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Fatherhood
Fathers are too often a forgotten part of the child welfare equation. Yet, engaged fathers, whether or not they live with the child or not, are an important part of children’s support systems. Child welfare involved children who have a non-resident father who is engaged in their life are more likely to leave out-of-home care, return home more quickly and are less likely to experience subsequent maltreatment reports. Fathers can also be an important part of the prevention equation. Learn more about effective father engagement strategies.
Featured Resources
Engaging Dads: Seeing Their Strengths
This short film makes the case for seeing dads as an asset, not a liability. A great casemaking tool for your social media feed.
Dads Rock! Engagement Toolkit
The engagement toolkit includes background research, discussion guides, agency checklists and other tools to help you use the Dads Rock films to transform your program.
Complete List of Resources
Videos and Social Media
- Coming SoonFatherhood Social Media Gallery
Use our social media resources to help spread the message that dads matter. - Dads Rock! Nurturing Father Engagement
This short film, part of the Building Community, Building Hope series, follows fathers on the journey to deepen their bonds with their children and the professionals working to improve father engagement. - Engaging Dads: Seeing Their Strengths
Timed to be used for social media, this short film makes the case for seeing dads as an asset, not a liability. - Getting Real With Fathers
Many men are taught to bottle up their emotions; watch fathers discuss how they have grown by sharing experiences and bonding with others. - Xavier’s Story: Becoming a Role Model
Learn how Xavier overcame challenges to become a better father – and a role model for boys growing up without fathers.
Practice Tools and Briefs
- Dads Rock! Engagement Toolkit [PDF]
The engagement toolkit includes background research, discussion guides, agency checklists and other tools to help you use the Dads Rock films to transform your program.
Digital Dialogue Recordings
- Dads Rock: Nurturing Father Engagement
What are some challenges agencies face when they try to engage fathers? Hear about the Fatherhood Initiative featured in the film Dads Rock! - The X-Y Factor: Engaging Dads Using the Protective Factors
Learn how to encourage dads to build protective factors—and what’s unique about working with dads. - Real Talk: Responding to Challenging Issues in Father Engagement
This Digital Dialogue brought together fatherhood practitioners from around the country to discuss some of the bigger challenges when trying to effectively engage fathers.
External Resources
Partners
- Healthy Marriage & Responsible Fatherhood
Office of Family Assistance, Administration for Children and Families
The HMRF programs are part of ACF’s strategy to improve the long-term well-being of children and families. - National Fatherhood Initiative
National Fatherhood Initiative® works to increase father involvement by equipping communities and human service organizations with the father-engagement training, programs, and resources they need to be father-inclusive.
