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For Dads, the “Be There for Your Kids” awards

[1]Colorado Fatherhood Council Seeking Nominations For The 2010 Be There For Your Kids Awards

Annual awards recognize extraordinary work in the fatherhood field

In an effort to recognize and reward outstanding individuals and program service in healthy father involvement with children, families and communities throughout Colorado, the Colorado Fatherhood Council has opened nominations for the 2010 Be There for Your Kids Awards. Nominations must fall into one of the following eight categories:

Be There For Your Kids Father of the Year: Awarded to a father or father figure who excels at fathering, has provided community leadership, served as a public role model or acted as a mentor to other children or fathers.

Outstanding Fatherhood Practitioner Award: Awarded to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of fatherhood practice through his or her work throughout the state or in the local community.

Policymaker or Advocate of the Year: Awarded to a local or state policymaker or individual who has provided valuable leadership in support of policies or legislation affecting issues of positive parenting and fathering.

Colorado Fatherhood Council Member of the Year: Awarded to the Colorado Fatherhood Council member who has made an outstanding contribution to the work of the council.

Program, Coalition or Agency of the Year: Awarded to the program, coalition or agency that has made an outstanding contribution to advancing the field of fatherhood practice or policy in Colorado.

Child Welfare Caseworker of the Year: Awarded to the Colorado Child Welfare Caseworker who has made an outstanding contribution toward engaging fathers in child welfare services.

County Child Welfare Department of the Year: Awarded to the County Child Welfare Department that has demonstrated improvement or excellence in strengthening positive father engagement in the child welfare system.

Other: Workplace of the Year, Media Representative of the Year, Visionary of the Year, Collaborator, etc. Individuals are encouraged to nominate other organizations/individuals that do not fit any of the designated categories. Nominees should achieve a high level of support for fathers and/or for the field of fatherhood practice and policy. The selection committee will determine the number of awardees in this category.

Individuals and programs from across the state that demonstrate excellence, consistency, creativity and leadership in serving fathers or in being a father are eligible to receive an award. Each nomination will be evaluated against its category’s primary characteristics. Awards will be made based on how well the nominee meets the criteria and serves to promote and/or support fatherhood in Colorado.

“Thousands of Coloradans dedicate themselves to improving paternal relationships in Colorado every day, ” said Rich Batten, fatherhood and family specialist with the Colorado Department of Human Services. “We are honored to recognize those who have made a difference in connecting fathers to their children or in improving access to available services for fathers with the Be There for Your Kids Awards. The awards serve as another way to build awareness of the importance of children having healthy relationships with fathers or father-figures throughout their lives. ”

Winners of the Be There Awards will be recognized during several community events the week of Father’s Day 2010. To submit a nomination for the 2010 Be There for Your Kids Awards, please visit www.coloradodads.com [2]. Nominations must be submitted by May 15, 2010.

About the Colorado Promoting Responsible Fatherhood Initiative and Colorado Fatherhood Council: In October 2006, the Colorado Department of Human Services, Colorado Works Division was awarded a $10 million federal grant over five years to strengthen father/child relationships and improve parenting. Colorado is one of two locations nationwide, including Washington, D.C., to receive this federal community access grant. The Responsible Fatherhood Initiative distributes more than $1.1 million in community awards to State, community and faith based organizations to assist in providing direct services to fathers and families. Awards of up to $50,000 are distributed per program per fiscal year. The Colorado Fatherhood Council is a coalition of administrators, practitioners, fathers and other stakeholders coordinated by the Colorado Department of Human Services that is committed to creating and sustaining a coordinated statewide network of services that will result in the children of Colorado having long-term healthy relationships with their father or a father figure. For more information on a fatherhood program in your community, please visit www.coloradodads.com [2].