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Counting Fathers Because Kids Matter
Register Now for the 2024 Fatherhood Summit!
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 pm
Friday, June 7, 2024
Greater Tacoma Convention Center
Join us in person for the 2024 Fatherhood Summit, where we will release findings from the State of Fathers in Washington Study and roll up our sleeves together to accelerate system transformation for fathers and families. This year's event theme is Counting Fathers Because Kids Matter. We highly value the voices of fathers in this work, and some support for travel costs is available for dads to attend the event, including mileage, hotel, child care expenses, meals for overnight attendees and compensation for lived experience for a limited number of fathers (contact us to learn more).
Overview:
- This event is free.
- Doors open with continental breakfast at 7:30 a.m.
- Event begins at 8:30 a.m.
- Lunch and refreshments are also included.
Register Now
Keynote Speaker - Dr. David W. Willis, FAAP on "Nurture Connection for Fathers, Families and Communities”
There is overwhelming research and understanding that makes it clear that all children and their families benefit from strong, positive, and nurturing father and father figure relationships to grow and thrive. We all know that healthy relationships in the beginning years are the building blocks upon which we create engaged, healthy and productive lives and bright futures. We also know that when humans collaborate and cooperate they succeed. To solve complex issues that often marginalize fathers’ roles we must build bridges, listen to and trust one another. So we are spending the day listening to one another, building bridges and connections around the findings in the Washington Fatherhood State of the State study to increase fathers access, equity, and belonging.
David W Willis, MD, FAAP serves as a Senior Fellow at the Center for the Study of Social Policy and a national expert in pediatrics, early childhood systems, and early relational health. At CSSP, he leads the Nurture Connection social movement to advance early relational health at the growing intersection of child health transformation and resilient community building in partnerships with families and a social justice commitment. He also is the current Co-Chair of National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine’s Forum on Children’s Wellbeing. Dr. Willis previously served as the Inaugural Executive Director of the Perigee Fund, the Division Director of Home Visiting and Early Childhood Systems at HRSA during the Obama Administration, and an early brain and child development clinician and leader in Oregon and the American Academy of Pediatrics. He currently lives in Alexandria, VA with his wife in close proximity to his oldest son's family.
Additional Event Features
- Washington Dads Panel sharing their experiences and hopes for greater access, inclusion and belonging in our child and family systems.
- State Agency Partner Panel sharing their findings and priorities for the near and long term, including:
- Department of Corrections
- Department of Children, Youth and Families
- Department of Social and Health Services, Economic Services Administration
- Health Care Authority
- Department of Health
- Group Discussions for attendees to bring their expertise and support to the collective work of moving priorities forward.
The Washington Fatherhood Council is excited to announce our new annual award to honor and celebrate the amazing dads and allies who help make our state a great place to parent and raise children.
Nominations closed April 19, 2024.
Thank you to everyone who submitted award nominations for so many remarkable dads and dad allies! We are currently reviewing submissions and will contact winners in early May. The award ceremony will be held during lunch at the Summit. Please email us at WAFatherhoodCouncil@dshs.wa.gov if you have any questions.
