The Importance of Educators Building Concrete Relationships with At-Risk Fatherless Young Urban Males

Joseph Twumasi-Ankrah, LMSW; Carl Mazza, DSW, ACSW, LMSW; and David Ortiz

Many at-risk adolescent young men in single parent families grow up in an environment void of a consistent father or positive male role model. Also due to single mother demands such as multiple jobs to support the household; when the adolescent male attends school, the teacher often becomes the most influential person in the fatherless adolescents' male life. Over time, the development of relationships will provide numerous opportunities for teachers to help these students overcome various mental, behavioral, and emotional health barriers. The development of such relationships within the school environment will also better enable at-risk fatherless adolescent young male students to effortlessly achieve future academic and career goals.

Objectives

1. Discuss some of the issues that are associated with adolescent males who live in fatherless homes.
2. Describe the dilemmas often confronted by teachers regarding building concrete relationships with at-risk fatherless male youth.
3. Compile steps teachers need to take in order to prepare to help fatherless students.
4. Demonstrate the appropriate mentoring skills for maximal student growth within the classroom.

Target Audience: Counselors, educators. Intermediate level. CE credits offered = 1.5 contact hours