Our History
2025
In January of 2025, THE COMMISSION began to meet with Legislative Leaders or their Senior Staff to go over with them the growing disappointment among Commonwealth Citizens including fathers, as to what is the status of Pennsylvania Act 114 of 2022.
THE COMMISSION laid out for legislative leadership and their Senior Staff the following proposed Vision for creating a model that would satisfy fatherhood advocates across the state, as follows:
“Our vision for Pennsylvania’s future regarding greater father family involvement includes, First, the implementation of the Greater Father Involvement Act, signed by Governor Thomas Westerman Wolf during the 2021-2022 legislative session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly. Additionally, we would like to know where would the Permanent Fatherhood Commission be housed and how will it be funded; Second, we would like to see in the legislation an integrated role for the Commonwealth Citizens Council (CCC) that will support the on-going sustainability of Permanent Fatherhood Commission; and Third, we would like the General Assembly of the Commonwealth to establish within the Act a commitment to develop Pennsylvania’s First Fatherhood Network of Full-Service Regional Centers, that will serve the needs of Father raising children and Men helping to raise children across the Commonwealth.”
THE COMMISSION has decided that once again it must re-engage members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to seek the full implementation and vision of Pennsylvania Act 114 of 2022, and the primary recommendation of Pennsylvania’s Joint State Government Commission, proposing that Pennsylvania establish a permanent Fatherhood Commission.
2024
The Founder of The Strong Families Commission was given the privilege of serving as Interim President of the newly formed Commonwealth Citizens Council (CCC).
Under the leadership of THE COMMISSION, the CCC represents a new network of Pennsylvania Citizens in partnership with their state legislative leaders, keeping track of Pennsylvania’s commitment to ending institutional barriers that may impede fathers in fostering supportive connections with their children; establishing support mechanisms to enhance the ability of fathers to assume a beneficial parenting role; and assisting men to prepare for the legal, financial and emotional responsibilities of fatherhood, and much more.
2023
In the Pennsylvania Act 114 of 2022, the Pennsylvania General Assembly wrote that the Joint State Government Commission (JSGC) was to make recommendations regarding the possible establishment of a long-term or permanent fatherhood commission and its powers, duties and funding. Further, JSGC was instructed to issue by December 31, 2023, a report to the Governor and the General Assembly regarding responsible fatherhood programs and issues within this Commonwealth and make recommendations to aid in understanding, evaluating or improving the successful implementation of these programs and issues.
THE COMMISSION was pleased to be noted in the Joint State Government Commission’s Report, to the Governor and members of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, as “…instrumental in advocating for the formation of the Advisory Committee and the study represented by the report.”
THE COMMISSION’s 7th Annual SOC Symposium also occurred in 2023, with the title “Child Well-Being Through the Lens of Fathers.” THE COMMISSION brought to the public’s attention the strong message that “Fatherhood Programming was on Pennsylvania’s State Government Leaders Agenda” Again, THE COMMISSION is leading Pennsylvania’s Fatherhood Movement.
2022
The 6th Annual SOC Conference held in 2022 was hosted in Pittsburgh and jointly sponsored by the Allegheny Intermediate Unit under the title: “Cultivating Connections Across Systems.”
In addition, during 2022, thanks to the work of THE COMMISSION, Pennsylvania now has a public law that states: The public policy of the Commonwealth is to end institutional barriers that may impede fathers in fostering supportive connections with their children, establish support mechanisms to enhance the ability of fathers to assume a beneficial parenting role and assist men in preparing for the legal, financial and emotional responsibilities of fatherhood.
Governor Tom Wolf signed H.B. 1731, Printer’s Number 2953 into law on November 3, 2022, which created a Pennsylvania Advisory Committee on Greater Father Involvement. A copy of the Act can be found under the following title: GREATER FATHER INVOLVEMENT ACT -ENACTMENT Act of Nov. 3, 2022, P.L. 1747, No. 114.
2021
In 2021, for the first time in Commonwealth History, the Bureau of Child Support Enforcement partnered with an outside non-government entity (THE COMMISSION) to co-sponsor a conference that addressed “Understanding Pennsylvania’s Child Support Services and Program Initiatives.” Prior to our partnership, THE COMMISSION advocated for the development, design, and adoption of the Child and Family Advocates Advisory Board (CFAAB) within the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Bureau of Child Support Enforcement. The Chair of THE COMMISSION was asked by the Department to serve as a Special Advisor to the Board and Bureau Director, which he accepted.
2020
2020 was a difficult year for most of mankind throughout the world, however, THE COMMISSION decided that notwithstanding Covid-19 or the Coronavirus Pandemic, it could not afford to go an entire year and miss the opportunity of continuing to share the message of the urgent need for greater father involvement in the life of children, families and communities.
