This week hundreds attended an annual Springfield Public Schools celebration to recognize some of the wonderful individuals and organizations making an outsize impact in Missouri’s largest school district. Good Dads was honored to be among the ten organizations recognized as…
FULTON, MO – Good Dads Forge, a new program from the statewide nonprofit Good Dads, launched last week with its first cohort in Fulton. Fathers started with dinner on Thursday evening in classroom space generously provided by LifePointe Church for…
Becoming a parent changes everything. Your routines, your priorities, even how you communicate and collaborate with your partner. For expectant parents, this life transition is a whirlwind of emotions: excitement, anxiety, pressure, impatience, stress, glee. How do you communicate well…
Friday was a very special day at Good Dads! We’re thrilled with the amount of productive brainstorming and positive feedback from the newest members of the Good Dads team after last week’s Chapter Orientation. Facilitators and advisory board members representing…
Last week, Training Camp looked a little different compared to other Good Dads training events! Whereas we’d typically invite anyone with a heart for service who believes in the power of responsible fatherhood to attend Training Camp events—this time we…
Imagine our surprise and delight when representatives from DMP, Digital Monitoring Products, called the Good Dads offices this fall. “We love the work that you do, and we want to support you,” they said. We jumped for joy! Every year…
Thirty-two Missouri residents came together last week for Good Dads Training Camp, a fun and fast-paced training over three days in Springfield, MO, to learn all there is to know about leading New Pathways for Good Dads classes. This remarkable…
All of us at Good Dads are feeling an abundance of gratitude for the outpour of support we witnessed at our celebration on Thursday, Oct. 16. Father-focused individuals from across the state joined us to support Good Dads as our…
Growing up in the country, Halloween wasn’t spooky season. It was gas-up-the-van-and-hope-you-hit-five-houses season. My brothers and I would pile in, dressed in whatever costume plastic and imagination could cobble together, and hit a handful of homes—each one separated by long…
Good Dads learned Tuesday morning that it is among 109 organizations in 38 states to receive grant funding via U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) and the Administration for Children and Families. The ACF said in a press…
We loved seeing Good Dads leaders from across the state Friday, July 18, at our Family Reunion in Springfield, MO. This wonderful event was the perfect summer celebration and opportunity to make memories together. We'll be thinking about the joy, listening and insights from this day for a long time!
We honored 24 exceptional men on Thursday, June 12, at the Downtown Church in Springfield, MO. This amazing event, with 150+ attendees, celebrated the dedicated fathers who met all the criteria of the New Pathways for Good Dads program. These…
Good Dads, Missouri’s leading father-focused non-profit, named three communities, Ava, Rolla and Texas County, as its Great Communities of the Year this week. The contest, the first of its kind, celebrates the outstanding grassroots developments taking place throughout the state…
Good Dads Inc., a nonprofit headquartered in Springfield, MO, is collaborating again with Flintrock Home Builders to host its second-annual charity golf tournament. Last year’s tournament garnered around $2,500 to benefit the nonprofit. This year’s tournament on Monday, May 19,…
Wow! More than three dozen father-focused leaders representing 15 Missouri communities joined Good Dads in Springfield, MO, to be trained to facilitate Good Dads 2.0 and Within My Reach, the two classes that serve dad participants in the New Pathways…
Good Dads was honored to host its latest Chapter Orientation, welcoming community leaders from ten Missouri communities! The event, Friday April 11, in Springfield, was the latest in Good Dads’ ongoing efforts to expand the nonprofit’s mission throughout Southwest MO…
The debut episode of The Difference a Dad Makes podcast brings together co-hosts Dr. Jennifer L. Baker and J. Fotsch as they introduce Brian Mattson, the lead pastor at the Downtown Church in Springfield, MO. Brian is also a musician…
Several members of the Good Dads team, including executive staff, board members and facilitators, caravanned to Jefferson City today to meet with Missouri legislators for important discussions on the importance of engaged fatherhood. Our sincere thanks to all the elected…
Good Dads invites proposals for 75-minute sessions to be presented at our first (hopefully annual) family reunion for facilitators and chapter leaders. The one-day reunion is scheduled for Friday, July 18, in Springfield, Missouri. This year’s theme, Bringing It Home,…
Most dads hope to raise kind, generous children who care for others. Most parents want to see their children playing well with others, practicing kindness and developing meaningful relationships. But when your toddler just yanked a toy out of her…
More than two dozen father-focused individuals representing several Missouri communities joined Good Dads in Harrisonville, MO, to be trained to facilitate the nonprofit’s flagship fatherhood skills course, Good Dads 2.0. The cohort gathered January 7, 8 and 9, braving blistering…
