June is more than just the month we celebrate Father’s Day; it has also been officially recognized as Responsible Fatherhood Month in Ohio by Governor DeWine. This designation highlights the crucial role that fathers and father figures play in the lives of their children and families. It’s a time to honor and reflect on the impact that dedicated and responsible fathers have on shaping the future and fostering strong, healthy families.
The Impact of Responsible Fatherhood
Fatherhood isn’t just about sharing a last name or a home; it’s about shaping lives, building futures, and being there for your child. It’s the daily act of showing up, whether it’s helping with homework or simply listening to your child’s concerns. While it’s not always easy, with hard work, dedication, and a lot of love, fathers can transform the lives of their children for the better.
Research shows the positive impact that an involved father can have on a child throughout their lives. Having a father who is actively involved in a child’s life can lead to a lower risk for many adverse childhood experiences, including alcohol and substance misuse, juvenile incarceration, and poor school performance. It also positively affects social and emotional development, resulting in fewer emotional and behavioral problems, better language development, improved life and social skills, and fewer issues with peers.
Being a present, responsible, and involved father can also bring a sense of pride. FatherUp at Action for Children can attest to just how much bigger a father’s smile gets when they know they can positively influence their child’s life.
“There is help out there for fathers… The most important thing for me is that my kids see the change. My kids [are] my biggest motivation, so them seeing me and seeing their reaction… it’s so worth it.”
Through case management, group conversations, and more, FatherUp helps fathers know that whatever they’re struggling with, they are not alone. In 2023 alone, we supported over 500 fathers and father figures through our FatherUp services, empowering hundreds of families along the way. Whether these dads need help navigating co-parenting, working through the court system, or just want a network of people to help them through the journey of fathering, FatherUp is there for them.
FatherUp offers parenting and legal workshops, cohorts where fathers can learn parenting strategies and share their successes and challenges, and more. Action for Children supports fathers at each stage of their parenting journey.
Action for Children sees the positive impact of working with fathers every day:
“[At FatherUp] you’re able to learn from everybody and their circumstances. The guy that feels that he’s alone and on an island soon finds out that he’s not. The guy that’s got it held down and has several kids and is doing a good job can offer all kinds of things to the newer fathers in the groups that are still learning what it means to have an infant to a toddler and so on. And then there’s everything in between that I think is an interesting dynamic and it’s what gets me up everyday.”
– Jeff Kramer
“Through FatherUp, we’re able to educate fathers on their rights, ensure access to resources for them and their families, and guide them to voice their presence in their child’s life.”
– Julie DiCarlo
“We’re restoring agency to these fathers and building them up through our programming and services. I’ve seen so many mission moments in this job, and to me, that’s a success.”
– Marland Rivers
Community Involvement and Support
It’s important for the community to acknowledge and uplift fatherhood. Spreading the word is essential, whether through public appearances like our time with NBC4 or our partnerships with local YMCAs, communities, and other advocacy agencies. We want central Ohio to know that fatherhood matters.
You can help support Action for Children’s mission of supporting fathers and their children by celebrating positive fathers and father figures, spreading the word about the resources and supports available in the community, and joining FatherUp in any of our family-friendly community events. Every child deserves a good father, and every father deserves the chance to be a good one.
Author: Shea McHugh, Advocacy Associate Contributors: Jeff Kramer, Marland Rivers, and Julie DiCarlo
Funding for FatherUp at Action for Children is provided by the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood and United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Grant: #90ZJ0045. These services are available to all eligible persons, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or religion. Learn More
Action for Children is the local child care resource and referral agency for central Ohio, and is committed to assuring quality early learning experiences for all children. Our services focus on transforming the lives of children by supporting the everyday heroes who most influence our children’s early growth; care givers, educators, parents, and guardians.Learn More.
