Fatherhood Engagement

Specialized fatherhood engagement services to families with children or teens in foster care
Page updated on October 23, 2026 at 10:04 AM
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Fatherhood Engagement

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.

A Night to Remember: Father-Daughter Soul Train Dance 2026

On Friday, October 2, the City of Alexandria’s Department of Community and Human Services hosted a vibrant Father-Daughter Soul Train Dance at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center.

Nearly 50 fathers, daughters, staff, volunteers, and community supporters came together for an unforgettable evening of music, dancing, laughter, and connection. From energetic Soul Train lines and live entertainment to heartfelt moments on the dance floor, the event celebrated the joy and lasting impact of strong father-daughter relationships.

More than just a dance, this special night honored the power of fathers being actively present and engaged in their daughters' lives—creating memories they will cherish for years to come.

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who helped make this wonderful community celebration possible!

A group of people poses together indoors, smiling in front of a colorful balloon arch with red, yellow, and blue balloons. The area is warmly lit, and a large backdrop says "Autism Acceptance." Some individuals are seated or kneeling in front, with others standing behind them. A few children are among the group.
Three women posing in 1970s-style outfits—including bell-bottom jeans and patterned tops—in front of a colorful red, yellow, and blue balloon arch backdrop with a Soul Train sign.
Attendees enjoying the dance floor during the Father-Daughter Soul Train Dance, with guests in 1970s attire dancing in a line and mingling in front of a colorful balloon backdrop at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center.
Two young girls dancing and holding hands on a white dance floor in front of a colorful red, yellow, and blue balloon arch and Soul Train backdrop.
A father and daughter posing together in 1970s-inspired outfits—complete with bell-bottoms, an Afro wig, and patterned attire—in front of the colorful Soul Train balloon backdrop.
A man and young girl smiling and dancing together indoors, with the girl wearing playful pink party glasses.
A smiling man in a purple button-down shirt and dark pants dances with a young girl wearing a pink dress and a white floral jacket, with blue and yellow balloon decorations and a "Soul Train" backdrop behind them.
A smiling man in a blue polo shirt holding and dancing with a young girl in a red top and grey pants, with colorful balloon decorations and a "Soul Train" backdrop behind them.
An adult in a black shirt and leopard-print pants stands with a child in matching pants while interacting with a circular "Soul Train Scramble" game board on an easel indoors.
An adult and a child in matching black tops, leopard-print pants, and afro wigs pose in front of a colorful balloon arch and a "Soul Train" backdrop.
A man in a black track suit with colorful stripes and a young girl in a blue dress and baseball cap strike matching confident poses in front of a colorful balloon arch and a "Soul Train" backdrop.
A man in a black track suit with colorful stripes and a young girl in a blue dress and baseball cap strike matching confident poses in front of a colorful balloon arch and a "Soul Train" backdrop.
A man in a plaid shirt and khakis holding hands with a young girl in a purple dress in front of the Soul Train balloon backdrop.
A man in a black button-down shirt and grey trousers dancing with a young woman in a plaid dress and dark cardigan.
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A group of people poses together indoors, smiling in front of a colorful balloon arch with red, yellow, and blue balloons. The area is warmly lit, and a large backdrop says "Autism Acceptance." Some individuals are seated or kneeling in front, with others standing behind them. A few children are among the group.
Three women posing in 1970s-style outfits—including bell-bottom jeans and patterned tops—in front of a colorful red, yellow, and blue balloon arch backdrop with a Soul Train sign.
Attendees enjoying the dance floor during the Father-Daughter Soul Train Dance, with guests in 1970s attire dancing in a line and mingling in front of a colorful balloon backdrop at the Del Pepper Community Resource Center.
Two young girls dancing and holding hands on a white dance floor in front of a colorful red, yellow, and blue balloon arch and Soul Train backdrop.
A father and daughter posing together in 1970s-inspired outfits—complete with bell-bottoms, an Afro wig, and patterned attire—in front of the colorful Soul Train balloon backdrop.
A man and young girl smiling and dancing together indoors, with the girl wearing playful pink party glasses.
A smiling man in a purple button-down shirt and dark pants dances with a young girl wearing a pink dress and a white floral jacket, with blue and yellow balloon decorations and a "Soul Train" backdrop behind them.
A smiling man in a blue polo shirt holding and dancing with a young girl in a red top and grey pants, with colorful balloon decorations and a "Soul Train" backdrop behind them.
An adult in a black shirt and leopard-print pants stands with a child in matching pants while interacting with a circular "Soul Train Scramble" game board on an easel indoors.
An adult and a child in matching black tops, leopard-print pants, and afro wigs pose in front of a colorful balloon arch and a "Soul Train" backdrop.
A man in a black track suit with colorful stripes and a young girl in a blue dress and baseball cap strike matching confident poses in front of a colorful balloon arch and a "Soul Train" backdrop.
A man in a black track suit with colorful stripes and a young girl in a blue dress and baseball cap strike matching confident poses in front of a colorful balloon arch and a "Soul Train" backdrop.
A man in a plaid shirt and khakis holding hands with a young girl in a purple dress in front of the Soul Train balloon backdrop.
A man in a black button-down shirt and grey trousers dancing with a young woman in a plaid dress and dark cardigan.

12-Week Fatherhood Training

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.

Fatherhood Program Group Photo. A group of approximately 13 men poses for a photo in a room with yellow walls. Several men are wearing sweatshirts with the "CYEP" logo, and two men in the back row hold up certificates. In the foreground, a festive evergreen centerpiece with a candle sits on a wooden table.

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.

National Reunification and Fatherhood Awareness Month

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.

More Information and Contact

Contact the Department of Community and Human Services at 703.746.5700.