The idea of creating the Organization Padres Sí Somos came to me after becoming a father for the third time, with the birth of my son Arnaldo Raúl Morales Pérez. I told his mother of my desire to raise the child and alter a year of conversations; she gave me custody of my son. Because of everyday situations related to the bringing up of a child, I had to look for help. I did not have any luck; many doors were closed for me because no governmental agency gives help to fathers (masculine) in Puerto Rico. Still, given this situation I had not only the necessity but the desire to search and create a data bank about agencies and departments that help fathers here in Puerto Rico. The results of my search in these 6 years have been that not one of these institutions supports us. I started with an e-mail address: psspur@yahoo.com, to give support and orientation to fathers that are going through the same situation. Right now we have established cybernetic communication with over 841 fathers and we continue to receive very good results, www.padressisomos.org. A. Vision: Padres Sí Somos, we will support the men who are raising their sons and daughters. We will develop leaders of excellence in human rights, in social, economic and parental matters, looking that solidarity reaches all countries and communities. Achieving the integral development of the human being. Propelling that they all become authentic protagonists of their surroundings. B. Mission: To develop, capacitate, promote and implant the development of men in their main role as fathers, through the creation of recreational and educational activities as well as workshops that promote the emotional and social growth of our children...
- Objectives
1. The creation and development of a collaborating model of services and access to justice for the members of the organization.2. Give strength to the culture related to the rights of fathers in Puerto Rico.3. To adopt a culture oriented towards self advocacy which helps the viability of fiscal independence and organizational sustainability.
- Offering services, orientation and assistance to the members.
Low cost of the membership fee.7. The increment of existing legal rights for fathers in Puerto Rico.D. Services: Counseling, orientation, support groups, health professionals, contact of legal advice.E. 2000 Census/ 2005 Census: 1.3 million, Men in Puerto Rico since 1990 until 2000, 6,841 more households ran by men, in the last 2005 Census these numbers not only have grown, but have demonstrated that men are taking their main role as responsible parents, with numbers as impressing as: 19,437 more households ran by men.
- Phase I: San Juan, Trujillo Alto, Carolina, Moca, Ponce, Canóvanas,
Río Grande. Phase II: The division of the 71 cities (7 Remaining regions).F. Operative structure: President, Secretary, Accountant, Advisors and members.
- No hired employees so far, but we have a fairly consistent support group of professional advisors.
H. After the first meeting of the Board of Directors, a $1.25 monthly membership fee was established, ($15.00 a year). I. Financing: Searching for Info. Incorporated July 18, 2006. II. Cultivating Solidarity: I have directed all my efforts to offer parents support groups, counseling and workshops. We have also offered activities for personal and recreational development. We have established a contact for legal advice. III. Values: Padres Sí Somos is an organization that facilitates the development of well being for fathers that in one way or another take care of their children as heads of their households, with shared custody, or as part of a family unit conformed by two or more people.IV. Reach out bridges: We have organized meetings and presentations in many schools like the Villa Grande Middle-School in Rio Piedras and the Vocational school Petra Zenón de Fabery in Trujillo Alto. Support groups have been established through the Corporative Alliance of the Education Department (Alianza Corporativa Del Departamento de Educación), the Mental Health Department of San Juan city (Departamento de Salud Mental Del Municipio de San Juan) and the Family Department (Departamento de la Familia). We have made a presentation to the Advising Committee of San Juan city (Comité Asesor Del Municipio de San Juan). There has also been interest in our Organization from the Human Rights Foundation (Fundación de Derechos Humanos), from which Lic. Ada Conde has invited us to declare concerning the Civil Code in front of Puerto Rico’s Senate besides Lic. Daniel Nina and the NASW (National Association of Social Workers, Inc.) invited us to its Annual Assembly as reactors. Besides, we have received support from different professors and Department Directors of the University of the Sacred Heart. The Director of The Madre María Teresa Guevara Library made us a special invitation to participate in the Library’s Week. Also, Prof. Carmen Chazulle Rivera invited me to give a presentation to her Gender and Society Human Rights Graduate Course, The Director of the Community Binding Center (Centro de Vinculación Comunitaria) and the Prof. Mayra Lladó from the Department of Education. I also had the opportunity to meet with Prof. Fernando Medina, Director of the Social Sciences Department and we are working through alliances with Mrs. Julia Delgado Director of Prevention of ASSMCA, we are certified by the Institute for Recreation and Sports, in accordance with the organic law number 8 of January 8, 2004 of the mentioned Institute.V. Repeatable model: Padres Si Somos is the first organization that is aiding Puerto Rican fathers. We have an exhaustive work plan and we are implementing new ideas that will give us a better understanding of the real situations that fathers are facing. In accordance with our vision, it is imperative that the community realizes whose father’s needs are. For that reason, we have taken upon us the task of enforcing and helping those fathers who are raising their children, developing leaders of excellence in human rights, social, economic, and paternal matters that look to make solidarity reach all countries and society. Propelling that every person becomes authentically the protagonist of his environment and looking for the reinforcement of our vision we Hill achieve a better future for Puerto Rico.
