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Administration for Children and Families US Department of Health and Human Services
ACF Region 8 - Denver

Focus on Fatherhood

HHS Fatherood Initiative

Responsible Fathers Are Men Who:

  • fulfill their financial obligations on a timely and consistent basis,
  • serve as role models to their children, leading by example,
  • can separate problems in other relationships from relationships with their children,
  • can put their children’s interest before their own, and play an active role in the emotional and academic development of their children.
    (Resource: Center for Successful Fathering, Inc.)

Children With Involved Dads Are:

  • more ambitious,
  • less susceptible to peer pressure,
  • more competent,
  • more self reliant, and
  • more self confident with adult males and females.
    (Resource: Center for Successful Fathering, Inc.)

Without A Father In A Child’s Life He Or She Is:

  • 32 times more likely to run away,
  • 5 times more likely to commit suicide,
  • 9 times more likely to drop out of high school,
  • 2.5 times more likely to become a teen parent,
  • 37% more likely to abuse drugs,
  • twice as likely to live in poverty, and
  • twice as likely to commit a crime.
    (Resource: DHHS Fatherhood Statistics)

Programs of the Administration for Children and Families

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

  • Tribal Programs
  • Child Care
  • Child Support
  • Enforcement
  • Head Start
  • Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
  • Administration On Developmental Disabilities

The Importance Of A Fatherhood Initiative

The Department of Health and Human Services has developed a special initiative to support and strengthen the roles of fathers in families. This initiative is guided by the following principles:

  • All fathers can be important contributors to the well being of their children.
  • Parents are partners in raising their children, even when they do not live in the same household.
  • The roles fathers play in families are diverse and related to cultural and community norms.
  • Men should receive the education and support necessary to prepare them for the responsibility of parenthood.

The Administration For Children and Families Region VIII Staff are Committed To:

  • increasing awareness of the essential roles fathers play in raising their children by developing and disseminating information to increase the
  • understanding of fathers’ obligations and responsibilities,
  • promoting and encouraging father involvement through its partners and program services across the Region's six State service area, and
  • enhancing fatherhood initiatives through ACF’s own work force policies.

Benefits Of Father/Male Involvement

Benefits To Fathers

Studies indicate that more men would like to be involved in their children’s lives. Many of them are simply unaware of the ways they can accomplish this. Systemic barriers and societal stereotypes also play a major part in why men are not as involved as they could be or should be.

Benefits To Children

Research continues to demonstrate that a positive male role model has many benefits for children. Social adjustment and enhanced cognitive development are just a few of the benefits children receive from interested and involved fathers and significant male role models/mentors.

Benefits To Your Organization

Service delivery to children and their families will be strengthened by encouraging paternal involvement. Agencies will benefit from enhanced interagency coordination of services and cooperation.

Benefits To The Community

The benefits of male involvement in a child’s life are almost too large to measure. Imagine your community with lower dropout rates, lower numbers of families living in poverty, lower crime rates, less drug use, and fewer cases of teen-age pregnancy. These are just a few ways involved fathers could help build stronger and healthier communities.

Creating A Father-Friendly/Male Involvement Environment

The first step of implementation is to assess your agency to see how open it is to male involvement. Discuss fatherhood with your staff. There are many faces of fatherhood, including biological fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, and a host of understudies - from uncles to coaches - who fill the void when they are needed.

Tips For Creating A Father-Friendly Environment

  • Greet the men that drop-off or pick up kids from your programs.
  • Conduct a father focus group to determine what your agency needs to do to become more father-friendly.
  • Spotlight father involvement and highlight male volunteers in the newsletter.
  • Have a father write a small section of the monthly newsletter. Call it "Dad’s Corner."
  • Make the building/lobby male friendly by including diverse reading materials and pictures.
  • Encourage staff to invite men to your agency for activities & special events.
  • Sponsor a fatherhood workshop in your community.
  • Explore ways to let men know they are welcome at your organization.
  • Be Creative!