS, CAPITALIZING ON THE ANTICIPATION OF AN EXPECTING FATHER. >> WE WANTED TO FOCUS SPECIFICALLY ON PROVIDING EDUCATION TO FATHERS TO INSURE THEY HAD ALL OF THE SKILLS AND THE KNOWLEDGE AND CONFIDENCE TO BE ABLE TO BE ENGAGED IN A, AND INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES FROM DAY ONE AND EVEN BEFORE DAY ONE DURING THE TIME WHEN MOM IS EXPECTING. >> I THINK THE TRADITIONAL NOTION OF WHO RAISES THE CHILD AND WHO NUTURES THE CHILD ARE -- HAS INFLUENCED FATHER PRESENCE AND ABSENCE. THERE ARE REALLY ONLY TWO THINGS THAT A MOTHER CAN DO THAT A FATHER CAN'T. 29 THAT IS BIRTH A CHILD AND BREAST FEED. BEYOND THOSE TWO THINGS IT'S NEGOTIATE ABLE. >> ANOTHER WAY THE NEW LIFE PROGRAM IS WORKING TO ENCOURAGE FATHER INVOLVEMENT IS BY HELPING AND SEND DADS RECONNECT WITH THEIR CHILDREN, USING CENSUS DATA, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS TARGETING THE AREAS OF NORTH AND EAST NASHVILLE, WHICH HAVE THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF FEMALE-LED SINGLE PARENT HOUSEHOLDS IN DAVIDSON COUNTY. PARTICIPATING FATHERS ATTEND WORKSHOPS TWICE A WEEK FOR EIGHT WEEKS. >> WITH THE NEW LIFE PROGRAM WE WANT TO GET ACROSS TO FATHERS THAT THEY'RE IMPORTANT IN THEIR CHILD'S LIFE. WE'RE ALSO PROVIDING EDUCATION DIRECTLY TO THE FATHERS, THAT WILL HELP THEM MAKE POSITIVE 30 DECISIONS, HELP THEM TO GAIN EMPLOYMENT, AND TO HELP THEM OVERCOME ANY BARRIER THAT WILL PREVENT THEM FROM BEING INVOLVED IN THEIR CHILDREN'S LIFE. >> THE BARRIERS THAT SOME OF THE NEW LIFE DADS FACE ARE SUBSTANTIAL. >> WHEN I FIRST BECAME A PARENT I REALLY WASN'T A PARENT. I WAS A TEENAGER. I WAS A KID. FROM 19 TO 28, I PROBABLY JUST LIVED. WITHOUT EVER REALLY TRYING TO BE SOMEBODY. THAT BASICALLY LED ME TO TROUBLE. THAT LED ME DOWN THE WRONG PATH AND I MADE THE WRONG CHOICES. IN THE LONG RUN THAT ENDED UP CAUSING ME A LOT OF PAIN ON 31 DOWN THE LINE. >> SOME DADS COME WITH DEPRESSION ISSUES. SOME DADS COME WITH DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE ISSUES. OTHERS THAT HAVE ISSUES PAYING CHILD SUPPORT. MANY TIMES THE REASON WHY THE FATHERS ARE BEHIND ON CHILD SUPPORT IS THE EMPLOYMENT ISSUE. >> EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR DADS LIKE ROSS ARE LIMITED. IN 1998, ROSS PLED GUILTY TO A FIRST OFFENSE FELONY DRUG CHARGE, AND WAS SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON. THE TIME ROSS SPENT IN PRISON CHANGED HIS PERSPECTIVE. THE FELONY CHARGE CHANGED HIS LIFE. >> AFTER THOSE TWO YEARS OF PAYING MY DEBT TO SOCIETY, I THOUGHT THAT IT WOULD BE OVER BUT ONCE YOU GO BEHIND THOSE 32 BARS, YOU NEVER, IT NEVER GOES AWAY. EVERY JOB APPLICATION IS ASKING YOU KNOW, ARE YOU A FELON. