Last month, the Fathers and Family Network launched its new 5-year cycle of networking and training with a kick-off event. The gathering focused on the inclusion of workforce development and faith communities as agents for enhancing services to fathers and families.

Joe Jones, Executive Director of the Center for Urban Families, one of the most well-respected fatherhood programs in the U.S., spoke about best practices for organizations who work with families, advocating with the legislature to make fatherhood programming more effective, and his own work to improve lives in the city of Baltimore through workforce development.

Eugene Schneeberg, Outreach Lead for the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse in Washington D.C., gave a riveting personal testimony and advocated for family focused practitioners to partner with community and faith-based organizations in order to enhance services to fathers and their families.

From left to right: Jack Miller, Haji Shearer, Eugene Schneeberg, Suzin Bartley, Joe Jones, John O'Neil, Steven Pascal.

Over 80 health and family support professionals participated in group discussions and networking.

The Fathers and Family Network, part of our Fatherhood Initiative, is a statewide networking and training group for professionals who work with fathers.