According to a Pew Research Center analysis, more than 25 percent of fathers with children aged 18 years or younger now live apart from their children. Moreover, one-third of fathers report communicating with their children less than once a month, and 27 percent say they have not seen their children at all in the past year.

Additional research shows that when fathers/father-figures are more involved in the school community beyond just attending sporting events – including volunteering in the classroom, visiting class, grade-specific and whole-school events, attending conferences, and participation in the PTA – children have been shown to achieve higher grades and test scores, go further with their education, and enjoy school more. Yet, most schools and parent organizations today do little to engage and educate dads beyond hosting sporadic events, such as an annual “Dads and Donuts Day.”

Fathers are the missing link in the lives of far too many children. In an increasingly dangerous and unpredictable world, absent fathers add tremendously to the insecurity of children. Children need and deserve to have positive, caring, and nurturing fathers actively present in their lives whenever possible. It is a fact that children whose fathers are actively involved in their lives do better in school than children whose fathers are not around. They are less prone to depression. They have better social skills. And they are more likely to become good parents themselves.

Strategic Resources Group, Dare To Be King Project, and Helping Givers Give are hosting an interactive workshop focused on addressing key building blocks for implementing fatherhood programs in schools. Facilitated by Richard Rowe, MPH and David Miller, M.Ed, this workshop is ideal for school district staff, teachers, youth-serving agency staff, community-based youth and family providers, and social workers/case managers, psychologists/ counselors who want to strengthen the relationship between fathers and their children. CEU's will be provided by the Maryland Board of Social Work Examiners. Breakfast and lunch will be served.