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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In Episode 3 of Hot Topics, Good Dads hosts Will Cox and Dr. Jennifer L. Baker tackle a powerful and relatable subject for every parent: the value of letting children fail. The latest episode, “Letting Your Children Fail – Using Setbacks to Foster Growth & Resilience,” is a candid conversation that explores why experiencing failure […]
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The Good Dads Blog features some curated content from online resources. This post originally appeared on the Northern Life Magazine website and was not written by Good Dads staff. Reposted with permission. Being a father is one of life’s most significant roles, but it can also be one of the most daunting, especially if you’ve […]
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We’re building a fence at the top of the cliff. That’s probably one of the easiest and most concise ways to describe what we’re doing at Good Dads. We are constructing a sturdy barrier overlooking a ravine because we want to prevent the needless tragedy that occurs when people go over the edge. Author Dan […]
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Last Monday, we sent out an important progress report on the New Pathways for Good Dads program. As we celebrate a decade of hard work among our staff, volunteers and program participants, we want to say thank you and recap some of our recent accomplishments. In 2018, The New Pathways for Good Dads (NPGD) program […]
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Curiosity is the foundation of lifelong learning, and in Good Dads’ most recent podcast episode on “The Difference a Dad Makes,” hosts Brian and J. Fotsch welcome Rudy Martinez, Director of the Springfield Conservation Nature Center, to explore how dads can cultivate curiosity and outdoor engagement in their children. Rudy shares how his love for […]
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Brrrrr! Bitter winds are howling. Tiny frozen crystals dance from the cloudy sky. Slippery ice covers every surface. It can only mean one thing: a snow day! For some, there’s nothing better than building snowmen, making snow angels and waging war in the form of snowball fights. But for others, the winter wonderland puts us […]
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We’ve been covering healthy relationships (romantic and otherwise) here on the Good Dads blog for years, and this week we’ve collected some of our favorite tips and advice. This Valentine’s Day, remember that healthy relationships is a commitment for 365 days a year! Make it safe to connect Make it easy to give and receive […]
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The oft-heard adage, “Fake it ’till you make it” isn’t perfectly true, but it does contain an important nugget of truth. You see, no one is born with the built-in ability to do things successfully. A newborn infant knows how to cry, feed and sleep. (Maybe a couple of other things also!). All the other […]
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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 and proud father of two young children. This heartfelt conversation dives deep into the vital […]
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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 members of the Missouri General Assembly who took time out of their busy day to […]
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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, encourages a broad exploration of the many ways we can support fathers and their families […]
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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 brother’s hands with a yowl of “MINE!” or when your teenager just slammed his bedroom […]
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Gallery: Fanning the Flames of Fatherhood at Good Dads’ 10th Anniversary Celebration
All of us at Good Dads are feeling an abundance of gratitude for the outpour of support we witnessed at
The Harvest You Don’t See
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,
Good Dads Awarded 5-Year Federal ‘Healthy Marriage, Responsible Fatherhood’ Grant
Good Dads learned Tuesday morning that it is among 109 organizations in 38 states to receive grant funding via U.S.
3 Reasons to Support Responsible Fatherhood Today
In the nonprofit field, we always have our eyes set on the horizon. We’re always concerned with what the future
Pastor Brian Mattson on Strong Schools Captain Connections
Brian Mattson has a lot of roles in his life: husband, father of two, lead pastor of the Downtown Church
Practice Makes Perfect
Have you ever had this thought? You buy a Powerball ticket and discover you won the jackpot! You’ve made it!!
Father-daughter duo Rick and Daisy Gideon on learning lessons through Strong Schools
What do making paper airplanes, coloring pictures and creating pipe cleaner creatures all have in common? These are great, simple
Father-son duo Brian and Hudson on bonding opportunities through Strong Schools
Father of three sons Brian Stranghoener didn’t know what he was getting into when his 4th grader, Hudson, brought home
Simple Moments, Big Impact: Dads Making a Difference at School
In the latest episode of the Good Dads Great Communities podcast, we spoke to experts about father involvement in elementary
The Griffin family on learning the value of teamwork through Strong Schools
Eric Griffin, Springfield father of two kindergarteners and two fifth graders, knows what being a busy father looks like. He
Strong Schools Coordinator Jim Millsap on fatherhood engagement efforts in schools
Most people would be more than happy to stay retired after serving nearly 40 years in the education sector. Jim
Bringing it Home Attendees Joined Good Dads for First-Ever Reunion
We loved seeing Good Dads leaders from across the state Friday, July 18, at our Family Reunion in Springfield, MO.