Here at NFI we're thrilled to release the second edition of our core fatherhood program - 24/7 Dad
™. Used by over 500 organizations across the country - Head Starts, schools, workforce development programs, etc - 24/7 Dad
™ gives men the fathering skills they need to be the dad their kids need them to be.
In the new edition, we've added more tools and notes to help facilitators easily run the program. Plus, there is new, relevant information - on topics co-parenting and communication skills - presented in an even more visually engaging format.
To find out more, visit
www.fatherhood.org/247dadsecondedition. The program will be available to pre-order in August.
24/7 Dad
™ is an important part of our efforts to equip men to be the best dads they can be. William, a 24/7 Dad
™ graduate, says it best:
I’ve learned more from these classes than I learned in 33 years of living about being a man, owning up to responsibilities, and just being a dad. Being a dad is a wonderful thing when you really know what being a dad is all about. The 24/7 Dad™ program can teach you what being a dad is really all about.William, Father of 324/7 Dad™ A.M. Graduate
NFI President's Roland Warren has recently responded to an article by Cord Jefferson entitled, "
But What If I Don't Want To Be A Dad?," addressing the argument of "financial abortion."
Roland writes:
Actions have consequences, and although a person can choose his actions, he cannot choose the consequences of his actions. When it comes to sex, one of the consequences can be a child. So if a guy wants to keep his wallet closed, I suggest that he keep his zipper closed, too.
Check out Roland's full response here at theroot.com.
We hope all you dads out there had a GREAT Father's Day! Here at National Fatherhood Initiative, we were celebrating our favorite holiday in a pretty big way. Here's our Father's Day Top Five:
- Chris Brown, our Senior VP, was trackside to honor three NASCAR drivers with Fatherhood Awards.
- President Roland C. Warren appeared on CNN, CNN.com, and BET talking about the important role dads play.
- News outlets across the country were buzzing about our work and about the issue of involved responsible committed fatherhood.
- We snacked on HIS Chips from Herr's and Dad's Root Beer thanks to our Father's Day partnerships with these great companies.
- President Obama spoke on the importance of fatherhood and the direction of his fatherhood and mentoring issues.
Click here to see a full recap of our Father's Day celebration, and
check out our news feed to see what the media were saying about NFI and fatherhood this weekend!
Thanks for following us here on The Father Factor. We're committed to raising awareness about the importance of involved, responsible, and committed fathers and equipping our nation's dads to be the best fathers they can be!
Congrats to the winners of our Fibers.com t-shirt contest! Check out the winning designs:
Dad to the Bone
Definition of a Dad
Proud to be a Dad
$5 from your purchase of any of these shirts will go toward NFI's essential work of connecting fathers and families - so pick up one of these t-shirts for your dad's Father's Day gift! Check it out at
www.fibers.com.
We're very excited to announce a brand NEW
www.fatherhood.org! Our new website has even more great information for dads, plus some great new features. Here are our favorites:
- For Fathers Section. Full of advice specifically for dads, www.fatherhood.org/fathers is a great resource - we've got helpful information on topics like work-family balance, parenting teens, and more!
- MyFatherhood Online Community. Connect to other fathers around the country and share your thoughts and strategies through our discussion boards. Plus, our community has even more great advice and exclusive content.
- See the Impact. These pages tell so many important stories of fathers and families who are reconnected through our initiatives and programs.
We hope you enjoy the new site. Join the community and tell us what you think!
We've just opened up nominations for our 2010 Military Fatherhood Award, presented by Lockheed Martin. You can nominate a dedicated military dad you know for this prestigious award!
The awardee will be honored at a special ceremony in Washington, DC on June 8, 2010. And, last year's awardee, U.S. Navy Chief Quartermaster John Lehnen, even got to meet President Obama at
a special White House event!*
For more information, or to nominate a dad, visit
www.militaryfatherhoodaward.org!
Good luck!
*While we would love for the 2010 awardee to meet President Obama, we can't make any guarantees. But, we can guarantee that your dad will be honored and receiving the award will be a special experience he'll never forget!
Chase Bank is taking a new approach to corporate philanthropy by hosting a contest on Facebook - and YOU can vote for NFI to receive funding!
If you're on facebook, search for Chase Community Giving,
download the app, and search for "National Fatherhood Initiative."
Why should you vote for NFI? Well, we're working in all 50 states (plus DC and Puerto Rico) on an issue that affects every community - father absence. Our programs are changing lives and reconnecting families, ensuring that no child grows up without his/her father. This funding will enable us to continue to strengthen families, communities, and give you and your children a brighter future for a stronger America.
So...flex your facebook muscles and vote for NFI!
http://apps.facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving/
I received the below note from a friend who just became a father:
“I gotta say I first really felt like a father when I was holding her after she was born...she looked up at me and something inside me turned on, that I'd never felt.”
Powerful stuff indeed… Interestingly, I had a similar experience when the nurse put my first son, Jamin, in my arms. I was just 20 years old and, admittedly, a bit scared. I was clearly more comfortable on a football field than in a delivery room, and more comfortable with a football in my arms than a baby.
But when they handed Jamin to me, something in me just…clicked…like a light switch. When he looked up at me I said to myself, “Wow…this is my son.” Bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh. Fatherhood changes everything.
I also remember feeling that I was grossly unprepared for my new role, especially since I grew up without my dad. Sure, I had attended LaMaze classes and a few prenatal doctor visits, and read selected pages from my wife’s “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” book. But none of these things really spoke to me or seemed to be for me. And it seemed that my feeling and experience were not unique. In our
Pop's Culture Survey, we found that nearly ½ of the fathers surveyed reported that they were not prepared to be fathers when they first became one.
That’s one of the reasons that when I joined NFI 8 years ago, I championed our efforts to develop resources like
“Doctor Dad™,” “
When Duct Tape Won’t Work™,” and “
Daddy Packs for New Dads™” to equip dads right from the start. Unlike me, fathers need to walk into the delivery room with more than just a bit of anxiety and a checkbook and need to walk out of the delivery room with more than just the bill and the baby.
In any case, got a story about becoming a dad for the first time? I’d love to hear it. Also, if you are about to become a father and want to share about what is going on or if you’re a mom and want to tell about how becoming a dad affected the father of your children, chime in as well.
For all the runners in the D.C. area - there is a great opportunity to get your running fix while supporting National Fatherhood Initiative! We've been named a beneficiary for the Acumen Solutions Race for a Cause 8K race on Sunday, November 1, 2009 in Arlington, VA. If we can get 100 runners to participate for us, a part of the proceeds will be donated to our important work.
Not a runner? Don't worry - you can walk, too!
Registration only costs $25 (until October 1). Sign up and learn more at
www.theraceforacause.com. Don't forget to select National Fatherhood Initiative when you register!
Race Details:Location: Arlington, VA
Date: Sunday, November 1, 2009
Time: 8:00AM
Race Fees:
$25 through October 1
$30 October 31
$35 Race day
The race will be on a fast, flat, out-and-back course that begins and ends on North Quincy Street, near the intersection of Wilson Boulevard in Arlington, VA. The event is produced in partnership with Potomac River Running. Runners of all levels, as well as walkers, are encouraged to participate.