Background:
WATCH D.O.G.S.® is the father involvement initiative of the
National Center for Fathering that was founded by Jim Moore, a concerned
father who chose to take action in response to a 1998 middle-school shooting
in Jonesboro, AR. Moore wanted to help prevent violence from occurring
at his children's school or at any school. The first program was launched at
George Elementary in Springdale, AR, the school of Moore's oldest child.
Today, more than 1,500 programs in 36 states and New Zealand
participate in WATCH D.O.G.S.®
Program Goal: To help every school in
America be positively influenced by the committed involvement of fathers and
father figures in lives of their children and students.
How WATCH
D.O.G.S.® Works:
WATCH D.O.G.S.®, a
K-12 program, invites fathers, grandfathers, uncles, or other father figures
to volunteer at least one day all day at their children's/student's school
during the school year. Individuals sign up at a kick-off event such as a
Dads and Kids Pizza Night or in the office at any time throughout the school
year. The program is overseen by a Top Dog volunteer who partners with the
school administrator to coordinate scheduling and identify opportunities for
WatchDOGS to provide assistance at the school.
WatchDOG volunteers
perform a variety of tasks during their volunteer day including monitoring
the school entrance, assisting with unloading and loading of buses and cars,
monitoring the lunch room, or helping in the classroom with a teacher's
guidance by working with small groups of students on homework, flashcards,
or spelling.
Program
Effectiveness:
- During 2003, WATCH
D.O.G.S.® conducted a survey of 50 participating schools nationwide.
Key findings:
- 89% agree that
WATCH D.O.G.S.® is a valuable component of the school's efforts to promote a
safe and positive learning environment for students.
- 79% agree that
since implementing the WATCH D.O.G.S.® program, the school has experienced
an increase in father involvement in areas other than WATCH D.O.G.S.®
(parent-teacher conferences, volunteerism in the classroom or after school,
PTA/PTO involvement).
