More fathers fighting to stay in their children's lives

'Everybody has a say and everybody has a chance.' That's the word from Corporal Adrian Cornwall, a police corporal attached to the Jamaica Constabulary Force's Domestic Violence Unit, who says more fathers are taking their baby mothers to the Family Court in a bid to remain active in their children's lives.

Cornwall made the observation during a fatherhood forum hosted by the Right Shift Foundation in partnership with the JCF at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston on Sunday.

Asked whether more fathers were taking women to court, Cornwall responded: "Right now, as you speak. Just as a lot of men are taking women."

He said many of the cases stem from fathers being denied access to their children after relationships break down.

"Because they are barred, because of the bitterness, because of the issue that they have with the men. They are one-time lovers. That sweetness in the relationship is no more. So they bar the father from being involved in the child's life," Cornwall said.

According to him, many of the fathers who seek assistance from the police are looking for guidance on how to navigate the Family Court system, whether to secure maintenance or custody orders.

"There are a lot of cases we are seeing where women leave the children up on the fathers... and these men are coming to us as the police for guidance and we're giving them that guidance. Appointing them to the family court and they are getting the assistance down there," he said.

Cornwall explained that while maintenance is important, custody allows fathers to play a greater role in their children's upbringing.

"Custody with the maintenance is key because you can access the child and because they can access the child, you one-to-one can cater for all the needs, not just financial aspect for the child, but also the psychological, emotional, discipline, everything and you have that chance to be the father for that child," he said.

Executive Director of the Right Shift Foundation, Kevin Wallen, said he has also noticed what he described as a positive shift, with more fathers making an effort to stay involved in their children's lives.

"Absolutely. You see a lot more fathers that are actively involved," Wallen said.

"A lot more fathers that are actively fighting to get involved and to remain involved. So, yes, there is a big shift."

Wallen said the initiative sought to recognise not only biological fathers, but also father figures making a positive impact in their communities.

"So it wasn't necessarily just about the biological fathers, but it's the fathers, it's the father figures that I wanted to identify and just kind of make them know that they're important and the role that they play is important."

He also called for more conversations about fatherhood to take place in communities and encouraged fathers not to give up on being present in their children's lives.

"Your children look to you as a God. It doesn't matter what the world thinks of you. It doesn't matter what your baby mother thinks of you. It doesn't matter what anybody thinks of you. Your children see you as a God," Wallen said.

"Their confidence is shaken when you're not there. Everything about them is different. A lot of these girls are running into the arms of older men. It's them father them trying to find. It's that stability. It's that steadiness that they're trying to find."

Appealing directly to fathers, Wallen added: "Whatever it is that you have to do to remain in the children's life, it makes a difference. Do it."

The fatherhood forum formed part of the Right Shift Foundation's ongoing partnership with the JCF to encourage greater responsibility among men, particularly in inner-city communities, and promote positive fatherhood and stronger family relationships.

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