Father-Friendly Communities

A "father-friendly" environment supports and values the unique contribution fathers make to their children's lives. Here are a few tips for making your community more "father-friendly," and ultimately family-centered.

• Talk with fathers and listen to their needs.
• Promote father-child activities.
• Provide information and programs that are specific to the needs of fathers.
• Increase positive images of dads with their children.
• Provide gender diversity and intercultural competency training for all staff and board members.
• Hire men in visible positions, especially those where dads access services.
• Help develop and expand child care programs.
• Respect a father's right to information regarding his child.

More ideas for...

Schools:

• Have a "Take Your Dad to School" event.
• Organize an essay contest on "Terrific Dads."

Workplaces:

• Offer a brown-bag parenting seminar specifically for dads.
• Offer a paternal leave policy for fathers.

Hospitals:

• Support and provide programs for new dads; for ideas go to www.newdads.com.
• Offer paternity establishment projects.

Churches:

• Start a fathers' support group, e.g. Faith Partners
  (719) 444-8116.
• Provide counseling to couples getting married.

State Agencies & Non-Profits:

• Hang posters with positive images of fathers.
• Sponsor father-son and father-daughter events.

Media:

• Run a public service announcement on responsible fatherhood; for ideas go to www.beafanofyourkid.org and www.scetv.org/.
• Counter negative stereotypes of fathers by portraying them in a positive light.