The No. 1 Phrase Dads Hate Hearing on Father’s Day and What to Say Instead” (June 13, 2025)
“One phrase I hate hearing on Father’s Day is, ‘You should step it up.’ A similar one is, ‘Why aren’t you more present?’
Instead of shaming fathers, let’s acknowledge them: ‘You are important, and we celebrate you today. Support is here if you ask for it.’
No father dreams of being away from their child. When dads are distant, it’s often because they’re hurting, whether from divorce, incarceration, substance use, unemployment, or mental-health struggles.
Parenting is a team sport. Every father needs a supportive community, just as athletes rely on coaches and teammates. By offering compassion rather than criticism, we help dads stay connected to their kids and rewrite their stories.”
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Social work is on the brink of its biggest upgrade in decades. The new Social Work Licensure Compact lets qualified social workers carry one multistate license, slashing red tape and speeding help to the people who need it—whether they live next door or two states away. More than half the country has already signed on, and momentum is still building.
At the community level, Boston-based Fathers’ UpLift is proving why this matters. Led by Dr. Charles C. Daniels Jr., the nation’s first mental-health center focused on fathers helps dads beat addiction, trauma, and re-entry hurdles so they can be present for their kids. The Compact’s promise of a more mobile, diverse workforce dovetails with Fathers’ UpLift’s mission: remove barriers, increase access, and strengthen families.
Dr. Daniels is pushing both fronts rallying Massachusetts to join the Compact and championing state legislation that funds field placements and rethinks outdated testing rules. His message is simple: break the bottlenecks, empower social workers, and uplift underserved communities. When states pass the Compact and organizations like Fathers’ UpLift thrive, families everywhere win.
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Guide the next generation of mental-health therapists with Fathers’ UpLift’s USTR Fellowship. Volunteer one hour a week as a mentor, share your clinical expertise, and help expand access to quality care nationwide. Apply today to shape future leaders in behavioral health and addiction services.
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On Monday, June 9, 2025, Fathers’ UpLift proudly participated in the HCBS Workforce Development Grant Summit at Framingham State University, hosted by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS). Dr. Anthony Owens presented highlights from our USTR Fellowship Program, showcasing successful strategies for expanding professional opportunities and career pathways for therapists from historically underrepresented backgrounds. The summit emphasized collaboration, sustainable workforce development, and the importance of increasing access to mental health professionals across Massachusetts.
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Fatherhood isn’t about being perfect,” Daniels stated candidly, “it’s about being present and steadfast, even through imperfections.” Dr. Daniels’ new book, Present, emphasizes that genuine fatherhood transcends financial support it requires emotional availability, intentional communication, and consistent presence, ultimately reshaping family dynamics and enriching communities.
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Ninety years after a kitchen-table handshake in Akron ignited the global Recovery Movement, Fathers’ UpLift is marking the milestone with coffee, cake, and community on the Dorchester sidewalk. Join us at noon on June 10 as we celebrate nine decades of second chances, honor fathers fighting for sobriety, and remind Boston that when dads heal, whole families rise.
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