Dads Make A Difference

DADS MAKE A DIFFERENCE ... our mission ... to promote the positive involvement of fathers and to educate youth about responsible parenting.

1 in 3 children in America live in father-absent homes.  We think ONE is too many.  Dads DO make a difference!  Kids with positively involved fathers are more likely to do well in school; have healthy self esteem, empathy and pro-social behavior; and avoid high risk behaviors.

Absent fathers and too-early parenting also significantly impact the number of children growing up in poverty.

Dads Make a Difference peer education program helps youth build a foundation of life skills so they're better prepared to think critically about healthy relationships, positive father involvement, becoming sexually active, and the challenges of parenting too soon.  DMAD has been doing this important work for 25 YEARS, training 3,119 teen peer educators and teaching over 79,750 middle school-age youth!

Young men especially need the ability to be partners in conversations about pregnancy prevention and family planning so they can become positively-involved men and fathers ... DMAD provides an opportunity for those conversations to happen.

DMAD strengthens communities because these youth are better equipped to make intentional choices about creating families; and being prepared, capable parents increases family resources.  DMAD is a youth development program in the purest sense, by informing young people about the consequences of their choices and by involving them as teachers of the message.

"What has not changed throughout the long history of the organization is the positive, lifelong impact it makes in young people's lives. The positive youth development model empowers young people to take charge of their own decision making. They become informed on life issues that will impact them at some point in the near future, and then they turn around and share that information with younger peers. ... This program is relevant, necessary and a true investment in young people. I cannot imagine not supporting Dads Make a Difference."  ~ MJ Oberweiser Kennedy

DMAD promotes positive father involvement, strong  families, and healthy communities, and greatly appreciates your support.

Your donation to Dads Make a Difference is fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.