Father’s Day brings out the cards, BBQs, and heartfelt posts, but let’s talk real: dads need more than a pat on the back. Most community parenting programs—fewer than 20%—cater to fathers, leaving them without the support moms often get. Yet, engaged dads boost kids’ school success, mental health, and even cut risks of jail or addiction. Programs like Rhode Island’s Caring Dads show what’s possible, helping fathers build empathy and trust. With Black and Brown dads facing extra hurdles in child welfare, isn’t it time we built a village that truly includes them?

The Gap in Support for Dads

Parenting programs are mom-centric—think baby showers or mommy blogs. Dads? They’re often on their own, especially when navigating trauma or conflict. Nationwide, only 1 in 5 programs target fathers, and even fewer tackle heavy issues like domestic conflict or behavioral health. This leaves dads—especially those trying to break toxic cycles—feeling isolated, shamed, and without tools to grow. Kids lose out when dads aren’t supported, as studies link father involvement to better grades, lower substance use, and fewer run-ins with the law.

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A Model That Works: Caring Dads

Rhode Island’s Caring Dads program is a game-changer. Over 17 weeks, fathers learn more than diaper-changing—they gain self-awareness, accountability, and empathy. Group sessions, one-on-one check-ins, and community service connections help dads rebuild trust with their kids. Moms are looped in for safety and transparency. The result? Dads communicate better, create stable homes, and reconnect with their families. It’s not about excusing past mistakes—it’s about transforming them into stronger, child-focused relationships.

Why It Matters for Equity?

Black and Brown fathers face steeper climbs, twice as likely to be entangled in child welfare systems and less likely to reunify with their kids. Writing them off as “expendable” perpetuates harm and ignores their potential. Equity means creating father-friendly spaces where dads can show up raw and real, without judgment. When we do, we break trauma cycles, challenge stereotypes, and build safer homes. Supporting dads isn’t just nice—it’s a $1 trillion social investment in healthier kids and communities.

The Bigger Picture

Kids thrive when both parents are engaged—decades of research back this. Yet, our systems often sideline dads, assuming they’re less critical. This hurts everyone. Father-focused programs cut incarceration rates by 15% and boost school performance 20%, per child development studies. They also ease the $100 billion burden of family breakdowns on public services.

How to Move Forward?

• Build Father-Friendly Programs: Expand models like Caring Dads, with $50 million in federal grants for 100 new sites.

• Engage Communities: Host dad-focused workshops in 1,000 community centers, reaching 50,000 fathers by 2030.

• Listen to Dads: Survey 10,000 fathers on their needs, amplifying voices of Black and Brown dads.

• Challenge Bias: Train 5,000 social workers to see fathers as assets, not liabilities.

This Father’s Day, let’s skip the clichés. Ask dads what they need, fund programs that lift them up, and make fatherhood a true part of the village. When dads thrive, families heal, and kids win big.

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