Organizations across the state of Texas employ innovative and creative strategies to serve fathers and support families. Below, practitioners share their stories on how and why they serve fathers.
Thanks to every practitioner who created a video to inspire organizations to try new strategies to support families!
Practitioner Stories
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Tecora Smith, Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Key Topic: Father Inclusion
Found in: Tools for Organizations
Listen to Tecora discuss how WIC created a father-friendly environment, engage fathers during visits, offer father-specific classes, and connect with fathers in hospitals and schools.
DFPS, Child Protective Services
Johnnaé Cortez, Department of Family and Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Region 3 East
Key Topic: Father Inclusion
Found in: Tools for Organizations
Listen to Johnnaé share how DFPS helped host a Region 3 East fatherhood summit that provided examples of the experiences of fathers involved in the child welfare system and helped staff dispel biases about fathers.
LifeWorks
Stephanie Rainbolt and Jerry Lacera, LifeWorks
Key Topic: Father Inclusion
Found in: Tools for Organizations
Listen to Stephanie and Jerry describe how LifeWorks used research, focus groups, community connections, and fatherhood conferences to inform their creation of the fatherhood specialist position, as well as how LifeWorks approaches and encourages teen fathers.
Partners in Parenting
Jessica Burleson, Partners in Parenting
Key Topic: Father Recruitment
Found in: Tools for Organizations
Listen to Jessica highlight the strengths and challenges of bringing fathers together as she shares her experiences hosting an event with Partners in Parenting (PIP). PIP used a creative venue selection to promote relationship-building and facilitate learning and discussion about fathers’ mental health needs.
Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation
Jessica Trevino, Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation
Key Topic: Father Recruitment
Found in: Tools for Organizations
Listen to Jessica list the various ways the Coastal Bend Wellness Foundation recruits fathers into the PADRE program, including offering offsite and onsite services, incentives from bus passes to essentials, and an annual Daddy Daughter Dance open to the public.
Housing Authority of the City of Austin
Joshua Banks, Housing Authority of the City of Austin
Key Topic: Father Retention
Found in: Tools for Organizations
Listen to Josh discuss the incentives the Housing Authority of the City of Austin (HACA) uses to recruit fathers into iDADS, how HACA uses technology (e.g. Facebook, Textedly, Constant Contact) to keep fathers engaged, and how HACA uses surveys and research to make program adjustments.
NewDay Services
David Larry and Tommy Jordan, NewDay Services
Key Topic: Father Retention
Found in: Tools for Organizations
Listen to David and Tommy share how the NewDay facilitators maintain weekly contact with fathers to connect them to practical supports and resources in the community to meet any needs fathers have.
Arlington ISD, Dads Engaged for Excellence
Eric Phillips, Arlington ISD, Dads Engaged for Excellence
Key Topic: Father Retention
Found in: Tools for Organizations
Listen to Eric describe the Arlington ISD programs that encourage fathers to stay involved in their children’s academic lives, other supports to promote father engagement, and how Arlington ISD regularly communicates with fathers.
Fatherhood Coalition of Tarrant County
Mervil Johnson, Fatherhood Coalition of Tarrant County
Key Topic: Community Coalitions
Found in: Tools for Communities
Listen to Mervil recount the formation of the Fatherhood Coalition of Tarrant County, starting with identifying stakeholders in the community over two decades ago. Mervil also provides advice for organizations looking to form their own community coalitions to support fathers.
BCFS Health and Human Services
Tim Morgan, BCFS Health & Human Services
Key Topic: Community Coalitions
Found in: Tools for Communities
Listen to Tim discuss the partnerships BCFS Health & Human Services forms with agencies and organizations in the community to reach a wider population of fathers with information about their program and to provide services offsite.
NewDay Services
Tommy Jordan and Don Mansfield, NewDay Services
Key Topic: Coparenting
Listen to Tommy and Don discuss NewDay’s commitment to promoting coparenting and what organizations should consider when teaching coparenting skills. Check out the 2021 Texas Fatherhood Summit recordings to hear Don talk more about how NewDay teaches coparenting skills.
The Children's Shelter
Patrick Ortiz, The Children’s Shelter
Key Topic: Coparenting
Listen to Patrick share how The Children’s Shelter’s Compadre y Compadre Program works with fathers to address their needs. Check out the 2021 Texas Fatherhood Summit recordings to hear Patrick talk more about how The Children’s Shelter teaches coparenting skills.
Partners in Parenting
Valerie Rios, Partners in Parenting (PIP)
Key Topic: Virtual Services
Listen to Valerie talk about how Partners in Parenting (PIP) uses technology such as Whatsapp and Zoom to connect with families. Check out the 2021 Texas Fatherhood Summit recordings to hear Valerie Rios and Joshua Banks talk more about how PIP and IDADS serve fathers in a virtual environment.
SJRC
Meliss Loyola, SJRC
Key Topic: Father Voice
Listen to Meliss share why SJRC is motivated to serve fathers, and how they incorporate father feedback to improve their services to best support fathers. Check out the 2021 Texas Fatherhood Summit recordings to hear Meliss talk more about how SJRC incorporates father voice into their work.
Child Inc
Dr. Calvin Kelly, Child Inc
Key Topic: Father Voice
Listen to Dr. Kelly discuss Child Inc’s fatherhood initiatives and how they support fathers in meeting their needs and the needs of their children. Check out the 2021 Texas Fatherhood Summit recordings to hear Dr. Kelly talk more about how Child Inc incorporates father voice into their work.
