The Fatherhood Engagement Program knows that there is a direct link between father involvement and child safety and well-being. Just like mothers, fathers are crucial to a child’s physical, emotional and psychological development. Children in and out of foster care with involved fathers are at lower risk for delinquency, teen pregnancy, drug use and dropping out of school. DCHS provides specialized fatherhood engagement services to families experiencing the placement of children/youht in foster care.

The City of Alexandria’s Fatherhood Engagement Program is built on a simple but powerful belief: strong fathers build strong families—and strong fathers can always grow into even better men and fathers for their families. Fathers play a critical role in a child’s emotional development, stability, confidence, and long-term success. When fathers are engaged, children thrive, families are healthier, and communities are stronger.

In 2025, the Fatherhood Engagement Program brought fathers and children together through meaningful experiences and skill-building opportunities. These included a Father’s Day cookout, a family outing to a Washington Nationals baseball game, interactive workshops, and support for a Father–Daughter Dance in partnership with Prince William County. Each experience was designed to strengthen bonds, create lasting memories, and reinforce the importance of active father involvement.

The program also successfully completed a 12-week Fatherhood Training in partnership with the Capital Youth Empowerment Program at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center. This training provided fathers with tools to strengthen parenting skills, improve communication, and grow as leaders within their families. Building on this success, the next 12-week virtual Fatherhood Training will begin on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, and will be held on Wednesdays from 6–8 p.m., with Spanish interpretation available.

Looking ahead to 2026, the Fatherhood Engagement Program will deepen its focus on financial management, economic stability, and leadership within the home, equipping fathers with practical skills to support their families today and for generations to come.

For more information or to get involved, please contact Delaney Colbert, Fatherhood Engagement Coordinator, at delaney.colbert@alexandriava.gov or 571.447.8319.

Each June is National Reunification Month and Fatherhood Awareness Month.  DCHS offers programs and services that focus on reunifying children in foster care with their parents and families.  We celebrate fathers and the importance of a father’s engagement with his children and family, especially during the reunification process.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, fathers and paternal family members play a crucial role in children’s growth, development and well-being, and engaged fathers can increase the potential for reunification when a child is in foster care. 

Check out year-round opportunities to support at-risk children in Alexandria, including volunteer and mentoring opportunities as well as programs to employ youth. You can also help enhance the lives of resource families and children in foster care through The Fund for Alexandria’s Child, which provides extra-curricular activities and other childhood experiences for children in foster care.

• National Fatherhood Initiative
• VA Dept. of Child Support Enforcement 

Contact the Department of Community and Human Services at 703.746.5700.