In this regard, THE COMMISSION hosted its first virtual event titled: “2020 SOC Symposium – “Better Futures for Our Children …Through Greater Father Family Involvement” Pennsylvania’s Journey – A Three Part (Series) Virtual Presentation – designed to educate the importance of child well-being, safety, and permanency through greater father family involvement, by examining where are we? What are the Consequences? And What is the Call to Action?
2019
THE COMMISSION held its 3rd Annual Symposium titled “From the Beginning…Early Childhood Development and the Role of Fathers.” This also was the year that the COMMISSION held its first Press Conference in the Main Rotunda at the State Capital with the title “From Practitioners to Policymakers: A Statewide Call to Action for Greater Father Involvement in the Lives of Pennsylvania’s Children and Families.”
On Tuesday, December 10th 2019, THE COMMISSION celebrated its 5th Anniversary by the pinning of its Board of Directors, known as Commissioners; National Fellows; Corporate Staff; and Event Volunteers, as well as introduced opportunities for volunteer service in the following seven programmatic initiatives: Division of Accreditation, Continuing Education, and Quality Assurance; National Council of Fellows; SIR/PEAL- System Impediment Review, Public Education, & Advocacy Initiative; Schuylkill West Mobilization Project; Task Force on the Right of Children to have access to both Biological Parents; Southeastern Pennsylvania Men Advisory Board for the Recruitment, Study and Mentoring of Men Helping to Raise Children; and IAWF Harvey House, Research Center for Family Well-Being, Dedicated to Educating Fathers Raising Children.
2018
On January 11, 2018, the Free Library of Philadelphia served as host to America’s first accredited group of children, youth and family-focused agencies that were accredited as 3FAs (Father Friendly Flagship Agencies). 3FAs are entities (Agencies, Institutions, or Systems) that
are dedicated to the well-being of children, youth and families, and are committed to the inclusion of fathers in their service delivery models. The 3FA concept evolved from a Stoneleigh Foundation Senior Fellow Project Initiative titled: “The Integration of Responsible Fatherhood within Foster Care Service Delivery and Other Children and Youth Servicing Systems.”
Also, THE COMMISSION in 2018 released a comprehensive report on the work of The Strong Families Commission over the last two years that explored the topic Child Well-Being in Pennsylvania and the Urgent Need for Father Involvement that included feedback from both the 2017 & 2018 State-Wide SOC Symposium Proceedings. Systems explored included the Administration of Justice/Public Safety; Behavioral Health; Child Support Services and Enforcement; Dependent, Delinquent and Crossover Children and Youth; Early Childhood Development; Education; Employment and Training; Housing, Supervised Independent Living, and Homelessness; Parent Education and Support Services; and Public Health.
2017
By 2017, THE COMMISSION recognized that the City of Philadelphia, Department of Human Services was not committed to increasing fiscal resources or change of policy that would support agency transformation that would intentionally include fathers in their service delivery models. With this in mind, THE COMMISSION began its work across Pennsylvania counties, including those surrounding the State Capitol.
Ultimately, THE COMMISSION took its work to the State level of government, thus convening a historic bipartisan and bicameral Symposium on Child Well-Being in Pennsylvania and the Urgent Need for Father Involvement, held at the Pennsylvania Child Welfare Resource Center in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, eight miles west of the State Capitol. Symposium convening partners included the Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU); AMACHI, Inc.; Child Welfare League of America, Inc.; Delta Community Supports, Inc.; and the Fathers Collaborative Council of Western Pennsylvania. Legislative Sponsors included State Senator Anthony Hardy Williams, (D) Philadelphia; State Senator Patrick M. Browne, (R) Lehigh County; Representative Edward C. Gainey, (D) Pittsburgh; and Representative Harold A. English, (R) Allegheny County.
Every year since then THE COMMISSION has sponsored a statewide conference free of charge to the public that emphasizes the importance of fathers in the well-being of children. All our work, with different themes, is sponsored under the title: Child Well-Being in Pennsylvania and the Urgent Need for Father Involvement.
2016
The Commission held on Tuesday, April 5, 2016, its first Father Friendly Flagship Agency (3FA) Celebration of 25 Philadelphia Children, Youth, and Family-Focused Agencies that were recognized as inaugural participants completing the requirements for initial certification as a Father Friendly Flagship Agency (3FA). In addition to receiving a Plaque, agency awardees received a certificate of “Initial Certification of Father Friendliness,” based on having met the criteria for a Father Friendly Flagship Agency as developed by the Stoneleigh Foundation Senior
Fellow Project “The Integration of Responsible Fatherhood Within Foster Care Service Delivery and Other Children and Youth Servicing Systems”, and approved by The Strong Families Commission, Incorporated. A 3FA Logo was also provided to each agency to be placed on their website or other published materials.
