Engaging Men & Dads at WIC: A Toolkit
Why engage men & dads at WIC?
Research shows that children and families do better when fathers are involved. Kids exhibit better school performance, increased self-esteem and improved relationships with peers, while parents feel less stress when they support each other and co-parent.
Download the full Engaging Men & Dads at WIC Toolkit here (PDF; 9.5 MB), or view sections below.
View materials from CWA’s Learning Collaborative webinar here featuring the Alameda Fathers Corps and read their Voices of Fathers report (April 2017).
View & download photos/messages here for use at WIC sites to help engage men & dads!
TESTED TOOLS
This online toolkit is based on a programmatic review of fatherhood involvement efforts in early childhood programs and is a collection of many tangible steps your WIC site can take to become more inclusive of men and Dads.
Research indicates that having a commitment to including men and Dads and creating a strategy to do so may be the most important thing and actually more important than what the strategy is.
There is not one ‘right’ way of implementing any of these practices. Rather, this toolkit will provide you with options and recommendations from previous program success.
DEFINING ‘DAD’
Many times in this toolkit the word Dad will be used but it should be noted that ‘Dad’ can include biological fathers as well as father figures such as grandfathers, uncles, mother’s partner, etc. Dads may be the single head of a household, married, cohabitating, or non-residential.
KEEP IN MIND
A focus on Dads should not stigmatize children. Be sensitive to those kids who do not have a Dad or significant male figure in their lives if you hold special events or recognition for Dads.
TOOLKIT SECTIONS
Click on the banners below to view/download each section.
Engaging Men & Dads at WIC
(A CWA Learning Collaborative Webinar)
Research shows that children and families do better when fathers are involved. Kids exhibit better school performance, increased self-esteem and improved relationships with peers, while parents feel less stress when they support each other and co-parent. The Alameda Fathers Corps shared how they increase involvement of fathers in children’s lives by focusing on factors specific to the needs of men and the challenges they face in fulfilling their role as fathers.
Webinar 10/26/16
Presenters: Gary Thompson and Kevin Bremond, Alameda County Fathers Corps
Materials:
- Presentation slides (PDF)
- Videos from presentation: Daddy’s Soothing Voice and Fathers Corps Overview
- Handouts: Father Friendly Principles and Fathers Corps 2-Year Overview
- Recording (GoToWebinar)
New Resources
WIC Breastfeeding Support (USDA’s resources to help Dad with breastfeeding support; 2021)
WIC Dads (Racine Kenosha Community Action; 2021)
How to Engage More Dads in Your WIC Program with Webinar (New York State Department of Health & CAI; 2018)
The Nurturing Father’s Podcast: Hosted by Mark and Corey Perlman, this podcast series discusses the joys and complexities of being a nurturing father. (2021)
Daddy Matters: 4-part web series with LaGuardia Cross (Zero to Three; June 2017)
Changing Systems & Practice to Improve Outcomes for Young Fathers & Their Families (Center for the Study of Social Policy; February 2017)
HEALTHY FAMILIES...STRONG COMMUNITIES...BRIGHT FUTURES!
CALIFORNIA WIC ASSOCIATION | 3960 INDUSTRIAL BLVD, SUITE 500 WEST SACRAMENTO, CA 95691 | PHONE: 916-572-0700
