The Kansas Fatherhood Coalition recently sponsored the 6th Annual Statewide Kansas Fatherhood Summit in Kansas City, KS. This year’s theme was “Fathers for a New Generation: Involved for a Better Tomorrow.” Summit participants were inspired, motivated, and challenged by keynote speakers, panelists, and breakout presenters to take care of themselves so they can be supporters and encouragers of fathers.

Keynote speaker D.J. “Eagle Bear” Vanas used the example of flight attendants instructing parents to put on their own oxygen mask before helping their children to describe how we can’t help anyone if we are incapacitated. Keynote speaker Ron Willis was straightforward in saying that most of us are doing too much and that we need to prune our lives. In order to be effective advocates of healthy father involvement in the lives of children, we must take care of ourselves and each other!

On Thursday, January 10, KHSA recognized Kansas and Region VII award winners at the APM meeting. Winners joined member program representatives for a banquet lunch and awards ceremony. Twelve awards were given out to winners nominated by various programs.