M.A.N. C.A.V.E. fatherhood program offers tools for positive relationships

M.A.N. C.A.V.E. is a fatherhood program created in partnership with the Greater Phoenix Urban League, the City of Phoenix and My Brother’s Keeper.

This fatherhood program in Phoenix helps fathers and male role models by offering tools, as well as experiences, and the support they need to have positive relationships with their children and families. They do this through classes and activities that strengthen communication skills, parenting skills and marital communication.

Marion Hill, Project Director and Program Facilitator of the fatherhood program Phoenix initiative M.A.N. C.A.V.E., joined “Arizona Horizon” to share details on how the program is helping fathers across Arizona.

“Men all need to be caring, actively engaged and vested and encouraged, changing lives of fathers and children through father engagement,” said Hill.

Hill explained the most important time is the zero to five age range.

“I was looking at things this morning back in the 1960s; 10% of families grew up in families where there were single-parent homes. If you look at today, it’s about 40 to 45% growing up in single-parent homes without the biological father in the home. When you think about the number of children we call insecurely attached, that number is 45%. Interesting it runs in correlation with fatherlessness,” said Hill. This is one reason why the Phoenix fatherhood program is so crucial.

Hill said he wants to accomplish these things and improve parenting skills through this fatherhood program. Hill also said his goal is “helping fathers understand paternal nurturance and what gifts it brings to the child.”

“What moms bring and dads bring are different in nurturing. So we want to make sure the parenting skills are on point. We also want to offer opportunities where we create healthy marriages,” said Hill.

In the program, they spend time on how to do a better job of communicating and offer strategic parenting tips so parents are on the same page as they raise their kids.

The program also provides the opportunity and resources to find other employment.

“Employment that allows them to get over the hurdle of saying, ‘Look, I have to spend a lot of time working in order to bring a salary into the home,'” said Hill.