Pioneer course gives teen dads guidance

Jesse Shepherd took his 6-month-old son Te Ruia to the opening of the exhibition. Photo / Greg Bowker

Becoming a father at 17 has made Jesse Shepherd rethink his life.

At first, he says, "I was a bit scared to tell our parents, and a bit excited - a bit of everything." But when the excitement passed, he had to think.

"I just looked at life in a different way," Jesse says.

"I thought I'd do something with my life, be more responsible and try and be a good example for my son."

Tonight, Jesse's attending what is believed to be the country's first course for teenage fathers at Henderson High School's teen parenting unit, He Wero o Nga Wahine.

And his photo with 6-month-old son Te Ruia, taken by his partner Alex Tahere, 16, appears in an exhibition of photos of fathers by their partners and children as part of Waitakere City's annual Fathering Week at the West City mall.

Ron Hepworth of the Changeworks Trust, who runs the teen fathers course with HealthWest social worker Junior Tavai, said young fathers too often dropped out of their fathering role because there was no support for them.

"Generally our research shows that when a young father goes to an antenatal class or parenting programme, the focus is almost solely on the mother," he said. "So we are trying to establish the relationships this young father has with himself, with his child, with his partner and with the wider family and community."

Changeworks has found in its counselling work with 14- to 16-year-old youth offenders that one in five of them is either pregnant, involved with a pregnant partner or involved with an abortion.

Harald Breiding-Buss, founder of the Christchurch-based Father and Child Trust, has worked with teen fathers since 2000 and found that many came from "rough backgrounds".

"This whole fatherhood thing just switched something in their brains, made them rethink their whole lives - he has a responsibility for a change," he said. "So to us this was a lost opportunity - you have young men with often troubled backgrounds who want to change. Let's try and grab it."

The nine-week Henderson course, a two-hour weekly session on Tuesday nights, is a pilot supported by Barnardos, HealthWest, Changeworks and the Father and Child Trust.

Mr Hepworth said funding was available for four courses a year. Teen fathers from outside Waitakere may have to pay a small fee.

He Wero o Nga Wahine head teacher Averil Symons said the partners of 10 of the 14 teenage mothers in her unit were active fathers.

"We have two or three families where the dad has moved in with the mum and her parents, and some, like Jesse, where the mum has moved in with the dad and his parents," she said.

"Even where the dads have chosen not to have anything to do with it, one of our mums' parents went and knocked on the door and said, 'Here's a photo of your daughter, when you want to see her we will welcome you.'

"The grandparents are supportive. They want their grandchildren to know their fathers too."

Waitemata Plunket is also starting "Dads 4 Dads" courses in Waitakere and the North Shore.

Volunteer services leader Naomi Layzell said Plunket would start a course for any group of fathers or fathers-to-be, even though most of its funding for parenting courses has been lost through Government cuts in adult education.

"We are committed to running the courses," Ms Layzell said.

"We are applying for grants and fundraising."