Many programs are designed to support the whole family, but primarily target services to mothers and children. Below are helpful resources on how to provide a father-inclusive environment and stories from organizations who implemented various strategies to create father-friendly spaces and ensure that services are inclusive of fathers. Explore the page to find quotes from practitioners about how they include fathers in their work.
Advice from the Field
“Acknowledge the father when they are with the mom & child for services such as immunizations, look them in the eyes & listen. Include the father in conversations about safe sleep, child passenger safety, any education that is being provided.”
-Texas Department of State Health Services, Public Health Region-1 (Pandhandle and South Plains) Staff Member
Resources
Tips to Create a Father-Friendly Organization
Ready to serve fathers? Whether you provide father-focused programs or programs for the whole family, these tips can help guide your organization’s efforts to create a father-friendly environment:- Use inclusive or gender-neutral language
- Ensure that the physical space is welcoming and inclusive for the whole family
- Train staff on the importance of father involvement
- Review your strategic plan and mission
Practitioner Stories: Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Thanks to Tecora Smith with Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) for creating this video as an important example of implementing various father-friendly strategies to serve fathers in Texas!
Practitioner Stories: Department of Family and Protective Services, Child Protective Services
Thanks to Johnnaé Cortez with Department of Family and Protective Services, Child Protective Services, Region 3 East for creating this video as an important example of listening to father voices and incorporating lessons learned to serve fathers in Texas!
Practitioner Stories: LifeWorks
Thanks to Stephanie Rainbolt and Jerry Lacera with LifeWorks for creating this video as an important example of listening to father voices and hiring a fatherhood specialist to serve fathers in Texas!
Administration for Children and Families: Dads Rock! Nurturing Father Engagement
From the United States Department of Health & Human Services’ Administration for Children & Families, the Dads Rock! video explores the experiences of men in home visiting programs, father support groups, and professional men’s family service providers’ groups to highlight the importance and difference of working with fathers.
Advice from the Field
“We engage our HIPPY fathers by inviting them and their child/children to participate in a group-setting (workshop/cafe style). One of the things that helps with attendance-fathers are asked to bring an household item to the meeting that will be used for a make-and-take activity the father and child will make together.”
-Dallas ISD HIPPY Program Staff Member
Advice from the Field
“The dads are responsive to all of us on the PEP team (and we are all female), but are most responsive when provided guidance and support from another male. This was most especially true when we had a younger male [guiding a] group that shared similar cultural background and was bilingual – they ‘connected’ by more aligned cultural (age and ethnicity) references.”
-Hays CISD, Pregnancy, Education and Parenting Program Staff Member
