Office of Family Assistance Fosters Nationwide Community Conversations About Father Engagement
The Office of Family Assistance announces a new initiative to bring valuable father engagement efforts to local communities in an innovative package.
WASHINGTON, June 3, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Ahead of Father's Day, HHS' Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Family Assistance (OFA) is announcing a new initiative to bring valuable father engagement efforts to local communities across the nation in an innovative package. On June 14, OFA will open applications for Focusing the Fatherhood FLAME Community Conversations, which aim to promote and advance father engagement efforts at a grassroots level.
FLAME (Family, Leadership, Affirming Marriage, and Employment) Community Conversations are energizing, collaborative events that will convene father-serving providers, advocates, and community members in cities across the nation. Local organizations wishing to deepen the impact of their work with fathers and families can become FLAME Champions by applying to host an event using the free FLAME Starter Kit, which contains all the materials needed to produce a signature local event.
Studies have shown that children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem, and exhibit pro-social behavior compared to children with uninvolved dads (Yoder et al., 2016; Cabrera et al., 2017). Additionally, more engaged fathers—whether living with or apart from their children—can help foster a child's healthy physical, emotional, and social development (Cabrera & Tamis-Lemonda, 2012).
This is why OFA is recruiting individuals and organizations committed to family well-being to apply to become FLAME Champions and serve as hosts for their local Focusing the Fatherhood FLAME Community Conversations event. The free FLAME Starter Kit makes it easy to host a high-quality, meaningful fatherhood event designed to strengthen father engagement efforts. The pack includes session content, such as professionally produced video presentations, facilitated group discussions, and energizing networking activities. It also includes event planning tips and how-to guides, sample event schedules, and design templates for event materials.
Applications will open at http://www.fatherhoodflame.org on June 14, 2021 to individuals and organizations interested in hosting a FLAME Community Conversations event. The FLAME Starter Kit will be available to approved Champions in late July 2021.
For more information, contact Communications Manager Kelly MacNeil at [email protected] or follow Fatherhood FLAME on Facebook.
About the Office of Family Assistance:
Within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Administration for Children and Families is responsible for federal programs that promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals, and communities. ACF's Office of Family Assistance (OFA) administers federal grant programs that foster family economic security and stability, including the Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood grants designed to build and sustain healthy relationships and marriages, and to strengthen positive father-child interaction.
Media Contact
Kelly MacNeil, Public Strategies, +1 (202) 417-8338, [email protected]
SOURCE Office of Family Assistance
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