Good Dads, a nonprofit headquartered in Springfield with community chapters throughout Missouri, is excited to announce its “Great Community of the Year” contest. The brand-new contest aims to honor the outstanding grassroots developments taking place across the state to support…
Happy New Year from all of us at Good Dads! We’re so glad you’re ringing in 2025 with us. This year is a big one for Good Dads—our 10th nonprofit anniversary! We have a lot in store to celebrate this…
Craig Groeschel, founder and senior pastor of Life.Church, said, “Raising adult children is harder than raising younger children.” I wholeheartedly agree. Parenting kids aged 17-25 can be particularly challenging for two main reasons: We must shift our roles as parents,…
This is the second of a two-part series of anonymous musings on the topic of raising adult children. Last week, we collected confessions from twentysomethings who shared what they crave from their relationships with their fathers. This week, we’re exploring…
As twentysomethings and as daughters of good dads, we are forever interested in our peers’ relationships with their dads. And as the communications team at a father-focused nonprofit, we’re uniquely positioned to gain some valuable insights! This month we asked…
It feels like just yesterday they were tying their shoelaces for the first time or asking you endless questions about how the world works. Now, they’re navigating the world on their own — driving, paying bills, making big career choices…
At the risk of sounding like Captain Obvious, a father’s relationships with his children change as they grow up. While your youngsters once needed help tying their shoes and were wobbling on training wheels, now they’re getting driver’s licenses, dating,…
Another fantastic cohort of brand-new facilitators for Good Dads classes completed training this week. Two groups met between Nov. 13 and Nov. 20 to take a deep-dive into the two classes used in the New Pathways for Good Dads program…
Remember the first time you saw your little one take their first wobbly steps? You felt a mix of pride and terror. As your child transitions from teenagehood to young adulthood, you’re about to experience a similar emotional roller coaster…
“What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s a common question asked of young children. And as a child grows, aspirations evolve and change. In Good Dads’ web series “What I Want to Be,” Executive Director Dr.…
Quiet settled across the pews at the Downtown Church in Springfield, MO, on Sunday, Nov. 3. Good Dads guests—including parents, partners, friends and children—turned to face the back of the sanctuary as the first notes of Pomp and Circumstance, the…
Many dads fear “the talk” relative to conversations with their kids about love and sex. I can understand this discomfort, but I wish dads would focus more on the characteristics of a healthy relationship than the biology of sex. Even…
Did you play “Hide and Seek” with your neighborhood friends growing up? The version I played involved the “Seeker” standing by a Home Base, usually a tree or street sign, and counting to a designated number (usually 100) while all…
Good Dads staff are feeling endless gratitude for the outpour of support we saw at our annual fundraiser celebration on Thursday, Oct. 17. Nearly 400 guests joined us to support responsible fatherhood in a community context. It’s amazing what we…
Purchasing a personal device for a child may be simple, and teaching them how it functions, easy. In fact, it’s too easy—but something that is not simple or easy is the task of reversing a bad habit or psychological damages…
Generously Supported By: Contest Summary Dads and kids are encouraged to get their creative juices flowing for Good Dads’ Corrugated Creation Design Contest! Use whatever materials you’d like to decorate, paint and beautify your blank canvas. Don’t be afraid to…
Who better to ask than a classroom full of teenagers, “What does it mean to be a good dad?” At Parkview High School, classrooms are full of a variety of perceptions considering its high diversity rate–both multiculturally and socioeconomically. There…
This month on the Growing Good Dads blog, we’re turning to some of the most important sources of wisdom and experience on teenagers: Educators! We’ve reached out to high schools in the Springfield area and are excited to bring you…
It was lunchtime, and the dads came hungry. As break began on a Friday in late September, welders and grinders at Watson Metal Masters filed into the conference room, guided by their noses by the mouthwatering scent of Missouri favorites:…
The Growing Good Dads Blog features some curated content from online resources. This post originally appeared on the Growing Leaders website and was not written by Good Dads staff. Most teenagers today are aware of the negative impact of smartphones. By this…
Will looked at his bank statement and wondered again what he and Elise were thinking when they decided to have children. It’s not that he didn’t love their three kids, but raising them wasn’t cheap or easy. Sean (15), regularly…
Mental health is as vital as physical health, yet there remains a significant barrier preventing many from seeking help: stigma. For youth, this stigma can lead to untreated mental health conditions hindering their growth, education and overall well-being. The Local…
Good Dads sat down with two teens who shared their experiences on what it's like being behind the wheel with their dad as the instructor.
