Department of Family Services

CONTACT INFORMATION: Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
703-324-7500 TTY 711
12011 Government Center Parkway, Pennino Building
Fairfax, VA 22035
Michael A. Becketts
Director

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Fatherhood Awareness Month - Community Engagement Toolkit

June is Fatherhood Awareness Month

Fathers are irreplaceable in the lives of their children. They contribute to their children’s safety and stability, and there is a direct link between positive father involvement and child well-being. Use this community engagement toolkit to recognize dads for all they do.

message clouds graphic

Check out these easy-to-use tools for Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram postings.

Social Media Tip: It's more effective to post a message with a graphic.

If you're using any of the talking points in Facebook posts, please tag us @FairfaxCountyFamilyServices. This helps people to quickly and conveniently connect with us.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors will proclaim June 2024, as Fatherhood Awareness Month in recognition of the importance of fathers to the safety, security and well-being of children.

Even from birth, children who have an involved father are more likely to be emotionally secure and, as they grow older, have better social connections, develop better verbal skills, intellectual functioning and increased wellbeing.

According to the US Census Bureau, in the United States, 17.8 million children (1 in 4) live without a biological father, stepfather, or adoptive father in the home; and in Virginia, more than 350,000 children, and in Fairfax, nearly 35,000 children, live without a father in the home.

Fairfax County Department of Family Services offers FREE Dads Parenting Classes to help dads be the best fathers they can be. 85% of fathers who graduated from the program in Fiscal Years 2018, 2019, and 2020 increased or maintained quality time spent with their children.

Fathers are more than just economic providers. Fathers play an important role in their children’s development and well-being, from birth through adulthood. For children, having an involved father increases the likelihood that they will experience positive education, health, self-esteem, and social outcomes. The Father Engagement Program works with other county and community agencies to support these outcomes.

Social Media Tip: It's more effective to post a message with a graphic.

Graphic for Facebook

Follow these quick and easy steps to download a file to your computer:

  1. Click on the graphic.
  2. After it opens, right-click on the graphic and select to save the file.

Fatherhood Awareness Month (Facebook Graphic)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messages for Facebook

Follow these quick and easy steps to copy a message and post it along with one of the graphics from your computer.

  1. Highlight the text.
  2. Right-click and select copy.
  3. Paste the text into your post.

If you're using any of the talking points in Facebook posts, please tag us @FairfaxCountyFamilyServices. This helps people to quickly and conveniently connect with us.

Fairfax County Department of Family Services’ Dads Parenting Classes focus on improving their self-awareness, self-care, parenting skills and relationship skills. These classes give dads the tools to be better parents. Check out Pocket Dad videos on these topics: https://bit.ly/DFS-FE-PDV #FatherhoodMonth

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors proclaimed June as Fatherhood Awareness Month, a time to raise public awareness of the importance of fatherhood and the importance of a father’s engagement with his children and family. Learn more about the county’s Father Awareness Month efforts: http://bit.ly/DFS-FE-FAM #FatherhoodMonth

Take a class, refer a friend or check out online resources to improve parenting skills! The county and community prevention partners offer valuable supportive services for families including virtual parenting and fathering classes, parent support groups and online parenting videos. Learn more at http://bit.ly/DFS-CYF #FatherhoodMonth

Teens often seek more independence, spend more time with peers (online and in-person), and struggle with self-esteem. Most teens have some level of conflict with parents or guardians, but they still rely on those trusted adults to provide emotional support and set limits. Fairfax County Dads Parenting Groups give you skills for effective and open communication that can make a big difference. Sign up for one of the Dads Groups or watch the Pocket Dad videos about teens for tips: https://bit.ly/DFS-FE #FatherhoodMonth

Did you know that positive father-adolescent relationships are associated with more positive self-esteem, better academic performance, and fewer risky behaviors for teens as well as lower midlife stress for fathers? https://bit.ly/DFS-FE-PDV #FatherhoodMonth

Dads, did you know that being a father is good for you? Fathers experience better physical and mental health than men who do not have children, and they are more involved in their communities. Get more Fatherhood facts like this from fatherhood.gov. Check out https://bit.ly/3hQ6Ac4 #FatherhoodMonth

Did you know that fathers are less likely than mothers to say they are doing a good job raising their kids? (Source PEW SOCIAL & DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS NOVEMBER 2012 GENDER AND GENERATIONS SURVEY). During Fatherhood Awareness Month, we are reminding you that our Dads Parenting Groups provide a judgment-free zone where dads can gain confidence in their parenting. Learn more https://bit.ly/DFS-FE #FatherhoodMonth

It’s true! Fathers are irreplaceable in the lives of their children. There is a direct link between positive father involvement and child well-being. During Fatherhood Awareness Month, The Department of Family Services' Father Engagement Program, shares how it helps with services and activities to enhance fathers’ parenting and fathering skills and promotes the importance of fathers in Fairfax County. https://youtu.be/kqeG6dAvT50 #FatherhoodMonth

During Fatherhood Awareness Month, we recognize the important role fathers play in their children’s development and well-being, from birth through adulthood. For children, having an involved father increases the likelihood that they will experience positive education, health, self-esteem, and social outcomes. Check out our Community Engagement Toolkit, and join the conversation about Dads: http://bit.ly/DFS-FE-FAM-CET #FatherhoodMonth

Social Media Tip: It's more effective to post a message with a graphic.

Graphic for X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram

Follow these quick and easy steps to download a file to your computer:

  1. Click on the graphic.
  2. After it opens, right-click on the graphic and select to save the file.

Fatherhood Awareness Month (IG Graphic)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Messages for Twitter and Instagram

Follow these quick and easy steps to copy a message and post it along with one of the graphics from your computer.

  1. Highlight the text.
  2. Right-click and select copy.
  3. Paste the text into your post.

Dads Parenting Classes focus on improving self-awareness, self-care, parenting skills and relationship skills. Check out these Pocket Dad videos for tips. https://bit.ly/DFS-FE-PDV #FatherhoodMonth

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors proclaimed June as Fatherhood Awareness Month, a time to raise public awareness of the importance of a father’s engagement with his children and family. http://bit.ly/DFS-FE-FAM #FatherhoodMonth

Dads, take a virtual parenting class, refer a friend or check out other online resources like videos to improve parenting skills and increase or maintain positive involvement with your children. https://bit.ly/DFS-FE #FatherhoodMonth

Teens often seek more independence and time with peers, but they still rely on trusted adults to provide emotional support and set limits. Dads Parenting Groups and Pocket Dad videos give you communication skills that can make a big difference. https://bit.ly/DFS-FE #FatherhoodMonth

Did you know that positive father-adolescent relationships are associated with more positive self-esteem, better academic performance, and fewer risky behaviors for teens as well as lower midlife stress for fathers? https://bit.ly/DFS-FE-PDV #FatherhoodMonth

During Fatherhood Awareness Month, we recognize the important role fathers play in their children’s development and well-being, from birth through adulthood. Check out our Community Engagement Toolkit, and join the conversation about Dads. http://bit.ly/DFS-FE-FAM-CET #FatherhoodMonth

Fathers Matter! During #FatherhoodMonth, The Department of Family Services’ Father Engagement Unit shares how it helps with services and activities to enhance fathers’ parenting and fathering skills and promotes their importance.  https://youtu.be/kqeG6dAvT50

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