The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse will host a webinar on December 18, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET to explore the components of grief and loss. Many unmarried fathers struggle to manage their emotions during the holidays when they are unable to spend time with their children. The webinar will offer practical, actionable strategies for identifying different losses in an individual's life and ways to manage the pain. Panelists will delve into the various forms of grief and loss that can affect an individual's physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral health.

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse released a toolkit which presents a compilation of resources that highlight the challenges and key issues associated with launching and sustaining a successful fatherhood program. This toolkit reflects the commitment of the Office of Family Assistance to improving outcomes for fathers, children, and families by providing strategic guidance to organizations that offer responsible fatherhood services.

The Office in Planning, Research and Evaluation released eight infographics, which describe the experiences of families with children enrolled in Head Start FACES programs during the 2021-2022 program year, with a focus on how the COVID-19 pandemic played a role in family health and well-being. The data in the infographics provide a window into the experiences of a sample of Head Start parents who were able to respond to the survey during this time.

This National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) information brief aims to demystify research terms for fatherhood practitioners. In the brief, NRFC provides a comprehensive description of the different types of program data and their purpose, offers practical guidance for collecting and using data, and underscores the importance of routinely evaluating program services and outcomes to enhance programming and disseminate program impacts. Additionally, this brief emphasizes the value of using program data in a meaningful way and offers recommendations on how to leverage this data to improve program effectiveness and better support program participants.

This 2024 National Fatherhood Summit workshop discussed the myth of “Build it and they will come." There were discussions around strategies and best practices on how to engage young black fathers. This innovative strategy and approach to working with black fathers helped beginning and experienced practitioners learn new ways to assess challenges and solutions when working with this population.

This 2024 National Fatherhood Summit session featured an update on the Office of Child Support Services (OCSS’s) priorities for the national child support program and its aim to help fathers successfully navigate child support services when needed to care for their children. Attendees learned how OCSS activities directly support the Administration for Children and Families' fatherhood initiatives and whole-family strategies.

As part of the 2024 National Fatherhood Summit, this engaging and insightful plenary session was specifically designed for young fathers. This session provided a dynamic platform for young dads to share their experiences, challenges, and triumphs as they navigated the journey of fatherhood. Drawing inspiration from the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse’s new “Driver’s Guide for Young Fathers,” this session aimed to equip young fathers and fatherhood practitioners with practical tools, advice, and support to drive their fatherhood journey with confidence and purpose.

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) is a sizeable repository of fatherhood resources and activities funded by the Office of Family Assistance. It was established for two main purposes: (1) to develop, promote, and distribute a national responsible fatherhood media campaign and (2) to be a resource for fathers, fatherhood practitioners, fatherhood programs, federal responsible fatherhood grantees, states, human services providers and agencies, and the public at large. The target audience includes fatherhood stakeholders who are serving, researching, or interested in supporting healthy fathers and families. This 2024 National Fatherhood Summit session provided an overview of the NRFC resources that can help practitioners enhance their fatherhood services.

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse’s Dadication is the idea that involved fathers make essential contributions to their children’s wellbeing, even when they are parenting during tough times and circumstances. This 2024 National Fatherhood Summit session included a viewing of the DADication documentary, followed by a compelling panel discussion focusing on the transformative campaign. This session delved into the significant achievements and learning experiences derived from the campaign’s efforts to promote responsible fatherhood. Panelists, including key contributors and experts from the campaign, shared their firsthand experiences, discussed the challenges faced, and explored the strategies that led to successful outcomes. Participants gained valuable insights into how targeted initiatives can effectively support and engage fathers, thereby enriching family dynamics and community well-being. This discussion aimed to inspire other organizations and individuals by showcasing actionable models and practices that can be adapted to their own fatherhood support efforts.