It Takes a Village: Being a Good Dad, Collaboratively
July 21, 2026
Have you heard of the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child”? This statement means that children
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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 nonprofit spreads like wildfire. A million thanks to the wonderful community leaders who celebrated 10 […]
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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 stretches several minutes in the car. Mama was our Halloween MVP. Daddy was usually still […]
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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 release on Tuesday that more than $100 million was slated for initiatives related to Healthy […]
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In the nonprofit field, we always have our eyes set on the horizon. We’re always concerned with what the future holds. So it should come as no surprise that we’ve been planning for our 10th anniversary fundraising dinner and celebration for months. But this year, things feel a little different. If you’re reading this article, […]
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Brian Mattson has a lot of roles in his life: husband, father of two, lead pastor of the Downtown Church in Springfield, and Strong Schools captain for McGregor Elementary. Brian heard about this new way to get involved in his community from Good Dads’ founder Dr. Jennifer Baker, who attends church where Brian is lead […]
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Have you ever had this thought? You buy a Powerball ticket and discover you won the jackpot! You’ve made it!! You can quit your job, pay off the mortgage, buy the car you’ve always wanted, and retire to some Caribbean island. I’m sure you have – I have. Even though we dream that just doing […]
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What do making paper airplanes, coloring pictures and creating pipe cleaner creatures all have in common? These are great, simple ways for dads to bond with their kids—and beyond that, they’re also all activities featured in Good Dads Strong Schools events! Believe it or not, the simple act of building a paper bridge or playing […]
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Father of three sons Brian Stranghoener didn’t know what he was getting into when his 4th grader, Hudson, brought home an informational flyer on a before-school breakfast program called Good Dads Strong Schools at his school, Bissett Elementary. Curious, Brian wanted to see what it was all about. For Brian, he’s enjoyed watching his sons […]
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In the latest episode of the Good Dads Great Communities podcast, we spoke to experts about father involvement in elementary schools. Hosts welcome Strong Schools Coordinator Jim Millsap and Good Dads Board Member Dr. Mike Dawson for a meaningful discussion about how even a few minutes of paternal presence can positively impact schools, families and communities....
Eric Griffin, Springfield father of two kindergarteners and two fifth graders, knows what being a busy father looks like. He works hard as an accountant to provide for his family, but it’s rare for him to see his children until late into the evening after work. “Most days I get up and I’m at work […]
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Most people would be more than happy to stay retired after serving nearly 40 years in the education sector. Jim Millsap, Good Dads’ Strong Schools Coordinator, isn’t most people. “I was so bad at retirement, I came on board with Good Dads,” he joked. Jim has always enjoyed being involved in education. He previously spent […]
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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!...
It Takes a Village: Being a Good Dad, Collaboratively
Have you heard of the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child”? This statement means that children
Just What the Doctor Ordered: Communicating with Your Child’s Pediatrician
This year on the Good Dads blog, we’ve examined many ways dads can be good communicators to their partners and
Hear, Hear!: Clear Communication for Families
“When clear communication is taking place, we feel informed, engaged, involved and aware.” That’s what Brian Mattson, father of two
Our Takeaways from the ‘Gone Guys’ Documentary Screening
Following Good Dads’ screening of “Gone Guys,” an energetic—sometimes hopeful, sometimes sad—but nonetheless meaningful conversation occurred. We hosted a six-member
Good Dads hosts New Pathways graduation
This time of year is special for several reasons, with schools letting out across the country, students moving up a
Mending Fences: The Three R’s of a Good Apology
Jude asks his son Kyle (15) to take out the trash by the time he gets back from the store.
Good Dads Recognized with SPS Partner in Excellence Distinction
This week hundreds attended an annual Springfield Public Schools celebration to recognize some of the wonderful individuals and organizations making
Mom and Dad Live in Different Houses
Five years ago, I was faced with what I felt to be an insurmountable task: explain to my two kids
New ‘Good Dads Forge’ program launches with first class in Fulton, MO
FULTON, MO – Good Dads Forge, a new program from the statewide nonprofit Good Dads, launched last week with its
Communicating with Clarity
“We have trust issues.” “We fight all the time.” “We have trouble communicating.” I’ve heard these phrases countless times over
Understanding Two New Good Dads Programs
This week on the Good Dads Blog we sat down with one of the newest members of the Good Dads
A Peek Inside Our Newest Curriculum, Fundamentals for Good Dads
Perhaps you’ve heard the buzz about Fundamentals for Good Dads, the newest curriculum from Good Dads. This eight-part course is