Studying social connection and  co-regulation to support fathers in their many roles can yield valuable and actionable lessons. In January 2021, the Administration for Children and Families’ (ACF) Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE) held a meeting with a multidisciplinary group of experts to explore connection and co-regulation in the context of fatherhood and father engagement, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for fathers and families. Meeting participants also identified opportunities for a relationship-based approach to support and engage fathers across human services programs. This short report describes the background that led to the meeting, summarizes the themes that arose from the meeting’s discussions, and expands those themes with additional research review and reflection to identify opportunities for applying a connection-focused lens to support and engage fathers across human services agencies and programs. 

Thanks to the groundbreaking research conducted by Bruce D. Perry, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues which highlights the profound and essential impact of early relationships in the first two months, this booklet has been developed to provide support during this crucial period. By using clear and straightforward language, you will gain a priceless understanding of your own and your baby's needs, while dispelling common myths that often lead to confusion. Reading The First 60 Days leave adults feeling more confident about the ability to positively influence the cognitive, physical and mental health development of babies.

This brochure provides additional information from the Grandfamilies and Kinship Support Network, a project of Generations United. 

Parent leaders have valuable expertise to offer an Infant Toddler Court Team (as defined by the State Team, State Advisory Team, Site Implementation Team, or National Resource Center). Partnerships between parent leaders and other professionals can help to keep the baby, parent, and parent-child relationship at the center of the development and implementation of the state advisory team. It is suggested that parent leaders are intentionally involved from the
beginning of the initiative.

The Family Engagement Checklist is a tool that is used by the ITCP (as defined by the State Team, State Advisory Team, Site Implementation Team, or National Resource Center) to identify supports currently in place or needed to ensure meaningful family engagement in systems-level initiatives.

This fact sheet explains to resource caregivers (foster/kinship caregivers) what the Safe Babies Court Team approach is and their role in it.

This bulletin provides an overview of the scope of the issue and highlights practices to involve parents in case planning and facilitate parent-child contact during incarceration. Resources designed to help caseworkers assist impacted families are presented throughout.

The National ITCP Advisory Group for Parents’ Voices is made up of parent leaders from across the country, each with lived experience in child welfare, who are currently serving as peer mentors, supporting systems change/ improvement efforts, and are advocating for parents across the country

For more than three decades, parents in Michigan have been building a movement to lift up the voices of families and empower parents to have a seat at the tables where decisions are made. Their efforts prove that when parents are supported in becoming leaders and agents of change, the benefits are clear. This report is a tribute to the strength and determination of parents throughout Michigan who made that journey from involvement to leadership and are now using their voice and power to support others.

A Toolkit with Best Practices, Research, and Resources Developed by the National Indian Child Welfare Association. The Tribal Best Practices for Family Engagement Toolkit is created to inform and enrich the family advocate’s capacity when engaging Indian families in Systems of Care (SOC). The content is developed by Indian people for Indian people, however many of the concepts and ideas included can be adapted to serve any community seeking to enhance family engagement. This document outlines a basic family engagement framework for how families could be involved at all levels of the SOC structure that can be helpful when a grantee is envisioning, conceptualizing and implementing family engagement within its SOC. While every SOC community will have a tailored approach to family engagement, this document offers strategies, ideas, and tools for family advocates to support Indian Families within any SOC framework.