DadTalk Blog

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.

Apr 11, 2016

Keeping Children Safe At Any Age: Safety Tips for Dads

Accidents can happen to anyone, sometimes even under Dad’s watchful eye. The most important thing dads can do to keep their children safe is stay informed about how they are most likely to get hurt. Even though most children do not get seriously…

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Featured Authors

Patricia Littlejohn

President

South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families

Kenneth Braswell

Executive Director; Project Director

Fathers Incorporated; National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse

Rick Johnson

Founder and Director

Better Dads

Results 41 - 50 of 286

Mar 26, 2018

Keeping teens safe: Prevent dating violence

“If no one in your group is talking about it [domestic violence], you’re not addressing it.” – Lisa Nitch, House of Ruth, Maryland

For parents of teenagers and programs working with young fathers, knowing and recognizing the warning signs of unhealthy dating behaviors that can lead to teen dating violence is crucial. This is especially true in the context of a recent national survey in which 1 in 10 teens reported being hit or physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend at least once in the last 12 months. What’s more, during the 12 months prior to the survey, 1 in 10…

Mar 9, 2018

Resources for working with young fathers

“When I found out I was going to be a father [at 21], I had to make some conscious decisions about my behavior. I soon found out that I couldn’t afford to buy both liquor and diapers.” – Andre Dandridge, NewYoungFathers.com

Responsible fatherhood programs have the potential to have a dramatic, positive influence on the lives of program participants and their children and extended families. Because young fathers are still at early stages of their own development, there are few places where the potential for impacting positive change is clearer than when working with young fathers (…

Feb 23, 2018

Can you save money this tax season? Learn about the Earned Income Tax Credit

“The IRS estimates only four out of five workers claim EITC they earned.” – NRFC DadTalk Blog

Filing taxes is a notoriously confusing and complicated process. As the April filing deadline approaches and the conversation around taxes gets more intense, we need all the help we can get. This year, the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) can potentially provide an added benefit for your family. It is intended to reduce the amount of tax owed by working people with low to moderate income and can often lead to a refund. However, many people don’t know that the EIT

C is available to…

Jan 18, 2017

Caring is more than sharing

Over the recent holiday season, the old adage “caring is sharing” often comes to mind. Sharing gifts. Sharing time with family and friends. Sharing food (perhaps a cookie or two). These are all wonderful ways to show others that we care about them, and excellent skills to be teaching our children.

But caring is more than sharing, and is fundamentally important to helping raise our children to be empathetic, responsible, successful, and ultimately happy young people and adults. From improved social relationships to success in the workplace, when we are concerned for others and care…

Jan 10, 2017

Supporting Fathers and Families Impacted by Incarceration

The number of fathers in U.S. jails and prisons has increased four-fold since 1980. Ninety-two percent of the more than 800,000 incarcerated parents in federal and state prisons are fathers. Each year, nearly 700,000 prisoners are released from state and federal facilities, and many more are cycled through local jail facilities. As they return to their families and communities, they may face challenges in various areas, such as establishing and maintaining healthy relationships, acquiring relevant job skills, obtaining employment, locating safe and stable housing, managing child support…

Dec 27, 2016

“I can imagine exactly how you feel!” Understanding empathy

Empathy is at the heart of what it means to be human.

Harvard University’s Making Caring Common project provides a clear understanding of empathy. Understanding the importance of empathy is key in preventing bullying and for developing healthy and positive relationships. Building skills to support empathetic behavior is incredibly important in helping children become successful adults.

Empathy is not only the ability to understand another perspective but also to…

Dec 20, 2016

‘Tis the Season of Giving

In December, families often take time to come together and celebrate the holidays. Whether you are taking part in traditions that have been in your family for generations or creating new ones with your own kids, the holiday season is a perfect time to reinforce the values of charity and generosity. It’s easy for kids to become wrapped up in getting presents, but during the holidays, you can show them that spending time giving back to others can be just as fun and much more rewarding!

Depending on the age of your kids, you may want to talk to them about what it means to give back to…

Dec 14, 2016

4 Festive Ways to Build Your Child’s Resilience Through Family History this Holiday Season

Ed. Note: This post first appeared on the CASA FamilyDay blog. Read the original post here.

Learn more tips on how fathers can share stories about their family history with their children to help them to value both their heritage and who they are as individuals. With our NRFC Spotlight on Dads Forever Family: Ancestors Who Shaped Our Lives, available in…

Dec 7, 2016

Keeping Warm During Cold Weather

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

As the days and nights start to get colder, there are steps you and your family can take to ensure a safer winter.

Keep Temperatures Consistent

Home energy studies show that keeping homes a constant temperature of at least 68 degrees can prevent health and safety-related crises, such as asthma or hypothermia, that may result in hospital visits. It’s also more…

Nov 29, 2016

The Times They Are a Changin’? New collaboration approaches in Child Support and Fatherhood Programs

August 2016 celebrated the 21st anniversary of National Child Support Awareness Month. On August 5, 1995, President William J. Clinton signed Proclamation 6814 highlighting the importance of providing for our children as the “sum of our past and the promise of our future,” and acknowledging the role of all child support programs to ensuring children receive the necessary financial support to “lead secure and healthy lives.”

Today, state and local child support offices are scheduling special events to focus…

Featured Authors

Patricia Littlejohn

President

South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families

Kenneth Braswell

Executive Director; Project Director

Fathers Incorporated; National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse

Rick Johnson

Founder and Director

Better Dads

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