The unprecedented health crisis brought on by the outbreak of COVID-19 continues to impact our daily lives. School and business closings, job loss and food insecurities are compounded by separation from friends and family. Normal routines of work play and socialization have been suspended.

Despite these uncertain times, the Center and our six fatherhood organizations have continued to provide service, support and outreach to program participants while following health and safety guidelines.

Video conferencing has provided an easy transition to online presentation of program content, consultations and peer group sessions. Texting, emails and social media allow fathers to be updated regularly with information to help them stay engaged and encouraged.

Our employment coaches are working one-on-one with fathers who have lost their jobs to get them reemployed with hiring companies or connecting them to online job skills training that could increase their opportunities for work in a post-COVID economy.

Stay-at-home orders have given many fathers the opportunity to practice healthy parenting. To help dads create quality time with their children, nearly 300 father/child activity packs were assembled by staff and distributed to program participants through curbside pickup at fatherhood program offices across the state.

These are just some of the ways we are staying connected to the fathers and families we serve. On April 12^th, the Center released a COVID-19 update detailing these activities. Read the letter here.