Furthering Fathering
March 2, 2026
11:00 AM
| Location | 166 Holly Smith Dr., McDonough, GA (Henry County Office) |
| Date & Time | Monday, March 2, 2026 at 11:00 AM |
| Total Attendees | 7 (Community Parents & Parent Liaisons) |
| Topics Covered | Mentor Recruitment; Introduction to FFL & Strengthening Families; The 5 Protective Factors; Parent Leadership |
| Focus Area | How parental involvement and mentor engagement support children's educational success |
A key objective of this session was mentor recruitment — leveraging our parent leadership model to identify community parents, parent liaisons, and family engagement specialists who could serve as mentors, program champions, and advocates for Strengthening Families principles within their schools and communities. Participants with lived experience and influence in their communities are uniquely positioned to extend FFL's reach and impact.
The session emphasized that when parents are engaged and supported through strong protective factor networks, children demonstrate improved academic performance, stronger social-emotional skills, and greater resilience throughout their educational journey.
We also wanted to introduce community parents and parent liaisons to the Fostering Family Leaders (FFL) program and the Strengthening Families framework — sharing how the 5 Protective Factors serve as a research-based foundation for building strong families and how active parental involvement directly contributes to children's educational outcomes, school readiness, and long-term success.
| # | Full Name | Role | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maclin Williams | Community Parent | maclin.d.williams@gmail.com | 318-572-8220 |
| 2 | Kimberly Howard | Parent Engagement Specialist | kimberly.howard@henry.k12.ga.us | 770-957-3945 |
| 3 | Kieshanna Lee | Parent Liaison | kieshannalee@gmail.com | 770-616-0774 |
| 4 | Denise Brewton | Parent Liaison | denisebrewton1@gmail.com | 770-898-0176 |
| 5 | Damon Brown | Community Parent | tagglivevidzz@gmail.com | 678-379-3432 |
| 6 | Pynk Gypsy Music | Community Parent | pinksnowflakecorp@gmail.com | — |
| 7 | Cheryl Blackmon | DHS | cheryl.blackmon@dhs.ga.gov | 470-409-2301 |
The Strengthening Families approach is based on research showing that adverse childhood experiences are reduced and social-emotional development is enhanced when the following five protective factors are present in families and communities.
Parental Resilience
Managing stress and functioning well when faced with challenges, adversity, and trauma. Parents who are resilient bounce back from difficulties, model healthy coping strategies, and have the capacity to take care of their children even during hard times.
Social Connections
Positive relationships that provide emotional, informational, instrumental, and spiritual support. Isolated parents are more at risk; a strong network of friends, family, neighbors, and community members provides a buffer against stress.
Knowledge of Parenting & Child Development
Understanding child development and parenting strategies that support physical, cognitive, language, social, and emotional development. Parents who know what to expect at each stage are better equipped to support healthy growth.
Concrete Support in Times of Need
Access to concrete support and services that address a family's needs. Families who need help with food, housing, childcare, employment, and other necessities are better able to care for their children when they receive timely, appropriate support.
Social & Emotional Competence of Children
Family interactions that help children develop the ability to communicate clearly, recognize and regulate their emotions, and build relationships with others. Children with strong social-emotional skills are more likely to succeed in school and in life.
As a direct result of this March 2nd informational session, Kimberly Howard, Parent Engagement Specialist, shared Furthering Fathering's information with Mary Elizabeth Brockington, Family Engagement Liaison at Stockbridge Middle School, who extended an invitation to speak at their Dads and Donuts event on April 22, 2026.
The Dads and Donuts event was attended by over 30 fathers and father-figures. Furthering Fathering presented on the importance of staying engaged in children's education and distributed the "7 Small Steps to Contribute to Your Child's Academic Success" tip card — a practical resource aligned with the FFL parent leadership and Strengthening Families frameworks.
Following the presentation, Furthering Fathering expressed interest in adopting Stockbridge Middle School for the upcoming school year to promote sustained father and father-figure engagement throughout the year. Both Mrs. Brockington and Principal Mr. Flowers agreed to continue the conversation before the next school year begins.
Impact Summary — April 22, 2026 Dads & Donuts:
30+
Fathers / Father-Figures Present
1
School Partnership Initiated
1
School Adoption Agreement in Progress
Research consistently demonstrates that children whose parents are engaged in their educational journey perform significantly better academically, socially, and emotionally. When the 5 Protective Factors are in place, families build the resilience and capacity needed to:
📖 Impact on Children's Reading Development
When the 5 Protective Factors are actively present in a child's home and community, research shows a direct and measurable improvement in early literacy and reading proficiency. Children whose parents demonstrate Parental Resilience and maintain consistent routines are more likely to engage in daily reading habits. Social Connections expand access to books, libraries, and reading programs. Parents with strong Knowledge of Child Development understand the critical importance of reading aloud, phonemic awareness, and vocabulary building at each stage. Concrete Support — such as access to books, tutoring, and stable housing — removes barriers to literacy growth. And children with strong Social & Emotional Competence are better able to focus, comprehend, and communicate about what they read. Together, these factors create the conditions for children to become confident, capable readers who succeed academically.
FFL equips parents and families with practical tools aligned to these protective factors, empowering them to become confident leaders in their children's educational experiences from early childhood through post-secondary transitions.
Lamont Jones
CEO, Furthering Fathering
May 26, 2026
Furthering Fathering · Henry County, Georgia · March 2026
Strengthening Families is a research-informed approach developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy (CSSP).