Georgia Department Human Services will conduct Albany fatherhood celebration Saturday

ALBANY — The Georgia Department of Human Services is hosting “Fatherhood: A Celebration” Saturday at the Albany Technical College Logistics Education Center to celebrate and support fathers, especially non-custodial parents, in the Albany community.

The event also is designed to connecting those fathers with the resources they need to support their children.

Ravae Graham, deputy director for the office of communications for DHS, said the goal of the event — taking place 11 a.m.-2 p.m. — is to provide parents an opportunity to celebrate the roles fathers play in a child’s life while also learning about the resources available to unemployed or underemployed fathers with child support orders.

“We have been doing them around the state,” Graham said.

There will be a job fair — with interviews on the spot — and information on the DHS’s Fatherhood program, which is meant to help fathers who are unemployed or underemployed get the skills they need to find jobs paying above minimum wage so they can meet their child support obligations.

The event is also meant to be a fun experience for the whole family, with bouncy houses, food, giveaway items, live entertainment and other kid-friendly activities such as facepainting. Everything at the event will be free.

“It helps to eliminate any barriers (in the way of) child support,” Graham said.

Apart from employment, transportation and lack of education may be among the number of many barriers keeping non-custodial parents from staying on track. Graham said there will be program workshops there and a number of representatives available to answer questions parents may have concerning their particular obstacle.

Many of these struggling parents may not even know there are resources available.

“It lets people know about this program,” Graham said. “We do want fathers and mothers (to be involved). They do better when they have a financial (and constructive) involvement in their child’s life.

“There is no (law) enforcement, it is just a time to ask questions and have fun.”

Graham said officials are planning for hundreds of fathers and their children to attend this event, and there are several partners in the non-profit and for-profit arenas involved to help make it a success. She added that the statewide events started last year, and that there has been positive feedback.

This feedback, Graham said, has included testimonials from people who have felt supported because of the resources offered through DHS. The hope is that Albany parents not already getting help will find the same level of support and be more present in their children’s lives.

“We are hoping people take advantage of the fatherhood program,” Graham said. “At the end of the day it is about kids receiving the help they need.”

Albany Tech is located at 1704 S. Slappey Blvd.