This week we’re reaching back into the Good Dads archives to bring you a blogpost from Deron Smith, a professor, pastor and father. While Deron originally wrote this back in 2015, we think the topics he covers are just as…
Arm yourself with knowledge and empathy to be better prepared to support your daughter during her first period
The time of the year that every parent loves has arrived! It’s back to school time! Dads (and moms) are happy to get the kiddos out of the house (and their hair) for the day. Clothes, school supplies, and other…
One of my favorite quotes is: “Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future.” What a true statement! Being in education for 20+ years, I’ve certainly seen this phrase played out. For years I’ve watched in amazement when…
Logan, now a high school athlete, first experienced the transformative power of sports at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Springfield. He vividly recalls stepping onto the basketball court at six or seven years old. What began as a simple…
A Missouri father of three shares his joys and challenges of raising two teenage boys during his recovery journey.
Good Dads hosted its first-ever Chapter Orientation event on Wednesday, July 17, and it was a real hit! With our increased focus on expansion, aimed at reaching more dads throughout Missouri than was previously possible, we know that building relationships…
Good Dads is excited to announce its newest program titled Good Dads Great Communities. The six-part video and discussion-based course is designed to help father-focused leaders begin to investigate what it would be like to launch a Good Dads initiative…
The Growing Good Dads Blog features some curated content from online resources. This post originally appeared on the Institute for Family Studies website and was not written by Good Dads staff. The following essay is adapted from the author’s speech…
Good Dads’ partnership with the United Way of the Ozarks was renewed for the 2024–2026 grant cycle. UWO announced last Monday its new lineup of program winners for its community investment fund. “This was our most competitive grant process yet,…
“Hold my hand, daddy. I’m scared.” “Watch this, daddy. Watch me jump in the pool. Did you see the splash I made?” “Did you see me hit that ball, Dad? Were you watching when I hit that homerun?” Why is…
Good Dads received its second-in-a-row appropriation in Missouri’s annual budget, signed by Governor Mike Parson at the end of June. The nonprofit received two budgetary items: a one-time appropriation, plus a more permanent line-item that Good Dads hopes will remain…
This month on the Growing Good Dads blog, we’re diving into the ways you can be a good dad to preteens. Children at this age are in a period of growth and discovery: they’re learning who they are and figuring…
Good Dads will be on the national stage this summer as its executive director will present at this year’s National Fatherhood Summit hosted by the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse. The convening’s 2024 theme is “From Foundations to the Future.” The…
If your child is entering the public education system (maybe for the first time), you probably wondering how to make sure it’s a success. I understand, and I am in the same boat as a dad of a preschooler. I’ve…
Tonight with JD, I had a realization that children become truly mature and compassionate when they realize that, if they CAN do something, they NEED to do it for themselves. I believe we, as parents, need to encourage our kids…
This month on the Growing Good Dads blog, we’re focusing on being a good dad to kids between 6–9 years old. If you have a child this age, they’re most likely in the middle of their summer break. Because summer…
If you submitted a nomination for the 2024 Outstanding Dads of the Year contest this spring, thank you! We received submissions from across the Ozarks from sons and daughters, spouses, friends and neighbors, co-workers and many others who recognize the…
Goal Setting for Parents I strongly believe in the idea of setting goals. If you aim for nothing, you’ll get nothing every time. This concept is typically used to set personal goals, but I’m here to talk about goal setting…
It sneaks up on you: One morning, you're forced to accept the reality that your baby doesn’t need you to get her dressed anymore. When she had the freedom to choose what she would wear, she gained confidence in her ability to make good decisions for herself.
The outdoors is the perfect backdrop for bonding with your youngster while communing with nature—not to mention the fact that plenty of outdoor adventures are low-cost or even free!
Gardening is a great way to get your kids outdoors, having fun while learning invaluable life lessons. It’s educational, promotes physical and mental health, it’s a wonderful bonding opportunity, it connects them with nature, and it teaches them important skills like patience, perseverance and dedication. I’ll dive into more detail about each of these benefits.
“This parenting class is not working,” exclaimed the frustrated father of three standing in front of me. “What do you mean?” I asked. “Well,” he said, “last week my three-year-old tried to flush a jump rope down the toilet and…
