UPNEXT is a workforce development and fatherhood engagement initiative of the Midtown Community Court.
The UPNEXT program helps non-custodial fathers foster better relationships with their children, engage in the job market, and find and retain employment.
Participants are supported with fatherhood engagement including: parenting skills, financial planning, visitation and parenting advocacy, and navigating child support. UPNEXT uses the fatherhood-engagement curriculum, 24/7 Dad AM and PM, and assigns each participating father a case manager who uses motivational interviewing.
The program trains participants with job readiness skills including: employment search strategies, network-building, conflict resolution, customer service, budgeting, time management, résumé writing, and successful interview techniques. Thinking for a Change, the widely used cognitive-behavioral curriculum, is incorporated into UPNEXT’s job skills component.
Meet Harry, a proud father and alumnus of UPNEXT.