Comments on: Be a Dad. Or Just Act Like One.

By: Coen Holweg

Coen Holweg — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 09:27:36 +0000

I know this is a short reply .
I love doctor phill and what he does , but unfortunantly its a bit dissapointing its mainly focussed on the US , because apart from the tv show being broadcasted , its pretty hard for Outsiders to get envolved

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 23:06:08 +0000

As a father to three children, being a Dad takes on many roles, confidant, friend, disciplinary, encourager etc. It is being whatever the role calls for for the moment and investment for their futures. It is not an easy one yet one thta is rewarding when you see the fruits of your children’s behaviours. My one child received the Ontario Principals Reward and the other two are following suit. I can say being a Dad is all about spending time in all area’s of their lives.

By: Sally

Sally — Tue, 25 Sep 2012 21:43:12 +0000

I watch your show nearly daily and want to say it is so awesome to see you do such good work. The show today with that little girl with severe mental illness was so sad. Helping people with their down times in life IS A TWO-FOLD SUCCESS STORY FOR THEM….AND YOU.. Life can be testy at best and just to have a support system and someone to listen, can make a big difference. You, Robin and your show crew are good people, making a difference in such a confusing world. I know. my mother mentally abused me with a little physical now and then….i became a cutter at 15. now, at 61, i have lung disease and gained 90 lbs i cannot lose, due to kicking the tobacco habit. the more i diet, the more i think about foof, the more i gain. it’s more than disheartening so when i watch your show, it helps me to heal.
i am not writing on the subject at hand as others above, but wanted to say thank you for all you have done and continue to do helping people. you will be truely missed one day. you are more than just a tv personality…..much more…you are a blessing to people, sent by God. God bless,

By: Adam Groves

Adam Groves — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 19:36:58 +0000

I totally agree with the message, be a Dad. I have always been a great father. My question is; how can someone be a father and deal with no community support when he is alienated through hostile-aggressive parenting? It does NOT always take two to fight. The lack of support for the fathers who are the ideal parent is non-existent. Fathers Day is nothing compared to Mothers day. I was the mother and father, where’s my celebration? Society seems to forget those of us good fathers while they complain about the bad ones and ignore the numbers of bad mothers, like in my situation. I have lost my daughter after 8 years of the alienation and mental abuse she is put through by her mother. After 2 years of full time living with me and my wife, paying my child support to her mother while my daughter was living with us, neglect and mental abuse by her mother when she would visit her, with professionals trying to help my daughter, yet no one will step in and do the right thing. I had to step out to prevent her from further mental torture by her mother and her family. Anything from lies to false allegations of abuse, targeting different members of my family. All unsubstantiated and proven fabricated. How am I at fault in any way? How am I a part of the problem? No retaliation would remove me as a part of the fight and makes me a victim. Dr. Phil seems to think it takes two to fight, I would love some advice and explanation to my questions, he is a smart guy but I feel like he’s missing some of his facts on that.

By: Chris

Chris — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 17:07:13 +0000

I have been a CASA advocate for nearly seven years and have been the voice for many adolescent boys and girls. These children need responsible adults to show them the “other side” of life. When my current youth turned 16-y/o last year, her greatest wish was to go to a theme park! Her wish came true! A CASA can be a mentor, a sounding board, a teacher, a guidance counselor, and a Court-partner. It can be frightening for these children to face their parents in Court; however, with their CASA sitting next to them, the youth feels more comfortable in speaking to the judge. With changes in social workers and placements, a CASA can be the most stabilizing person in the youth’s life: looking over schoolwork, going on outings, etc. I encourage every responsible adult to volunteer 4 hours a week for a foster child in your community.

By: Kindra

Kindra — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:32:14 +0000

I LOVE CASA and all that they do. I wish I had one growing up. With an absent Dad and incarcerated mother, I lived in foster care growing up and have seen the need for someone to be a voice for these children. I now work for a Christian Radio Network and have the awesome ability to air public affairs interviews for them. I am a huge supporter and encourage anyone that has a little time on thier hands or a legitimate heart for hurting children, to check into the organization to see how you can help. Our kids are worth your time. They are our future. Make a difference. BE A MAN. Or woman.

By: kelli patterson

kelli patterson — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 23:45:33 +0000

i have tried to volunteer with the victims advocate and do more to see that children have the help they need.

I live in WV and work with at risk youth and one thing i have noticed is there is no child advocates here. We do have a victims advocate but NO CHILD advocate. So many times i have been working with children who have been raped/molested/abused by people (and many time even family members) which lands them in placements (like where i work) for long term. One thing i have noticed is so many of these children recant their statements (out of fear or not knowing how the proceedings work) so they think they will end up back with the abuser. Luckily i know quite a bit about how things work (due to my passion to want to help them, college courses, awareness of how proceedings work etc.) so i fill them in with any answers that i may have which many times helps them to calm down and focus on their much needed treatment/therapy.

West Virginia has the highest rate of child abuse/neglect in the country so i dont understand why we dont have a child advocate program or CASA here. I planned on moving to Fla before i found out my mother had cancer and i had already set up a meeting to become CASA certified because i thought the program sounded fantastic but now that that im going to stay here in WV, i’d like to see a program like this started here.

Any ideas on how we can get this up and going? i have many connections in this field, im sure i could come up with many volunteers, and I KNOW WE NEED IT!!!!!!

Please help, any info, advice, or reccomendations would be greatly appreciated. I am a survivor and i started a concept yrs ago…PAY IT FORWARD and this is one way that i want to contintue to pay it forward.

Thanks and blessings to you all!

By: Susan Baldwin

Susan Baldwin — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 20:48:07 +0000

I’ve been an advocate since 2002 and the advocate manager for our tri-county CASA program since 2006. It’s been my observation over these 10 years that male youth in dependency most often do not have men active in their lives who are good role models, and even though CASA is not a mentorship program we certainly plant plenty of seeds in young minds. Our male volunteers are wonderful examples of what dads should be, but they also advocate DIFFERENTLY than women. Together the mix of men and women advocates is like cream in coffee, a great compliment to each other. Our monthly lunch meetings can get very lively…a rich mix in which each gender learns something from the other in our unending quest to speak for children.

By: Lynda Perring

Lynda Perring — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:09:48 +0000

Thank you for putting this important information on line for a wide audience of readers. I have been with CASA of Orange County, CA for almost 12 years and have seen so many young lives changed by a CASA. The male CASAs are always in short supply and have such an impact on the boys in the foster care system. The men are great at “doing things.” They are effective at conveying the importance of having goals, planning for a career, and so many other things. And most of all, they are there, being a good role model and nurturing self-esteem and trust! As much as we need male volunteers we also need females so attend an information session. If you volunteer it will be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do and it can give hope to a hopeless child.

By: Richard Allen

Richard Allen — Mon, 18 Jun 2012 17:09:37 +0000

I have been a CASA Volunteer for over 5 yrs. It is a wonderful feeling to have made a difference in a boy’s life. I live in the Salinas, Ca. area and there are many mexican families with an absent father. Some families have children from different fathers. These boys need a Man to show them an example of how a Man can honor his commitments and a person who will not abandon them. I fear this is a big part of the gang problem, and it is effecting current and future generations of young men. I don’t know the answer, but I know there are very few men in the CASA program. You can make a difference ! It’s not that hard to do. Take the training and show up for a child
You will be amazed at how important you are.