U.S. Congressman James E. Clyburn (SC-6) visits Father to Father Project Inc. in North Charleston, on January 3, the anniversary of his swearing in as House Majority Whip.

Clyburn spoke with program participants, Father to Father Project Executive Director Bill Jenkins, Sisters of Charity Health System President Sister Judith Ann Karam, CSA, Tom Keith, executive director of the Sisters of Charity Foundation and others.  Clyburn expressed his continued support for a Father to Father Project, which he felt was an innovative and important program.

Father to Father Project, Inc. is a part of the South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families, a nonprofit organization that develops and supports a statewide infrastructure that strengthens relationships between fathers and families throughout South Carolina. The Center was founded in 2002 by the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina as an outgrowth of its Fatherhood Initiative, Reducing Poverty through Fatherhood Engagement.

With site locations in North Charleston and Georgetown, the Father to Father Project, whose primary mission is to help laow-income, non-custodial fathers overcome barriers that may prevent them from being an integral part of their children's lives, serves the Lowcountry including Berkeley, Charleston, Dorchester and Georgetown counties.

Since it's inception in 1998, the Project has served 1,133 fathers, and has impacted 2,496 children. The Project typically serves an average of 90 fathers per year. Program participants enter into the program voluntarily or are court-ordered for non-payment of child support.

The Father to Father Project, Inc. offers a variety of services to its participants in its 24 week program.  Services include group and individual sessions in the following areas: Parenting and Co-Parenting Instruction, Communication Skills, Personal Development, Job Readiness and Employment, Financial Management, Healthy Relationships, Substance Abuse Consultation, Responsible Fatherhood and Father/Child Activities.

Upon entering the program, participants are assessed to determine their specific needs and goals. Based on the assessment, a service plan uniquely tailored to address the individual's specific needs is developed and monitored.

The North Charleston site features an Alternative to Incarceration program in which fathers who are incarcerated or about to be incarcerated for non-payment of child support are court-ordered to the program in lieu of incarceration. This unique program allows the fathers to secure employment and pay their child support versus being incarcerated. But more importantly, it allows the fathers to be available to provide the love, nurturing and guidance their children need to reach their fullest potential.

Pictured: Tom Keith, executive director of Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina; Sister Judith Ann Karam, president of Sisters of Charity Health System; Congressman James Clyburn and Yvonne Orr, Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina board member.