Charles Daniels
Fellow Charles Daniels from 2019 Obama Foundation Fellows.
Boston, Massachusetts
Always unexpected
Daring Greatly: How the Courage to Be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown
In the United States, 25 million children are growing up without a father figure. In situations where father absenteeism is impacted by incarceration, homelessness, depression, or joblessness, being an engaged father comes with more challenges. Fathers’ UpLift believes that everyone has the potential to be a good parent but that systemic oppression diminishes that potential. In many cases, fathers are left without access to the community, peer support, or mental health interventions that would help them overcome obstacles and fully engage in their children’s lives.
Fathers’ UpLift (Opens in a new tab) is the country's first mental health and substance abuse treatment facility for fathers and families, helping fathers become and remain emotionally stable for their children. Fathers’ UpLift uses peer coaching, father-child therapy, trainings, youth programs, and support for incarcerated and recently released fathers to honor and rehabilitate the relationship between thousands of fathers and families in the Boston area. In their outpatient clinic, over 800 fathers and families receive mental health services from clinicians trained in trauma who reflect the population being served. Outside of the clinic, Fathers’ UpLift partners with community centers, substance abuse programs, and other agencies to build a holistic approach to helping fathers rebuild their lives and their relationships with their families.
"As a therapist, receiving the credentials to provide mental health services to fathers and their families was a major accomplishment for me. When we received our license to operate as a treatment facility in Massachusetts, I knew we were on the verge of doing something great. The day we received our facility license in the mail will be a time in my life that I will always remember."
