A father instructs his two sons at the dirt track near Caymanas Park, St. Catherine. - Contributed

Paul H. Williams, Sunday Gleaner Writer

For the struggling Jamaican father, who is having domestic challenges, he's not alone, if only he forgets his silly idiosyncrasies and seeks help. It is available through Fathers in Action and Fathers Crisis Centre, two organisations set up to address the psychological and emotional needs of men.

The organisations resulted from Lanny Davidson's experience as a father who fought valiantly to get custody of his daughter and to gain visitation rights. His many visits to the Family Court saw him striking up conversations with fathers and mothers who had problems with their spouse. He discovered that many fathers were going through many crises, yet there was nowhere to turn for support. This prompted him to start Fathers in Action in November 2001.

Assists dads with parenting

Fathers in Action assists single dads, and less fortunate ones, with parenting. It also helps single mothers who want male activities for their children, particularly boys. There are many activities that it organises for fathersand their children: dirt-bike riding, fishing, hiking, swimming, camping, religious activities and father-son retreat weekends in St. Mary. Davidson says: "We also go to schools, when invited, to give talks to the boys about the importance of education and on other motivational topics. We currently have a programme to teach boys (and some girls) to ride motocross bikes as we have found it builds confidence, improves self-esteem, behaviour and school work."

Out of Fathers in Action came the Fathers' Crisis Centre, to help men - especially those seeking custodial and visitation rights - who have serious problems with the Family Court and their spouse. It also looks at the issue of men who are accused of being the father of another man's child and are being forced to support that child. Such men are assisted in taking a DNA test to prove/disprove paternity.

Davidson states: "Most men have never heard of such a test to prove paternity and don't even know where to go to do such a test ... We also have a lawyer who will give some advice free, and a clinical psychologist who gives some of her services free." He also says 34.5 per cent of the men tested at the University Hospital of the West Indies are not the father of the child.

There is no definite membership at the crisis centre as the communication is done on a one-on-one basis. From time to time, some of the men meet to share information, to discuss ideas and to make plans for Father's Day.

Not partial to men

Davidson's organisations are not partial to men. In fact, the first person to get help was a woman. The Women's Crisis Centre itself, from time to time, refers men to Fathers in Crisis to talk with male counsellors.

Since the services are not listed and there is no sign on the building at 5-7 Dunrobin Avenue in St. Andrew, where the crisis centre is located, knowledge of its existence is mainly conveyed by word of mouth. There is also a telephone number on the Kingston Family Court door. For those who do not want to go to the centre itself,meetings can take place in a public place, and much of the counselling is done on the phone at 893-9340.

For those who are afraid of divulging personal information, "they can get in touch with the crisis centre because everything that we talk about is absolutely private ... I would never discuss (it) ... I don't even remember the details anyway, half the time, " Davidson says.

Fathers in Action and the Father's Crisis Centre are non-government, not-for-profit, voluntary organisations. However, they accept donations, and there is currently a drive on to collect the necessary funds for registration.

You can email Fathers In Action at fathersinaction@gmail.com. Also, watch out for this bumper stick: 'Fathers love their children too.'

paul.williams@gleanerjm.com