2022-08-06 Kim Hammer Show: Better Fathers in Arkansas

Along with a bit of behind-the-scenes discussion, I'm talking today with several guests about fatherhood: Arkansas Better Dads (a community-based fatherhood program), the upcoming Better Dads seminar, and the Better Man program, which is designed to support the "fundamentals of manhood."

Arkansas Better Dads works with community partners to connect fathers with resources to acquire family and social skills, attain employment, and be able to provide financial, emotional, and social support for their children; the goal is to improve financial and emotional connection of custodial and non-custodial fathers across the state.

The Better Man program brings younger and older men together in small groups that reinforce the "fundamentals of manhood" while allowing them to "unpack some things they've been carrying."

First up are

* Phil Harris, Assistant Director of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program within the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, who explains how the Community Investment Initiative authorizes federal TANF funds for contracts with community and faith-based organizations -- which resulted in the Arkansas Better Dads program.

* Randy Jumper, from First Assembly of God church in North Little Rock, the "architect" for the Better Dads curriculum, tells how the initiative came about.

* Pastor Lynn Raburn from Faith Baptist Church in North Little Rock not only discusses the Better Dads program, but also gives details for the upcoming Better Dad Conference set for August 26-27 in North Little Rock.

In the second half of the Show, Robert Lewis, author of the Better Man program, discusses how a small Bible study for men led him to "cast a vision for biblical, authentic manhood." Lewis, a pastor for over 50 years, helped start Fellowship Bible Church and was the directional leader there for 25 years, leading the Bible study and then men's fellowship, which grew into the Better Man program being taught across the state.

REGISTER for the Better Dad Conference on August 26-27 in North Little Rock: www.faithnlr.org/betterdads

MORE INFO on Arkansas Better Dads: https://arbetterdads.com/

SEE MORE on Lewis' Better Man program: https://betterman.com/