The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children

Author(s): Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, U.S. Children's Bureau Rosenberg, Jeffrey., Wilcox, W. Bradford.

Year Published: 2006

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First Things First
Strengthening Families through Public Education Campaigns

First Things First is a non-profit, grassroots organization based in Hamilton County, Tennessee, which is dedicated to strengthening families through education, collaboration and mobilization. This program encourages fathers to build bonds with their children and encourages mothers to include fathers in raising newborns. The goals of this program are threefold:

Reduce the number of divorces filed in Hamilton County;
Reduce the number of out-of-wedlock pregnancies in Hamilton County;
Increase the involvement of fathers in raising children in Hamilton County.

In order to accomplish its goals, First Things First collaborated with a variety of community agencies and organizations such as churches, synagogues, civic organizations, businesses, and the local government to conduct public education campaigns promoting issues like character education, teen pregnancy prevention, marriage education, divorce mediation, and fathering classes.

Thanks in part to First Things First, the divorce rates and out-of-wedlock teen pregnancy rates have declined in Hamilton County over a period of six years. Additionally, many churches are now requiring premarital counseling sessions prior to conducting weddings.

For more information, contact:

First Things First
701 Cherokee Blvd.
Suite 230
Chattanooga, TN 37405
Phone: 423.267.5383
Fax: 423.267.8876
Email: ftf@firstthings.org
Web site: http://www.firstthings.org/

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The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children

First Things First Strengthening Families through Public Education Campaigns

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First Things First
Strengthening Families through Public Education Campaigns