In 2009 Coloradodads.com had over 100,000 unique visitors and almost 2 million hits. Thank you to everyone who has logged onto our site this year! The website is just a small yet important portion of what we do.

In October 2006, the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS), Colorado Works Division was awarded a $10 million federal grant over five years to strengthen father/child relationships and improve parenting. Since that time we have helped fund 56 programs as they provide thousands of dads with the tools and resources they need to be the kind of men their children need them to be. This year we are funding 27 programs across the state.

It has been especially satisfying to see the development of programs that do not receive funds from us. More and more counties, agencies, and churches have begun to provide services this year that improve the well-being of our children by working with and through their dads. In addition there has been marked improvement of service coordination across divisions and departments of the state and counties.

In the past year we have trained over a 100 different Colorado practitioners in fatherhood practices and curricula.

Hundreds joined us the weekend of Father’s Day to recognize fathers and the programs that serve them. Participants at that event included Governor Bill Ritter, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and his son, Teddy. Winners of our Be There for Your Kids Awards included: Program of the Year – Urban Colors Arts & Mentoring, Father of the Year – Joel Webster, Practitioner of the Year – Jerome Perkins, Colorado Fatherhood Council Member of the Year – Tyler Osterhaus, and Advocate of the Year – Dennis Hofts.

Kyle Pruett has written, “Men are the single greatest untapped resource in the lives of American children. Natural, renewable, and by and large nontoxic, they couldn’t be healthier for the country’s children. We can’t afford to let another one get away.” I am proud of the fatherwork that is happening in Colorado. Men and women across the state have stepped out to help men step up to the needs of their children and through them their children’s children. I look forward to hearing the redemptive stories of the coming year that may very well be told generations to come.