Program Overview | Resources for Military Families | Purchase Information


Program Overview

Historically, fathers serving our country in the Armed Services faced significant challenges created by distance and the amount of time away from their families. Today, in response to the events of September 11th and the War on Terrorism, tens of thousands of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines have been forward deployed to Southwest Asia, and more than 50,000 Guard and Reserve members have been called to active duty. During these deployments, their children are passing through significant stages of development physically, intellectually and socially; punctuated by events that cannot be recaptured upon return from assignment. The program, Deployed Fathers & Families™, will provide the education and tools needed to keep these fathers on the front lines actively and intimately involved in the lives of their children.

BACKGROUND
Research confirms the significant role that fathers have in the lives of their children. A father’s ability to perform his role well depends upon a variety of factors, including the type and amount of support he receives from his family, friends and community. His contributions however, are sometimes taken for granted or simply overlooked in the busyness of everyday life. The dimension fathers bring to parenting is irreplaceable. Fathers teach their sons to be men and fathers. Fathers teach their daughters what a husband’s loving relationship can be with his wife and what being a father really means. The example that a father displays in his home provides the model that his children will adopt in their relationships and shapes the children’s future skills as parents. A father not only influences his children, but also his grandchildren and the families they will establish.

Being a father isn’t easy in our fast-paced society. Being a father in the military is even more difficult because of the increased number of challenges that a father must navigate in order to be there for his family. The separation caused by deployment creates additional stresses on military fathers. For example, his absence from home creates anxieties, fears and frustrations for himself, his wife and his children. In addition to the absences, it is hard for a father to relinquish his role as protector, parent and provider prior to deployment, and then try to reestablish his place within the family upon his return. This creates a tremendous amount of stress, which can keep the father preoccupied with his family’s concerns, thereby affecting his service readiness. Therefore, it is vitally important that the Department of Defense provide these young fathers the training they need to recognize the importance of a father’s influence on his child’s life and the support the fathers need to make a real contribution to their child’s development while deployed.

SUMMARY
A good loving father’s legacy will last for three generations. Ironically, a Military Father’s legacy is put in jeopardy by the frequent and long deployments required by his dedicated and loyal service to our nation. Now, the Deployed Fathers & Families™ Program stands ready with the tools for the Department of Defense to provide a professional and necessary support program to address the issues of military fathers.

Resources

NEW - Welcome Home Dad! 10 Tips For Reconnecting With Your Children After Deployment - Brochure

Ease the strain of returning home from military deployment! These ten tips will prepare military dads and their families as they make the transition home from deployment back into everyday life.

Staying Involved With Your Children While Deployed - Brochure

This brochure gives practical advice on how parents who have been called to serve in the military can stay involved in their children's lives despite distance and physical absence. Click here for an online version.

Drop dad a line. CLICK HERE!

"Drop Dad a Line" is an e-mail service for the children of deployed fathers. With this service, children can post and send special messages to their "deployed dads" who are serving our nation. Children can send either personal messages to dad or have their message posted on a public board where all of the messages to dads appear. This will remind men that their roles as fathers are still important even while they are away, and it will give children a sense of community as they deal with the absence of their father.