Help to Ensure a Safe, Successful School Year

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As children across the nation head back to school, the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) is working with barbershops and community organizations to provide fathers with ways to support their local schools; encourage their children to tell them immediately if they, or someone they know, is being bullied or cyber-bullied; and teach safety strategies, such as how to seek help from an adult.

Since 2012, the NRFC has been pleased to work with barbershops and other organizations to provide helpful information to fathers on a range of topics.

Research has shown that fathers who are actively engaged and involved can have a powerful and positive impact on the educational outcomes of their children. In fact, a number of studies have found that fathers who are involved, nurturing, and playful with their infants have children with higher IQ's, as well as better linguistic and cognitive capacities. Further, the influence of a father's involvement in academic achievement extends into adolescence and young adulthood. Several studies suggest that an active and nurturing style of fathering is associated with better verbal skills, intellectual functioning, and academic achievement among adolescents.¹

"It's important to start the school year off right," says Kenneth Braswell, NRFC Director. "By taking your child to school, meeting the teacher, and even getting involved in school activities you demonstrate to her that education is important."

On Saturday, September 6^th, Judge Greg Mathis, presiding jurist of the nationally syndicated, reality-based court show "Judge Mathis," will appear at New York City's Denny Moe's Superstar Barbershop for Fatherhood Buzz: Safe and Successful School Year. As the proud father of four grown children with an inspirational life story as a street youth who rose from jail to judge, Judge Mathis will speak to fathers and families about the importance of fathers in the lives of their children and how it affects their futures.

NRFC will support more than 150 community partners, organizations, agencies, and local barbershops in the Fatherhood Buzz: Safe and Successful School Year effort. Go to Fatherhood.gov to find an event near you.

The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) is funded by the Administration for Children and Families' Office of Family Assistance's (OFA). NRFC assists States and communities in promoting and supporting responsible fatherhood. With a dual purpose of developing outreach efforts to fatherhood practitioners and dads, the NRFC provides access to print and electronic publications, timely information on fatherhood issues, and targeted resources that support the Fatherhood field. The NRFC Website also provides essential information for other audiences interested in fatherhood issues.

About "Judge Mathis"
Inspired by Judge Greg Mathis' own gang-to-gavel story, "Judge Mathis" is a nationally syndicated, reality-based court show presided over by former Detroit-area District Court Judge Greg Mathis. Mathis' decisions are legal and binding. "Judge Mathis" is produced by AND Syndicated Productions and Telepictures Productions, an industry-leading and Emmy Award-winning producer of syndicated programming, and distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution. Originating from Chicago, Season 16 of "Judge Mathis" premieres Monday, September 8^th (check your local listings).

¹ Pruett, K. (2000). Father-need. New York, NY: Broadway Books; Sternberg, K. J. (1997).

SOURCE National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse