Nebraska Children & Families Foundation : About Us : Programs & Initiatives : Nebraska Fatherhood Initiative

Nebraska Fatherhood Initiative

Program Director: LaRon Henderson
Address: 215 Centennial Mall South, Ste. 200
Phone: 402-476-7661
E-mail: lhenderson@nebraskachildren.org

The Nebraska Fatherhood Initiative began in 2002 in partnership with Nebraska’s Health and Human Services, and departments of Education, and Corrections, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Nebraska at Omaha, community action programs, local and regional public health departments, and the Gallup Organization to work with communities to create programming for fathers and families.

Mission and Purpose

The Nebraska Fatherhood Initiative is a statewide collaborative effort aiming to restore fathers' hearts back to their children and families. Its mission is to enhance the knowledge and skills of practitioners and actively encourage and promote the involvement of fathers in the lives of their children and families.

Goals and Strategy

Goals

Promoting responsible, involved and committed fatherhood is the initiative's highest priority.
Goals include:

o Public awareness and education
o Community mobilization
o Developing leaders and equipping them with useful tools

Strategy

Nebraska’s children are at the heart of this initiative. It is important that fathers know about state and local resources that are available. The Nebraska Fatherhood Initiative works to equip state and community-based organizations with the knowledge and tools necessary to reach fathers of diverse circumstances and backgrounds.

Communities throughout the state have the opportunity to implement a local fatherhood program by using a broad variety of available tools and workshops. Organizations that serve fathers, such as clinics, hospitals, child care centers, are encouraged to get involved in these activities to promote the unique and irreplaceable role fathers play in their children’s lives.

Community Action Programs
Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
University of Nebraska at Lincoln (including Cooperative Extension, Family and Community Development, 4-H and Youth Development)
University of Nebraska at Omaha (Department of Sociology)
University of Nebraska Medical Center

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