New from the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse!
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We are also devoting a good portion of this newsletter to providing resources to fathers, father figures, and programs on being healthy, dealing with stress, and helping fathers stay engaged with their children during these stressful times.
We also provide programs with resources to support fathers in their communities with challenges such as visitation issues, unemployment, activities to do with your children at home, and remaining as positive as possible for your children.
We urge everyone to be safe, be kind to your neighbors, and take each day one at a time.
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As a reminder, the best way to prevent the spread of germs is
h
andwashing
.
It involves five simple and effective steps (Wet, Lather, Scrub, Rinse, Dry).
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The past few months have presented some unforeseen challenges for fathers. Some of these challenges have included everything from homeschooling, unemployment, unanticipated visitation schedules, and other unpredictable family dilemmas. How can dads handle all these things at once? We hope the following resources will help dads navigate these challenges.
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Dads, we know you’re juggling so many responsibilities at home right now, like other dads across the country. The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) has created an important
short video
message to encourage and inspire dads like you to get connected and stay connected with your kids. We know that you play an essential role in the lives of your children, your family, your workplace, your community, and in society. As you work to strike a healthy balance between competing priorities, this video is a reminder that staying connected with your kids—who themselves may be struggling with adjustments to new schedules and more virtual contact with friends and family—can be a small but powerful way to assure them during these times of uncertainty. Additionally, the
video
will link you to
helpful resources o
n our website (Fatherhood.gov). Our goal is to spread this video message through social media networks and listservs to reach all dads at this most critical time, so please pass it along. And, most of all, take a moment to make a moment with your kids today! Thank you for all that you do!
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Make sure you are keeping the lines of communication open with your children.
Recent events can make anyone anxious, including children. It is very important to remember that children look to adults for guidance on how to react to stressful events. There are many resources out there to help you and your children cope and manage stress and anxiety. We have provided some of those resources here:
- The CDC also has general principles when talking to your children about the changes they are experiencing in their everyday lives and how they can play a role at home and in their communities.
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Keep children challenged
.
With school out, children of all ages need things to do to supplement their virtual learning. Here are some ideas for keeping your children engaged and challenged:
- Our new blog has tons of ideas on activities to do with your children while at home. Check it out!
- Many zoos, museums, and theaters are streaming live. Try Earthcam for live animal cams from all over the world.
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Successful Coparenting tips.
Many parents are wondering how to continue to abide by their coparenting and custody agreements. How do you successfully coparent when everyone is asked to stay in their respective homes? How can you maintain your part of the custody agreement? It’s complicated. The
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers
and
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts
have released
guidelines for coparenting,
s
even rules that provide practical advice and some clarity for how to handle custody agreements and court orders during this time.
Make sure to take care of you!
Finally, practice self-care. Dads often feel the burden of keeping their families and children safe and healthy, and many are feeling the stress of the unknown right now. Are you feeling anxious? Depressed? Stressed? Get some tips f
or
balancing work, home-life, and self-care
.
Remember you need to take care of yourself to be able to be the best dad for your children.
Remember, you can’t take care of others if you are not well yourself. Stay healthy! Make sure you are taking care of yourself.
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Dads, show us your moves and #DanceLikeaDad with your child! It only takes a moment to make a moment. Post a picture of your favorite moment with your kids It only takes a moment to make a moment. Post a picture of your favorite moment with your kids on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
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Fathers have a critical role to play in children’s physical, emotional, and social development and are essential partners in the prevention of maltreatment and achievement of timely permanence. A
range of organizational strategies and resources
are available for child welfare leaders who want to better support fatherhood initiatives and interventions in order to improve children’s safety, permanency, and well-being.
As a practitioner you are operating programs that help strengthen fathers and families. While dealing with the challenges faced by families, you also have the challenge of implementing a successful and sustainable program while also dealing with the current challenges being faced by fathers. The
NRFC has a section of Fatherhood.gov
which has compiled resources just for you!
Practitioners can also contact the NRFC directly to ask questions, suggest resources, and share innovations by emailing
Help@FatherhoodGov.Info
.
We all must work together to support fathers and families.
Disclaimer: Reference to specific products, services, or companies does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the U.S. Government, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), or the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse. ACF is not responsible for the contents of “off-site” web page references or for any private, third-party, pop-up, or browser-integrated software or applications.
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Upcoming Events
NRFC is monitoring events and will update our website and in newsletters if events are cancelled.
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Free NRFC Technical Assistance Webinar
On May 20, 2020 the National Responsible Clearinghouse will host a free webinar entitled Coparenting 201: Tips for Fatherhood Programs and Fathers.This webinar is a follow-up to our July 2019 webinar, The Importance of Co-Parenting and Relationship Skills: Helping Fathers Help Their Children. Presenters will focus on tips for programs that work mainly with non-residential fathers, including a look at the role of stepfathers in a coparenting team. We will also be joined by a father from the Fathers & Families Support Center who will share his coparenting story and offer tips for other fathers.
Register for this event
here.
Presenters:
- Armon Perry, Ph.D., Project Director/Associate Professor, 4 Your Child/University of Louisville, Louisville, KY.
- Brian Higginbotham, Associate Vice President and Professor, Utah State University, Logan, UT.
- Cheri Tillis, Fathers & Families Support Center, St. Louis, MO.
- Demetrice Davis, Fathers & Families Support Center, St. Louis, MO.
Moderator:
- Nigel Vann, National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse
The Office of Family Assistance, through the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC), is providing this technical assistance webinar for all responsible fatherhood practitioners, including current OFA grantees, and other interested stakeholders.
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Our Mission:
The goals of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse are to provide, facilitate, and disseminate current research and proven and innovative strategies that will encourage and strengthen fathers and families and providers of services.
Our Resources:
Visit the
NRFC website
for fatherhood topics and tools, news, and new publications, which can be found through the NRFC online
library search
.
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