Billy Davis, founder and Executive Director of A Positive Step of Monroe County, and program alumni Lavontes Perry Sr. share a moment of camaraderie at the Key West Cooking School, where Perry is employed. (Photo: Carol Tedesco – APSMC)

A Positive Step of Monroe County (APSMC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, has received a $10,000 grant from United Way of Collier and the Keys to support its Southernmost Fatherhood Initiative Program.

APSMC was founded by social activist and Key West resident Billy Davis in 1999 to serve Monroe County’s highest risk kids and their families.

Until 2019, the organization, with Davis serving as Executive Director, was predominantly focused on area youth. However, because a large percentage of the young people APSMC serves come from homes with absentee dads, in 2019 Davis introduced the “Southernmost Fatherhood Initiative,” a cost-free program designed to provide supportive training for dads, including incarcerated ones, in developing parent, co-parent and child relationship skills, along with providing anger management, health, and substance abuse awareness training. The program is evidence-based, meaning it has been tested and validated through educational and social service organizations.

The “Southernmost Fatherhood Initiative” welcomes Monroe County dads, stepdads, and grandfathers with children under the age of 18. Along with a curriculum consisting of 12 two-hour sessions, the program also offers introductions to 12-step programs if needed, GED referrals, OSHA training, job coaching, construction job referrals, and case management.

“A Positive Step of Monroe County is committed to breaking the cycle of absentee dads, and this is partly accomplished through teaching better skills to men who might not have had a role model—or a good role model—on which to base their own parenting,” said Davis. “Dads who sign up for our cost-free program come from all manner of backgrounds. What they have in common is the motivation to become better parents.”

The mission of United Way of Collier and the Keys is to respond to community issues by uniting people and resources to create lasting change for a brighter future. Its vision is that all individuals and families living and working in Collier County and the Florida Keys have access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed and thrive.

For more information about APSMC and its programs contact Billy Davis at 305-304-1969 or APSMCCRP@aol.com or visit APSMC.org.

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