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Counting Fathers Because Kids Matter

The 2024 Fatherhood Summit was an Amazing Success

More than 300 fathers, providers, professionals, and other dad allies spent the day talking about how we can work together to serve fathers in Washington State.

The State of Fathers in Washington Study

The Washington Fatherhood Council commissioned Camber Collective to conduct the State of Fathers in Washington study, a nine-month project (June 2023 – February 2024). The study includes a landscape of current policies, funding, programs, and experiences of fathers and fatherhood figures in Washington state, with a focus on identifying gaps and needs to inform strategic planning and policy recommendations.  Click here for additional information. 

About the Fatherhood Council

The Washington Fatherhood Council is a collaborative, transformational group of more than 35 state and local providers, academics and — most importantly — fathers with lived expertise, which helps further the goals of reducing poverty and inequality through increased fatherhood access and belonging.  The Council fosters service provider capacity, creates community for fathers, works for policy change and resource investment in fathers, and promotes their voices and experiences to transform family systems. 

We know that:​

  • Child and family well-being improve when fathers are positively engaged in their children’s lives.​
  • Fathers play a unique and important role in children’s development.​
  • Fathers should have support and resources to become the fathers they aspire to be.​

Dad Allies Provider Learning Series

A series of workshops delivered by local and national thought leaders and academics on timely issues facing fathers and father figures with the goal of providing education and guidance about how to build a strong father-friendly provider network. Learn More Here

Fatherhood Community Cafes

A series of Community Cafes across the state organized with local providers to bring together fathers, providers and dad allies, to lift up the voices of fathers, engage community providers, and bring these groups together around our common goal of providing father friendly services.  Learn More here

Fatherhood Photo Bank

The Fatherhood Photo Bank is now live! Learn more here. 

Father-Friendly Resource Map

We have surveyed organizations across Washington and built a father-friendly resource map of services. If you are a services provider not listed on our resource map, please take 3 minutes to complete our survey and we will add your organization. 

Annual Fatherhood Summit

Each year we bring together academics, practicioners and parents to share cuttting edge research, practical lessons, and personal insights on how to best serve fathers.  Learn more here.

My dad is an important play partner and helps me grow a healthy brain!

-- Lamb, M. E. (2004). The role of the father in child development. 4th ed. Hoboken, N.J.: J. Wiley.
National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. (2020).

Dads can embrace a “caring masculinity” mindset, which tends to lead to healthier, happier kids.

-- Petts, R. J., Shafer, K. M., & Essig, L. (2018).
Does adherence to masculine norms shape fathering behavior? Journal of Marriage and Family, 80(3), 704-720. doi:10.1111/jomf.124

Toxic stress, such as a life in poverty, can have serious mental, physical, social-emotional, and behavioral consequences for children and can impact a child’s academic success, social connection, and economic stability. But there’s hope: an involved father can lessen the impact of these negative outcomes for a child in poverty!

-- Lee, J., & Schoppe-Sullivan, S.J. (2017). Resident fathers’ positive engagement, family poverty, and change in child behavior problems.
Family Relations: Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 66, 484-496. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering

Did you Know...

1 in 5 children live without a father in the home in Washington

-- The Annie E. Casey Foundation (2020)
Kids Count Data Center

Science tells us that we need to protect young brains from adversity to help them thrive in school and life. Working together toward our goal of reducing poverty in Washington State by 50% by 2025 allows us to create an upward spiral of possibilities to help ensure every child is able to achieve their full human potential.

-- David Stillman, Assistant Secretary for the Department of Social & Health Services Economic Services Administration

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