The New England
Fathering Conference
Your NEFC Planning Committee hard at work planning the March 2022 event in Newport, RI
2022 New England Fathering Conference:
After a two-year hiatus, the New England Fathering Conference Planning Committee is very pleased to announce
that we will be hosting an IN-PERSON conference at the beautiful Newport Marriott in Newport, Rhode Island on March 16th, 17th, and 18th 2022! **Subject to change at the discretion of the NEFC Planning Committee**
Information about registering for the conference will be announced later this year.
Please Note:
For the continued health and safety of the NEFC community, precautions will be in
place for the March 2022 conference and all those who register will be required to
be fully vaccinated and submit proof of vaccination prior to arrival at the event.
Instructions will be provided when registration opens.
2021 New England Fathering Conference
Virtual Workshop Series:
You can check out a print-friendly list of all the workshops we are offering in 2021 by clicking here, or go straight to our Registration Page where you can register yourself for Session IV (taking place on December 8th).
All of this year's NEFC workshops are being offered virtually and at no cost, but space is limited and you do need to register in advance. Information about CEUs for Social Workers is included below the line up.
Session I - Wednesday, March 10th (SOLD OUT):
Workshop 1 (9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.):
Recognizing and Healing the Trauma of Father Absence
Presented by Doug Edwards
Our children need parents to be at their best. Acknowledging and resolving adverse childhood experiences helps us to set our kids up for success. Our workshop will look at our brains and bodies, examining the effects of trauma to discover the many effective ways to bring about healing.
Workshop 2 (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.):
Family Matters-Working with Fathers and Families Impacted by Incarceration
Presented by Richard Claytor and David Mayo
This workshop explores how the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department brings a community-centered approach to working with fathers and their families impacted by incarceration. Utilizing community service providers and a prevention model approach, SCSD Family Matters Program prepares incarcerated men for re-entry in areas of responsible fatherhood and co-parenting.
Session II - Wednesday, June 9th (SOLD OUT):
Workshop 3 (9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.):
Getting to Yes: Positive Negotiating with Your Parenting Partner
Presented by Stanley N. Bernard and Hyacintha V. Bernard
Successful co-parenting comes from compromise, honest communication, and finding middle ground. This session will use the principled negotiation techniques proposed in the book Getting to Yes to give fathers and service workers insight into finding that middle-ground consensus decision that both parents can live with.
Workshop 4 (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.):
Confronting Cyber-addiction: Effective Parenting in the Digital Age
Presented by Jessica Fortunato
This workshop will offer service providers a framework for understanding the risks and impacts of social media and too much screen time on development and well-being. We will discuss how to effectively share this framework with parents and examine some of the fundamental aspects of human experience compromised by overuse of technology. Specifically, we will focus on the importance of attention, mindfulness, self-awareness, and resilience. Attendees will learn strategies to empower and equip parents for successfully engaging with their children about the digital landscape and the need for informed and balanced use.
Session III - Wednesday, September 22nd (SOLD OUT):
Workshop 5 (9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.):
Comprehensive Understanding of Human Trafficking in our Communities/Country
Presented by Joyce Dixson-Haskett and TeLisa Richardson
Presenters will provide professionals in the health care and social work fields with substantive training regarding the issue of Human Trafficking, and how it relates to their area of practice; and how family members can identify signs that their children may be in danger of being trafficked.
Workshop 6 (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.):
Creative Ways of Dads Promoting Healthy Masculinity in Adolescent Boys!
Presented by Anthony C. Hill
This workshop is designed to equip dads and helping professionals with awareness and strategies to help males learn about healthy masculinity. This will be an interactive workshop and I will display a variety of exercises and popular media such as DVDs and YouTube clips as an educational tool.
Session IV - Wednesday, December 8th:
[Registration for Session IV is NOW OPEN - Click here!]
Workshop 7 (9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.):
The Manhood Tree
Presented by Abdul-Rahmaan I. Muhammad
The Manhood Tree is an exploration of the four hoods: Boyhood, Brotherhood, Fatherhood and Manhood using the analogy of a tree. The overall goal of the discussion is to allow men to discuss their experiences of transitioning from boyhood through adolescence into manhood, while emphasizing their brotherhood and fatherhood relationships.
Workshop 8 (11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.):
Effective Fatherhood Group Facilitation Skills
Presented by John O’Neil and Paul N. Melville
With a constantly increasing number of agencies and programs recognizing the importance of supporting dads, there is a corresponding need for professionals who have the tools to effectively engage and support men. We will identify barriers to facilitating father support groups and discuss practical methods for overcoming these challenges.
CEUs for Social Workers:
The New England Fathering Conference is offering free CEUs for each of the eight workshops in their 2021 series (two workshops per session). Each 1½ hour workshop will be worth 1½ CEU credits . If you are interested in receiving CEUs, please contact Kevin McKenna at kmckenna1023@gmail.com prior to the event day. Kevin will provide the necessary instructions for earning CEUs.
-------------------------------------------
Summer 2020 Webinar Series
New England Fathering Conference (NEFC) FREE three-part Webinar Series
In Summer 2020, the New England Fathering Conference (NEFC) delivered a FREE three-part Webinar Series to support Fatherhood professionals around New England and beyond. All three sessions are now viewable at no cost:
Part I: Successful Service Delivery for Fathers During Our "New Normal"
took place on Wednesday, July 15th, and is viewable by clicking here.
Part II: Back to School in the "New Normal": Supporting Fathers and Families
took place on Wednesday, August 26th, and is viewable by clicking here.
Part III: Supporting Fathers' Health and Community/Systems Involvement in the "New Normal"
took place on Wednesday, September 23rd, and is viewable by clicking here.
Session III was originally scheduled on the second day of Rosh Hashanah, which would needlessly exclude those who observe the Jewish High Holidays. We would like to thank those of you who brought this grave mistake to our attention. We sincerely apologize for the hurt inflicted by our oversight, and promise to make certain it never happens again.
Newport Marriott
25 America's Cup Avenue Newport, RI 02840
About Our Conference
The New England Fathering Conference (NEFC) was initiated in Massachusetts in 1999 and was held there annually until the Planning Committee decided to rotate the event around the New England region every two years. We’ve continued hosting successful conferences in Connecticut (2008, 2009 and again in 2016 and 2017), Rhode Island (2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015) and Maine (2012 and 2013), each with 300-400 attendees and presenters from across New England and beyond! We then brought the conference to Springfield Massachusetts for 2018 and 2019, highlighting how our work with fathers supports the legacy they are creating for their children and celebrating our 20th annual event. In 2020 and 2021, COVID-19 prevented the NEFC from meeting in person, but our work continued. In 2020, we offered a three-part webinar series for fatherhood professionals and in 2021, we are offering eight workshops at four quarterly sessions to keep folks engaged and looking forward to 2022.