When Haley Allison, a caseworker in Bellingham, first met J, he was already completing the necessary steps to reunify with his son. He had been sober for several months and was just beginning to participate in Family Recovery Court (FRC).

“This was my first case working just with a father,” Allison said. “It was encouraging to watch him go through FRC. Through this process he improved his parenting skills, gained sobriety, and learned how to set healthy boundaries.”

There are several phases to FRC which include drug testing, creating habits to support recovery, and obtaining items like a license, insurance, and transportation that will allow for a child’s successful and sustained return home.

While J did face some hurdles along the way, like court delays and issues with housing, he didn’t let them slow him down. He completed a parenting plan, graduated from an Incredible Years course, found support in his sobriety with his work and was able to secure permanent housing, and a Trial Return Home with his son.

“J was steadfast through the whole process,” Allison said. “He was nearly perfect in his compliance and has been able to create a very cozy home for him and his son.”

At of the end of April 2024, J’s case has been dismissed. J is now his son’s primary caregiver, and they are enjoying life in their new home.

“J and fathers like him are breaking stereotypes,” Allison said. “A father can do these things; they can step up and be just as successful for their children as any other caregiver and we have the necessary supports to help them thrive.”

Friday, June 7, 2024
Greater Tacoma Convention Center
7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Attend this free conference, where Washington's Fatherhood Council will release findings from the State of Fathers in Washington Study and invite attendees to accelerate system transformation for fathers and families.

This year's event theme is Counting Fathers Because Kids Matter.  The voices of fathers are highly valued 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 the event coordinator at amandacardwell@frontier.com to learn more. 

For more information or to register, visit https://wafatherhoodcouncil.org/events/2024-fatherhood-summit

• State Park Free Days 
• 30 Spring Art Activities for Kids
• Sign up for a library card at your local branch and check out free passes to a variety of museums, local attractions, and even Washington State Parks (Washington Discover Pass).
• Outdoor activities like nature scavenger hunts and animal bingo courtesy of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 
• June 30 is Meteor Watch day. The best meteor watching occurs in the sky right before dawn. So, wake the kids up early and go lay on a blanket to watch for meteors. Learn more about meteors from the American Meteor Society.

Fathers play an important role in every child's life. This role has an impact on a child's growth and helps shape their personality and development. An engaged father promotes healthy personal and interpersonal growth in children and youth and helps to instill an overall sense of well-being and security, while also providing a fundamental child developmental need of being a provider and protector.

DCYF's Engaging Fathers project focuses on engaging fathers with children in the child welfare system. DCYF provides helpful resources and information about parenting that can empower a father to navigate the child welfare system successfully.

Fathers are the other half of a child's biological identity and heritage. Building positive relationships benefit everybody involved and can develop a sense of connection and family during what can feel like a stressful transitional experience for a child and a father.