This National Responsible Fatherhood video explores the unique qualities and vibrant community spirit that define West Virginia. Known for its deep-rooted rural traditions and close-knit communities, West Virginia is a state where family and community bonds run deep. Topics covered in this video include: 

• The strong sense of unity and mutual support that characterizes West Virginia's towns and rural areas;
• The evolving demographic landscape;
• The stark differences between regions within the state, such as the resource-rich eastern side of Greenbrier County and the more challenged western side; and
• The remarkable resilience of West Virginians in the face of economic hardships and substance use challenges.

This National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse resource provides tips for fatherhood programs to:

1. Plan Strategically;
2. Develop and Maintain Solid Partnerships;
3. Document and Evaluate;
4. Tell Their Story;
5. Respond to Changing Social Contexts;
6. Develop Multiple Funding Sources; and
7. Lead Systems Change.

This National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse state profile examines the interaction between fathers and programs funded by the West Virginia Department of Human Services to support families, particularly the program services available through the TANF program.

At the 2024 National Fatherhood Summit, participants learned how TANF funding can support fatherhood programs. Attendees learned how fatherhood programming fits into the purposes of TANF, how some states are using their TANF funds to support fathers, and how cross-agency partnerships can support and encourage responsible fatherhood. The presenters also shared promising practices for recruiting, serving, retaining, and engaging fathers.

This Office on Planning, Research and Evaluation infographic highlights the findings from a meta-analysis conducted as part of a large-scale federal evaluation called Testing Identified Elements for Success in Fatherhood Programs (Fatherhood TIES). Fatherhood TIES identifies fatherhood program core components and then rigorously tests the impact of the core components on outcomes related to fathers’ parenting, healthy relationships with coparents, individual well-being, and economic stability; the findings offer new information about what components of a fatherhood program might most affect fathers’ parenting knowledge and skills, well-being, and healthy relationships with co-parents, as well as their economic stability.

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse released this Driver’s Guide for Young Dads to engage teenage fathers and young adult fathers and support them as they strive to be good dads, adopt healthy lifestyles, and establish effective parenting practices. Young fathers often face more and different challenges than older or experienced fathers in preparing for their new role as fathers. Not only are they still growing emotionally and intellectually as they transition into adulthood, but they also need to learn the ropes of parenting while weighing educational and employment options.

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse will host a webinar on December 18, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. ET to explore the components of grief and loss. Many unmarried fathers struggle to manage their emotions during the holidays when they are unable to spend time with their children. The webinar will offer practical, actionable strategies for identifying different losses in an individual's life and ways to manage the pain. Panelists will delve into the various forms of grief and loss that can affect an individual's physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral health.

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse released a toolkit which presents a compilation of resources that highlight the challenges and key issues associated with launching and sustaining a successful fatherhood program. This toolkit reflects the commitment of the Office of Family Assistance to improving outcomes for fathers, children, and families by providing strategic guidance to organizations that offer responsible fatherhood services.

This National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) information brief aims to demystify research terms for fatherhood practitioners. In the brief, NRFC provides a comprehensive description of the different types of program data and their purpose, offers practical guidance for collecting and using data, and underscores the importance of routinely evaluating program services and outcomes to enhance programming and disseminate program impacts. Additionally, this brief emphasizes the value of using program data in a meaningful way and offers recommendations on how to leverage this data to improve program effectiveness and better support program participants.