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF A FELONY? I'M NOT THAT PERSON TODAY. I'M A BETTER MAN THAN I EVER HAVE BEEN BUT IT'S STILL HAUNTING. IT STILL HAUNTS YOU. >> ROSS IS PURSUING AN EDUCATION FOR A BETTER EDUCATION FOR A BETTER LIFE FOR HIM AND HIS CHILDREN. HIS CHILD SUPPORT DEBT THOUGH HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN $30,000 AND RESULTED IN THE DRIVERS LICENSE BEING REVOKED. >> THE CHALLENGES I FACE TRYING TO BE THE FATHER I WOULD LIKE TO BE, THEY'RE GREAT. BECAUSE RELATIONSHIPS ARE DESTROYED BETWEEN ME AND THE 33 MOTHER, SO THERE'S A BARRIER OF PAIN THAT WE HAVE TO SOMEHOW GET THROUGH AND IT'S HARD TO FIND YOUR WAY THROUGH THAT. THE CHILD SUPPORT SYSTEM IS ALWAYS BURYING ME UNDER MORE AND MORE PRESSURE. ALTHOUGH I'M TRYING TO MEET, I'M TRYING TO MEET THEIR EXPECTATIONS OF ME, OF WHAT A FATHER SHOULD BE. YOU KNOW IT'S EASY TO GIVE UP AND THAT'S WHAT I FEEL LIKE MY FATHER DID. I FEEL LIKE HE GAVE INTO THE THINGS THAT WERE FACING HIM BUT I FIGHT THROUGH ALL OF THAT, JUST BECAUSE MY KIDS DESERVE IT, AND ONCE I GET WITH MY CHILDREN AND IT'S ME AND THEM, I MEAN ALL OF THE BARRIERS ARE BROKE DOWN AND WE WE GENUINELY LOVE EACH OTHER. (APPLAUSE). 34 >> AT END OF THE FATHER HOOD WORKSHOP IS A GRADUATION CEREMONY, CELEBRATING THE RENEWED COMMITMENT OF PARTICIPATING FATHERS. ROBERT TAYLOR ALSO HOPES TO EXPAND THE MESSAGE THAT FATHERS MATTER BEYOND THE INDIVIDUAL FAMILY. >> I THINK WE HAVE TO MOVE AS A SOCIETY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES, NOT FROM THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, BUT FROM A COMMUNITY STANDPOINT, DEVELOPING A COMMUNITY THAT IS SUPPORTIVE OF FATHER HOOD. WORKING WITH THE SYSTEM AND AGENCIES AND THE POLICIES THAT AFFECT FATHERS AND FAMILIES AND IF WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AS A COMMUNITY, WE CAN REALLY MAKE THE MOVE TO WHERE WE ARE ELIMINATING THE ISSUE OF FATHERLESSNESS. >> I THINK THE AMERICAN SYSTEM OF PULL YOURSELF UP FROM YOUR 35 BOOT STRAPS AND THAT WORKS IN SOME SITUATIONS BUT I THINK MOTHERS AND FATHERS CAN BENEFIT FROM HELP VERY EARLY IN THE TIME FRAME WHICH I THINK IS SOMETHING THE YOU STATES IS BEHIND IN. >> I THINK ONE OF THE IMPORTANT THINGS WE CAN OFFER IS HOPE. EVEN WITH ALL OF THE CHALLENGES THAT FAMILIES AND PARENTS ARE FACING NOW, THERE IS A FAIR AMOUNT OF RESEARCH THAT SHOWS THAT IN A CHILD'S LIFE, EVEN IF THERE'S ONE ADULT THAT TAKES A SPECIAL INTEREST AND REALLY PUTS A LOT OF TIME AND ENERGY AND SUPPORT INTO THAT CHILD'S LIFE, THAT CAN BE A LIFE CHANGING POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON THAT CHILD. >> INSURING THAT THE FAMILY ENVIRONMENT IS AS STRONG AS IT CAN BE FOR EVERY CHILD IN TENNESSEE IS NOT EASY, BUT THE TIME AND EFFORT WE INVEST AS PARENTS TODAY AND AS A COMMUNITY, WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR GENERATIONS TO COME. PLEASE JOIN ME IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH CRISIS IN TENNESSEE AND WHAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT BY TUNING INTO NPT'S ONGOING COVERAGE, AND BY GOING TO WNPT.ORG-CHILDREN'S HEALTH.