The DadTalk blog features insights from dads and Responsible Fatherhood practitioners from around the country. Its goal is to start conversations about important issues surrounding fatherhood and programs for fathers today.
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As Father’s Day approaches, I reflect on my own experiences and how the absence and later discovery of my father shaped my understanding of what it means to be a dad. My journey began years ago as a young father in Brooklyn. Personal experiences later fueled my passion and commitment to lift up fathers and families. As CEO of Fathers Incorporated and Program Director of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, I have experienced much learning, growth, and transformation. So has the fatherhood field.
In this blog, I share lessons learned and offer advice, encouragement, and…
As fathers, we hold the brush and palette to create the masterpiece that is our fatherhood legacy. Our children look up to us as role models, and every action, word, and gesture we make contributes to the painting that they will carry with them throughout their lives. In this edition of The Fatherhood Canvas, we will explore the significance of being a positive role model as a father and learn how to create a lasting legacy of love, respect, and responsibility that will inspire our children for years to come.
The Role Model Canvas
Being a positive role model is an essential…
We often look forward to spending time with our families and loved ones during the holidays. Our children are developing memories that will last a lifetime. As parents, we want them to have wonderful memories. However, the holiday season can bring pressures and stresses that may interfere with that goal! Plus, some of us have the extra responsibility of navigating coparenting relationships with a former spouse or partner, which can increase the stress that we feel.
Here are ten coparenting suggestions that can help reduce stress for you and your children during the holidays.…
Divorce doesn’t have to be the end of a father’s relationship with his children. A father can be a constant parental figure, even if he doesn’t reside in the same household. No matter the circumstance of a separation or divorce, successful coparenting can give children a sense of normalcy. Children need both of their parents, and research shows that a loving and nurturing father improves outcomes for…
As we approach the holiday season, many families are concerned about navigating family gatherings within the reality of our new normal. You may have relatives or friends who are not vaccinated and refuse to wear a mask or social distance. This may be a heightened concern for parents with children too young to be vaccinated. If you plan to get together for a holiday gathering, your family/group will need to decide if people are going to be invited if they won’t comply with the group’s parameters.
Do we give up family traditions and cancel the holiday gatherings again this year? Is…
This is the second of a two-part series on Gig Work. In our previous post, we answered the question, “What is the Gig Economy?” discussed common examples and the pros and cons of gig work. In this edition, we’ll get down to the business side of things.
As we discussed previously, the gig economy is based on flexible, temporary, or freelance jobs, often involving an online platform. Gig work can be a great way to supplement income, try out a business idea, or…
From 2002 to 2014, while total employment increased 7.5 percent, gig economy workers increased by between 9.4 percent and 15.0 percent, depending on the definition of gig economy workers.
-The Aspen Institute’s Future of Work Initiative
America is well on its way to establishing a Gig Economy, and estimates show as much as a third of the working population was already working in some gig capacity pre-COVID. It’s estimated the numbers are even higher now. …
I, along with my team at the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, are saddened to announce the passing of our colleague and friend, Halbert Sullivan. Halbert made a notable impact in the work of Responsible Fatherhood (RF), most recently as the CEO of Fathers & Families Support Center (FFSC), and will be greatly missed.
As noted by Seth Chamberlain, Division Director, Office of Family Assistance, “Halbert wasn’t just a grantee in multiple RF cohorts. The federal Parents and Children Together evaluated his program and…
When people think of breast cancer, most often women come to mind. However, men also get breast cancer. For men, the lifetime risk of getting breast cancer is about 1 in 833.The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that in 2020, about 2,620 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer—breast cancers that have spread into surrounding breast tissue—and about 520 men will die from breast cancer. While that percentage is small compared to women who suffer from breast cancer, it is still a real…
My parents were teenagers when they had me. An only child, I grew up feeling like I was a mistake because of the stories I heard. Neither of my parents had the skills, knowledge, or wherewithal to parent successfully. They could not provide the parental, economic, or household stability a child needs to flourish. Nonetheless, my mother, despite her age, the damage she survived, and lack of resources, did her best. My father’s story was different. He was incarcerated on and off from the time he was a juvenile. By the time I was born, he had already developed an addiction to alcohol and…
