Virtual Event
Dad Talk: Strengthening Connections with Fathers and Families
How to center and support fathers in their work, programs, and communities.
Why Engaging Fathers Matters
Fathers are essential partners in babies’ healthy development and in strengthening families.
Fathers want to be engaged and connected to their children. Yet too often, the programs, services and systems supporting families with young children are not designed to fully welcome or involve them.
Why It Matters
Babies thrive through safe, stable and nurturing relationships with the adults who care for them. Fathers can play a unique and important role in those relationships, supporting different aspects of early development, strengthening family resilience and helping create a strong foundation for their child’s future.
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Systems are not designed to support fathers the way they should. Many services are built around moms and children, but fathers are often an afterthought.
-MICHAEL
Fathers also need support themselves. They experience parenting stress and mental health needs, but fewer than 10% of fathers engage in current services and supports.
That is a missed opportunity for fathers, families, and especially, their babies.
Parents bring knowledge about their children, families and communities that systems cannot replicate. Safe Babies works to ensure parents are not simply recipients of services, but partners in planning, problem-solving and change. Parent leaders bring their firsthand experience into community, state and national conversations to help improve policies and practices for the families who come next.
Resource
Parent Leaders Are Vital for Stronger Early Childhood Systems
Parent leaders are an important part of early childhood systems to help shape the direction of services for themselves and other families.
Good Question
How can including parent voice change the trajectory of a baby involved in child welfare?
Support ZERO TO THREE
We need your support now more than ever to ensure all babies have access to the quality care, services and support they need to thrive.
