DadTalk Blog

Ed note: This post originally appeared in the ACF Family Room Blog. View the original post here.

Poverty rates are higher for rural children and rural families are more likely to live in extreme poverty. These families also face unique challenges, many made worse by geographical isolation. Many rural residents lack connections to jobs, resources, and programs intended to improve economic outcomes. Families lack transportation, housing...

Fathers who live apart from their children often come to fatherhood programs with deep feelings of frustration, shame, and hopelessness. Many have found themselves becoming the absent dad they swore they would never be. Many of the men who participate in fatherhood programs either do not live with their children and/or do not have legal claims to their kids. Many dads also face issues around a lack of steady employment, stable housing, and a...

The month of September is now recognized across the nation as Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. As we continue our efforts to combat the continuing crisis of childhood obesity in the United States, it is important to recognize that we have made some progress in recent years.  However, there is still a long way to go.

Childhood obesity increases the risk of developing severe health problems later in life, including high blood pressure...

As the old adage goes, we must hope for the best while still preparing for the worst. Unfortunately, disasters such as tornadoes, earthquakes, and floods happen all too often in our communities. However, initiatives such as National Disaster Preparedness Month encourage families to put contingency plans in place should emergencies arise. This year’s theme is “Don’t Wait, Communicate,” with an emphasis on preparedness for youth, older adults,...

Ed note: This post appeared in the ACF Family Room Blog and was originally posted by the Department of Education. View the post here.

Back to school time can be a hectic time for both you and the kiddos. These are some of our best back to school tips to help ensure this school year gets off to a great start!

#1: Visit the school

Walk or ride the route your child will take and make note of school patrols, crossing guards...

Fatherhood programs come in many shapes and sizes; some begin as demonstration or grant-funded programs, some as grassroots efforts, and others grow out of pre-existing organizations. Regardless of their origin or structure, launching fatherhood programs is not an easy task. Careful planning and design are important for ensuring success and sustainability throughout the life of a program. To this end, identifying needs, understanding the...

Ed note: This post originally appeared in the ACF Family Room Blog. View the post here.

Having a college degree is a key factor in long-term economic stability. Research consistently shows that individuals with a college degree have higher earnings than those without. Yet many low-income people neither enroll nor complete their education. How can we help them achieve college success?

The Pathways to Advancing Careers and...

During the summer months, it is easy to put learning on the back burner. Summer activities, vacations, and other priorities often get in the way, and kids can lose some of the math and reading skills they spent the previous school year building. Children risk significant ‘learning loss’ between the end of one school year and the beginning of the next. Even though all children have some learning loss during the summer, research shows that low-...

Another Father’s Day full of special and memorable moments has come and gone, but the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse has kept the momentum going through the #makeamoment campaign. This year, we have been reminding dads that it only takes a moment to make a memory that will last children a lifetime!

As an integral part of our Father’s Day festivities, the NRFC, in partnership with the Ad Council and the U.S. Department of...

Ed note: This post appeared in the ACF Family Room Blog and was originally posted by the FYSB National Clearinghouse for Families and Youth. View the post here.

Yvonne,* a current intern at Street Poets Inc., first came to the organization at age 16. She grew up in an area saturated with gang violence, where sex traffickers and pimps would approach her and try to lure her into prostitution. Using a range of creative programs and...