Dads Matter Too: Strengthening the Village of Home Visiting Support for Dads- A Post-Event Recap
Our Father Engagement Workgroup strives to support fathers in creating wellbeing for themselves and their families through language, practices, and policies specifically designed for dads in home visiting. On June 13th, we hosted the Dads Matter Too: Strengthening the Village of Home Visiting Support for Dads event at the California Endowment. The event brought together 90 professionals, experts, and individuals passionate about supporting families and home visiting. It provided a valuable space to share experiences and initiate important conversations within the home visiting community. Attendees had the opportunity to network, connect with professionals and experts, and engage in meaningful discussions.
Facilitators: Fallynne Usher & Jill Blanks and Panelists: Davion Mauldin, Pedro Sosa, Alex Flores, Cynthia Villanueva, & Leisly McGovern
Highlights & Memorable Moments
The event featured a captivating keynote address by Dr. Alan-Michael Graves, a renowned advocate for father involvement, where he shared his personal journey and insights on being a father and working with fathers. The Q&A panel discussion on "Elevating the Voices of Fathers" facilitated meaningful conversations about the unique obstacles faced by fathers in home visiting and strategies to overcome them. Attendees participated in small table discussions which led to a larger debrief with Dr. Graves and workgroup co-leads, Dr. Richard Cohen and Fallynne Usher, where they explored the barriers to father involvement and strategies to be more engaging and inclusive.
The speakers and panelists highlighted the need to actively engage fathers in home visiting programs to strengthen family bonds and promote positive outcomes for children. The panelists, drawing from their own valuable experiences, spoke about initiatives focused on involving fathers in home visiting. They emphasized the significance of acknowledging the unique challenges that come with fatherhood and creating safe spaces where fathers can ask for and receive help. They highlighted the importance of fostering connections among fathers and encouraging them to share their experiences and access relevant resources. Additionally, they emphasized the need for tailoring home visiting services to meet specific needs and preferences of fathers, while addressing potential barriers and cultivating inclusive environments that enable fathers to more actively engage in their children's lives.
Attendee Feedback
A post-event survey received 66 responses, with 94% of respondents finding the event highly valuable, 100% acknowledging the speaker's expertise and preparation, and 91% indicating that all topics were covered and explained well. Additionally, 100% of respondents found the event facility adequate for learning, comfort, and accessibility.
One challenge highlighted by survey responses was the limited timing for presentations and discussions. This feedback reinforces the need for further collaboration and resource development to better support fathers in home visiting programs. The survey responses also emphasized the importance of making intentional efforts to include home visiting participants, particularly fathers, in future events and discussions like these.
Father Engagement Workgroup members
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our Father Engagement Workgroup members, to our event planning subcommittee, to our speakers and presenters, and to the LA Best Babies Network staff. It is through their support that we were able to bring this vision to life and create a space for dialogue, growth, and meaningful connections. 
The Dads Matter Too event served to promote father involvement and strengthen home visiting programs. By highlighting the importance of fathers' role in early childhood development, fostering networking opportunities, and sharing best practices, we move closer to building inclusive and supportive environments where fathers thrive as active participants in their children's lives. We invite everyone to stay connected with the Los Angeles County Perinatal and Early Childhood Home Visitation Consortium for future collaborations and events that continue to empower and celebrate the home visiting programs.
