News

SGHS at the 2024 NHSA Fatherhood Summit!

Three South Georgia Healthy Start (SGHS) staff members, along with Project Director Dr. Jennifer Barkin, made the trip to New Orleans in mid-March to participate in the 2024 Fatherhood Summit hosted by the National Healthy Start Association (NHSA). The SGHS team was thrilled to come together with other Healthy Start programs and fatherhood practitioners from across the country for learning, networking, and fun!

This event enabled attendees to spend two days sharing knowledge and experience around the importance of active, consistent father involvement in improving maternal and infant health outcomes, as well as the wellness of the men themselves and the family as a whole. Research shows that approximately 1 in 4 children in the United States live without a father in the home, and 80% of single-parent homes are led by single mothers. Conversely, we know that involved fathers contribute to an increase in their children’s foundation for health and well-being throughout their lives. Increasing the public health workforce’s knowledge and expertise around these issues results in more dynamic and comprehensive father-serving programming to lift up dads and their families!

Congratulations to the NHSA for executing such a wonderful, powerful Fatherhood Summit in 2024. SGHS looks forward to the next one!