Father Matters

New mothers should not have to carry every responsibility alone.

During World Breastfeeding Week, we recognize that encouragement at home can make a meaningful difference. Fathers, partners, relatives, and trusted friends can help by listening without judgment, bringing water or a meal, taking on a household task, caring for an older child, or helping a mother protect time to rest.

Support is not about having every answer. It is about noticing what is needed, asking how you can help, and following through with care. This week, check in with a new or expecting mother in your circle and offer one specific, practical form of support.

Stronger families grow when caregiving becomes a shared commitment.

August is Child Support Awareness Month in Arizona.

Meeting financial responsibilities matters, but children also need the everyday forms of support that cannot be measured on a receipt. They need parents who keep their word, ask about their day, encourage their growth, and make time to listen.

Support can look different in every family. What matters is building a dependable pattern that keeps the child's well-being at the center. Choose one practical way to show your support this week, whether that means handling a responsibility, making a call, attending an activity, or giving your child your full attention.

If you need help understanding available family-support resources, contact Father Matters at fathermatters.org.

Father Matters Father Matters is a community development organization, committed to building stronger, healthier communities by supporting, encouraging, and enlightening today’s fathers and families.

Free school supplies can make the first day feel a little easier.

Join Father Matters for the Back to School Resource Fair on Saturday, August 15, from 9:00 AM to noon. Families can receive free backpacks and school supplies while supplies last. Students can also get a free haircut, and caregivers can connect with helpful community resources.

Meet us at Brooks Community School Cafeteria, 3146 E. Wier Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85040. Share this reminder with a family who could use the extra support.

https://fathermatters.org/calendar/father-matters-back-to-school-resource-fair-august-15-2026/

Father Matters family, we'd love your help welcoming Simms Agency to Facebook.

Founded by Father Matters' own Vance Simms, Simms Agency brings the same commitment to strengthening families into conversations about final expense insurance and planning ahead.

Please visit the Simms Agency page, tap Like, and follow along. Your support helps a local, family-focused agency reach more people in our community.

Learn more about Simms Agency:

https://simmsagency.com/

Like and follow the page:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61591442957300

Father Matters - Stronger Fathers, Stronger Communities

Simple traditions help children understand where they belong.

A weekly meal, a favorite recipe, birthday stories, music, photographs, or a regular call with relatives can become part of a child's identity. Traditions do not need to be expensive. They need to be repeated and shared.

What is one family tradition you want the next generation to carry forward?

https://fathermatters.org/

Clear expectations can lower stress for the whole family.

When co-parents agree on schedules, communication, and how decisions will be made, children are less likely to feel caught between adults. Respectful boundaries are not about controlling the other parent. They create consistency and protect the child's sense of stability.

Start with one practical agreement you can make clearer this week.

https://fathermatters.org/

Children remember who made time for them.

Showing up does not always mean a big event or a perfect day. It can mean helping with homework, asking one more question, keeping a promise, or listening when your child needs a calm place to land.

Choose one ordinary moment this week and give it your full attention. What is one way you can show up today?

https://fathermatters.org/

School starts stronger when families have the supplies and support they need.

Join Father Matters on Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 9:00 AM to noon for free backpacks and school supplies while supplies last, free student haircuts, and connections to helpful community resources.

The fair will be held at Brooks Community School Cafeteria, 3146 E. Wier Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85040. Share this with a family who could use the extra support.

https://fathermatters.org/calendar/father-matters-back-to-school-resource-fair-august-15-2026/

Father Matters Father Matters is a community development organization, committed to building stronger, healthier communities by supporting, encouraging, and enlightening today’s fathers and families.