Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
When Fathers are Engaged in their Children’s Lives, Families and Communities are Stronger
--submitted by Sharyn Alden
On June 10, Rotarians learned how a statewide, fatherhood assessment program is supporting absent fathers who are not involved in their children’s lives. Dr. Danielle Hairston-Green discussed the Fathers in Focus Conference, the Focus on Fathers Virtual Workshop Series, and the Fatherhood Peer-to-Peer Initiative. She is the assistant dean of the UW’s Human Development & Relationship Institute.
In 2019, the Institute conducted a fatherhood needs assessment. They learned when a father’s love and support are missing, it not only impacts the child’s emotional well-being, it affects the community as well.
She understands what it is like to grow up wanting her father to be present. He left the family when she was three years old.
She wrote numerous letters to him,; she sent him stationery and stamps. He never wrote back.
She found a way to make people believe her dad was just super busy. “I told them he was a Chief on an Indian reservation, and he had to take care of his tribe.” The made-up story helped her get through life.
In 8th grade, she found out where her dad lived. She walked across Philadelphia with excitement and hope. But when he saw her, he walked out the back door to work on his car. Then, when she graduated from high school, he was there. People had mostly forgotten the Indian Chief story by then. He explained he ran away because he thought he had nothing to offer his family.
“But he said he was blessed because I gave him a second chance. I waited 30 years to hear that.” He also became a loving grandfather.
In 2005, he died at 54. Dr. Green felt she had lost him twice. While her story is personal, stories of missing dads are pervasive. She said research has found that fathers want to be fathers; they want to be present in their children’s lives.”
When Fathers are Engaged in their Children’s Lives, Families and Communities are Stronger
--submitted by Sharyn Alden
On June 10, Rotarians learned how a statewide, fatherhood assessment program is supporting absent fathers who are not involved in their children’s lives. Dr. Danielle Hairston-Green discussed the Fathers in Focus Conference, the Focus on Fathers Virtual Workshop Series, and the Fatherhood Peer-to-Peer Initiative. She is the assistant dean of the UW’s Human Development & Relationship Institute.
In 2019, the Institute conducted a fatherhood needs assessment. They learned when a father’s love and support are missing, it not only impacts the child’s emotional well-being, it affects the community as well.
She understands what it is like to grow up wanting her father to be present. He left the family when she was three years old.
She wrote numerous letters to him,; she sent him stationery and stamps. He never wrote back.
She found a way to make people believe her dad was just super busy. “I told them he was a Chief on an Indian reservation, and he had to take care of his tribe.” The made-up story helped her get through life.
In 8th grade, she found out where her dad lived. She walked across Philadelphia with excitement and hope. But when he saw her, he walked out the back door to work on his car. Then, when she graduated from high school, he was there. People had mostly forgotten the Indian Chief story by then. He explained he ran away because he thought he had nothing to offer his family.
“But he said he was blessed because I gave him a second chance. I waited 30 years to hear that.” He also became a loving grandfather.
In 2005, he died at 54. Dr. Green felt she had lost him twice. While her story is personal, stories of missing dads are pervasive. She said research has found that fathers want to be fathers; they want to be present in their children’s lives.”
