Action for Children

Every dad has different ways of connecting. For Andrew, it's walks around town and contact naps. For Danny, it's house projects, teaching his boys new skills, and saying "yes" to impromptu wrestling matches. For David, it's making time for a weekly video call with his grandson.

There isn't one right way to be a father or father figure. What matters is in responsible fatherhood is showing up, staying connected, and building relationships one moment at a time.

💙 How do you stay connected with the children in your life? Share your answer in the comments!

Children often see themselves through our eyes first.

When we believe they are capable, resilient, and able to grow, they begin to believe it too.

Instead of stepping in immediately, try encouraging them:

"Keep going. You've got this."

Your belief becomes their confidence.

What is one strength you see growing in your child right now?

Fatherhood is not about being perfect.

It's about being intentional.

Intentional with your words.
Intentional with your time.
Intentional with the example you set every day.

This week, choose one intention:

➡️ Listen before you react
➡️Encourage before you correct
➡️Make time for connection
➡️Tell your child what you admire about them

Small moments create lasting impact.

Which intention will you focus on this week?

June marks is Responsible Fatherhood Month — and at Action for Children, we celebrate it because we genuinely believe fathers and father figures matter. Not just on Father's Day, but every single day. This month is for the dads who are showing up, doing the work, and reshaping what healthy fatherhood looks like for their kids and their communities. The ones who are willing to learn, grow, and break old cycles. That takes real strength.

Action for Children supports families across central Ohio with parent support groups, child care resources, and more — because the best thing we can do for children is empower the adults who support them.

Drop a 💙 for the father figures in your life. Or tell us — what does responsible fatherhood mean to you?

Did you know that in Ohio, nearly 15,000 children are living in out-of-home placement settings every day? Whether or not you're a foster care parent, choosing to care even in small ways helps create a world where children feel seen, supported, and loved. Check out these five ways to get involved with fostering — and as always, feel free to give us a call if you're interested in learning more about how we support foster and adoptive families through Children Services Hub!

Did you know that in 2025, Action for Children’s Help Me Grow Central Intake and Referral team referred over 3,000 pregnant women and moms with new babies to home visiting services throughout central Ohio? Referrals to home visiting services are proven to help improve maternal mental health, infant mortality rates, and long-term growth outcomes. Every referral counts -- and we're proud to be part of solutions that support maternal mental health 🫶

As an organization, we could not make the impact we do without the help of our partners. As we celebrate Foster Care Awareness Month, we also want to shout out the organizations our Children Services Hub team partners with to provide support to current and potential foster, adoptive, and kinship caregivers!

Thank you, The Unbound Collaborative, Fostering Further, and Alicia's Closet for all you do!!

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Action for Children's foster, kinship, and adoption support services are an initiative of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and are locally supported by Action for Children.