Clinical Title: Child as Father to the Man: The Synergistic Role of Men and Children Raising One Another
Book Title: Going Home by Tom Lamont
Book Description: Téo Erskine, in his early thirties, has moved on from the suburbs. He has a good job, a new-construction apartment in East London, and when he heads back to the suburbs on a dutiful weekend visit to his aging father, he is relieved to speed out of town in his own vehicle. Going Home is a sparkling, funny, bighearted story of family and what happens when three men—all of whom are completely ill-suited for fatherhood—take charge of a toddler. It’s a great summer read, and we can’t wait to share it with you!
Téo’s friends from Enfield are in no hurry to grow up. They are enjoying the liminal time between youth and responsibility with all-night poker games, trips to the pub, and hangovers slept off on a mate’s floor. Victor, Téo’s father, is in no hurry to get old. After his wife’s death, loneliness is a too-loyal companion, punctuated only by monthly visits from his son. To Joel, a toddler, the world is a playground full of adventures (and terrors) he will need to grow into. Joel’s need for these adult men (and a caring woman) leads them to interactions with the child welfare system and reflections on their own childhoods.
Going Home asks the important questions about what it means to grow up, to care, to parent, and to become family through fidelity or blood.
Clinical Objectives:
By reading this book and participating in its discussion, participants will:
- Define fatherhood and its role in human development.
- Analyze ways that expectations of men (and fathers) have changed since industrialization.
- Describe the processes of change in young children, that Selma Fraiberg has called The Magic Years.
- Identify 3 ways that child development impacts adult wellbeing and clinical outcomes.
About our Facilitator:
-Scott Cohen, MSW, LCSW is a clinical social worker with Family Support Line, the child advocacy center of Delaware County, Pennsylvania where he works with children and families affected by sexual abuse. Prior to this he served as a therapist in the psychotherapy clinic at Crozer Chester Medical Center. He has a small online practice and provides clinical supervision to interns and those seeking clinical licensure.
This event is open to PSCSW members only. Participants who attend this program must be present for its entirety to earn 3 continuing education credits.
Continuing Education Credits:
FOR PENNSYLVANIA SOCIAL WORKERS, MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS, AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELORS: This program is approved for 3 credits for professional workshops sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work, a state affiliate of the Clinical Social Work Association listed in Section 47.36 of Title 49, Chapter 47 of the PA Code, State Board of Social Work Examiners. This program is also approved for 3 credits for professional workshops for marriage & family therapists (Section 48.36) and professional counselors (Section 49.36).
FOR NEW JERSEY SOCIAL WORKERS: This program is approved for 3 clinical credits. Attendance at programs or courses given at state and national social work association conferences, where the criteria for membership is an academic degree in social work, are a valid source of continuing education clinical credit (N.J.A.C. 13:44G-6.4(c)4).
PSCSW Members - Before you begin any registration, you must log in to the website to pay the member rate. If you register without logging in, you will pay at the nonmember rate. If you need assistance logging in, please contact the PSCSW office at: pscsw@pscsw.org.