All 3FA agencies were given an opportunity to advance to national certification, in collaboration with the Child Welfare League of America and The Strong Families Commission Incorporated, provided they continue to represent 3FA criteria spelled out in the Project “The Integration of Responsible Fatherhood Within Foster Care Service Delivery and Other Children and Youth Servicing Systems”, and actively participate in a continuous community of learning process that meets formally at least quarter-annually, and where all participants were required to: 1) provide proof of Board Endorsement of Father Integration as an organizational priority within service delivery to children and families; 2) commit to the implementation of the strategic plan as proposed in the 3FA Certification Process; 3) Commit to work with THE COMMISSION and the Child Welfare League of America on the development of criteria for final certification, and related educational products to ensure that these criteria can be met; and 4) commit to share what is learned with the broader community through CWLA webinars, conferences, or various publications.
Seventeen of the twenty-five Children, Youth, and Family-focused agencies, that were recognized as inaugural participants completing requirements for initial certification as a Father Friendly Flagship Agency (3FA), petitioned THE COMMISSION for full accreditation. Of the seventeen agencies who petitioned for full accreditation, twelve completed the program and became accredited 3FA’s in 2018. Reaccreditation began in 2020 but was not completed as COVID-19 consumed the country’s attention.
2015
The Strong Families Commission Incorporated, (THE COMMISSION) was actively engaged in board expansion and development, establishing fiscal and accounting systems, writing policies and procedure statements to accomplish the mission of the corporation, and fashioning a fiveyear strategic plan. THE COMMISSION received notification of its 501(c)(3) Federal Tax Exempt Status in April of 2015.
During 2015, THE COMMISSION released a legal memorandum that addressed the question, “Do Children Have a Fundamental Right to Access Both Parents” (the answer was yes) and thereby sponsored a “National Call to Action Symposium – Serving Children by Engaging Fathers” which was held on Tuesday, June 23, 2015, at the Offices of Montgomery, McCracken, Walker, and Rhoads in the City of Philadelphia.
THE COMMISSION’s National Call to Action was a partnership that included five entities: (1) the Stoneleigh Foundation Senior Fellows’ Project “The Integration of Responsible Fatherhood within Foster Care Service Delivery and Other Children and Youth Servicing Systems”; 2) the Child Welfare League of America (CWLA); (3) the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Region III; (4) Bryn Mawr College, Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research (GSSWSR); and (5) the American Bar Association (ABA) Center on Children and the Law.
2014
The major portion of 2014 was devoted to, analyzing statistical data, hosting/conducting focus groups, writing reports, editing reports, and framing a final document with recommendations that were meant to capture the connection between child well-being in Philadelphia, by profiling its children, families, and fathers. The report was titled: “Child Well-Being in Philadelphia: Profiles of Children, Families & Fathers”. Jacquelyn Mitchell, JD, LCSW, Senior Fellow at the Institute for the Advancement of Working Families, served as the editor of the report. The report was designed as an information and advocacy tool for the Philadelphia Community to better understand the social and economic conditions that foster or impede the well-being of children, families, and fathers in the City of Philadelphia. The Report was released on Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014, at a Press Conference held in the Reception Room of the Mayor of the City of Philadelphia.
Toward the end of 2014, the Coalition launched an independent city-wide advocacy entity to foster and monitor child well-being in the city of Philadelphia, as well as to build awareness of the value of fathers as essential to strong, healthy children and families. The city-wide entity was named The Strong Families Commission Incorporated, (THE COMMISSION). It was incorporated as a Pennsylvania non-profit corporation organized for charitable purposes.
The affairs of the Corporation were to be always conducted in such manner as to maintain charitable character and status, and to qualify for tax exempt status pursuant to Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code (or corresponding section of any future Federal tax code). The Corporation shall have the purposes and powers stated in its Articles of Incorporation and such other powers as are now or may be granted a nonprofit corporation organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The September 23rd , 2014, PSFC Report, serves to this day as the guiding document for the work of THE COMMISSION Statewide.
2013
By the second year of existence PSFC had grown into a volunteer body of nearly thirty community stakeholders who, a) resided and/or worked within the City of Philadelphia, b) supported the idea of strengthening families and improving child well-being for Philadelphia’s children and youth, c) were committed to advocacy and community partnership, and, d) participated in regular face-to-face, as well as virtual meetings. In addition, a Second Year Student, from Bryn Mawr College, Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, received a small grant to assist the Coalition in collecting statistical data on children, families, and fathers within the Philadelphia community.
2012
Thus, beginning in 2012, the core group of stakeholders officially expanded their membership and began developing an infrastructure that included a group name, mission and vision statement, membership criteria, role expectations, and required responsibilities.
The name chosen by the group was the Philadelphia Strong Families Coalition (PSFC).
2011
David J. Lett, now retired senior administrator from the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Region III, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, brought together a small group of local and national stakeholders to consider the question of the value of increasing the involvement of fathers in the life of their children. After several meetings, over the course of six months, it was decided that yes in Philadelphia, there was value in addressing the issue of increasing father-involvement in the lives of children, to improve their well-being.