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DADDS is an acronym for Developing And Disseminating Dad Skills. The concept was first conceived by DADDS University president Michael Hargrove in early 2006 with the birth of his first child. He fell head over heels in love – and upon considering the data about single-parent households – vowed to help all children by equipping their fathers. President Hargrove has spent the past decade developing the curriculum for DADDS University and training its instructors.

Why DADDS University?

Because we are proactively fighting fatherlessness by preparing fathers for the many duties and joys of fatherhood. The program is aligned to the most recent research on the developmental needs of fathers, mothers, and their children. DADDS University was founded on two core values – children deserve the best from their fathers, and fathers can be their best when they are holistically well.

fatherhood responsibility
Fatherhood Responsibility
3 out of 10 young fathers take no responsibility for their children.
No Responsibility
Assume Responsibility
[DADDS U Stat 1 reference]
Lewin, A., Mitchell, S., Waters, D., Hodgkinson, S., Southammakosane, C., & Gilmore, J. (2015). The protective effects of father involvement for infants of teen mothers with depressive symptoms. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 19(5), 1016-1023. doi:10.1007/s10995-014-1600-2
infant mortality
Infant Mortality.
Single mothers experience 1.8 times GREATER infant mortality.

  • (1.8)Single Mothers

  • (1.0)Mothers with co-Parents

[DADDS U Stat 2 reference]
Mathews, T., &MacDorman, M. (2010). Infant mortality statistics from the 2006 period linked birth/infant death data set. National Vital Statistics Reports, 58(17), 2-32.
fatherless children
Fatherless Childern
More than 1 in 3 children grow up in a single-parent household.

  • 65%Have Father

  • 35%Fatherless

[DADDS U Stat 3 reference]
National KIDS COUNT. (2016). Children in single-parent families by race, 2014. Retrieved from http://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/107-children-in-single-parent- families-by#detailed/1/any/false/869,36,868,867,133/10,11,9,12,1,185,13/432,431
fatherhood during infancy
Fatherhood during infancy
When fathers are involved early, babies are more emotionally-stable with less distress and more soothability.

-12%

Less Stressed
More Soothable

9

[DADDS U Stat 4 reference]
Lewin, A., Mitchell, S., Waters, D., Hodgkinson, S., Southammakosane, C., & Gilmore, J. (2015). The protective effects of father involvement for infants of teen mothers with depressive symptoms. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 19(5), 1016-1023. doi:10.1007/s10995-014-1600-2
DADDS university - State of Fatherhood
1,400,00
4,000,000 babies born in the United States per year
1,400,00 won’t have a father
3,836
10,959 babies born in the United States per day
3,836 won’t have a father
27 Seconds
There is baby born every 7.8 seconds in the United States
Every 27 seconds there is a baby born without a father