D.A.D Project SoCal: S.T.E.A.M. and Family Day (Conference)

K-12 STEAM education

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

"According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2020, approximately 24.7 million children (33%) in the United States lived in fatherless homes". Faced with the harsh reality of single-parent homes and the absence of father figures or positive male role models for children in South Los Angeles, the D.A.D Project is transforming the educational landscape through father and parent involvement initiatives. These programs are meticulously designed to provide fathers a safe space within the educational system that promotes learning, empowerment, growth, and leadership in their families and communities. We have identified three fundamental principles of father engagement, which include a wellness strategy, and our key programs are: 1) Man Cave Support Groups, 2) School Readiness, and 3) Family Health and Wellness. Our ongoing mission is to enhance the role of fatherhood and strengthen our research on the impact of father involvement on the developmental outcomes of children.

D.A.D Project SoCal STEAM and Family Day Conference will support K-12 STEAM Education; by introducing fathers and families to the significant role they have in their children's lives, at the same time introduce their children to the rapidly growing field of science and technology. There aren't many programs designed specifically for father engagement! We believe in our ability to establish safe spaces throughout Los Angeles County where fathers can engage in learning, personal growth, and contribute to their children's educational progress. In collaboration with our partners in the Los Angeles Unified School District, Montebello School District, and the California Association for the Education of Young Children, among numerous others, is where we receive support in our mission and vision to increase father participation in early childhood education. Goal: The D.A.D Project SoCal STEAM and Family Day Conference will be the #1 Father/ Child event in Los Angeles. Objective 1. Host 2 STEAM and Family Day Conferences, at a central location Los Angeles, where we would invite 500 fathers and their families to participate in our STEAM related father engagement program. Objective 2: Collaborate with LAUSD head start, and other education programs who support our mission to create safe spaces for father/ male engagement. Objective 3: Develop a sustainability strategy that will allow us to offer this Conference annually in Los Angeles County and beyond.

Los Angeles will be benefit by creating safe spaces and opportunities for fathers to become more responsible and involved parents. Currently, there are limited resources available for fathers seeking support for their families or a platform to discuss issues pertinent to fatherhood. The D.A.D Project's programs are carefully crafted to align with the Parent, Family, and Community Engagement Framework (PFCE) set forth by the Department of Head Start, focusing on children aged 0 to 5. These initiatives have been successful in addressing the community's needs by tackling the challenges of fatherless homes, childhood obesity, and child development and learning outcomes. We are committed to fostering a community of fathers and male role models who are proactive in advocating for their children, whether it be through attending parent-teacher conferences, doctor's appointments, community events, or mentoring young children within their own neighborhoods.

According to program data, 98% of participants were first-time attendees to a father engagement program and were involved in at least one of our school readiness events. Our data also revealed that work schedules posed the greatest barrier to non-participation in education programs. To overcome this obstacle, the D.A.D Project offers flexibility within its programs, scheduling events online, in the evenings, weekends, and during holidays to facilitate greater participation. We are able to capture this demographic data when fathers register or attend any of our events. In order to participate you must register your family, and to receive distribution items fathers must complete the program evaluation. We utilize Microsoft Forms to gather program data, and we use other Microsoft Business Suite Apps to evaluate and report our data. Due to the success of our programs, I have had the pleasure of sharing our story on ABC 7 SoCal Strong, The Kelly Clarkson Show and radio shows nationwide.