Goals and Objectives
for the Commonwealth Citizens Council

Our Primary Goal

Educate and urge each branch of Pennsylvania’s state government to adopt and institutionalize a father-inclusive posture toward men within families, and to support the active participation of fathers in Commonwealth child and family programming. Within this context, the CCC will establish three educational committees, one for each branch of government, i.e., Executive Branch of Government, Legislative Branch of Government, and the Judiciary Branch of Government.

Short-Term Objectives

  • The Strong Families Commission, Incorporated (THE COMMISSION) will notify the Governor of Pennsylvania, Members of the General Assembly, and Justices of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court that THE COMMISION will be supporting the Commonwealth Citizens Council (CCC) in its efforts to address the urgent need for greater father-family involvement in the lives of children, caregivers of children, and communities in which our children play and learn what is right or wrong.
       
  • The CCC will join forces with The Strong Families Commission to support and advocate for the establishment of a permanent commission on greater father involvement. The recommendation of establishing a permanent Fatherhood Commission was the first recommendation from Pennsylvania’s Joint State Government Commission’s Advisory Committee Report, issued in January 2024. To bring forward a permanent Fatherhood Commission, the greater father-family involvement campaign must reengage with the Pennsylvania General Assembly to seek final resolution as to the proposed location of housing Pennsylvania’s Fatherhood Commission, methodology for appointing Commissioners, and, an appropriation for funding the Commission duties and responsibilities.
      
  • Begin establishing Pennsylvania’s first Statewide Regional Network of Fatherhood collaborative service providers to address the unmet growing needs of men within families, across the Commonwealth. Thus, helping to close the gap identified in 2017 when the Strong Families Commission and the Symposium Organizing Committee (SOC) first launched its Mission Statement of “Bringing to light something that has been in the dark, for far too long, that is the absence or non-involvement of too many fathers in the care of their children and families, and shine a spotlight on the resulting consequences.”
      
  • Host a Harrisburg Press Conference in the Fall, at the State Capitol for the purpose of introducing to the public the leaders of the Commonwealth Citizens Council (CCC) and their strategic agenda for Fatherhood over the next four years.

Intermediate Objectives

  • Appeal to the Governor and General Assembly to establish a State-Wide Office to promote greater father involvement in the lives of children, families, and communities with regional service centers devoted to the well-being of boys and men; many of whom may be fathers and want to be better parents and significant contributors to their family’s economic health and well-being. The goal of the Office and its Regional Service Centers would be to meet the common challenges faced by all fathers and families throughout the Commonwealth, notwithstanding family heritage, race, ethnicity, income, education, health status, geographic location, or lifestyle.
      
  • Work with state and local governments and other entities through collaboration, coordination, research, and consultation to recognize and promote the contributions that fathers make to improving societal outcomes for children and families.

Long-term Objectives

  • Propose changes where needed to Pennsylvania Statutes, Regulations, Administrative Rules, and Policies that impede the development or implementation of greater-father involvement measures or that will enhance the prospect of success of those measures.
      
  • Participate, where possible, in the evaluation of government programs and initiatives that impact fatherhood, make recommendations regarding needed improvements, and identify existing or anticipated impediments to the successful implementation of those programs and initiatives that reduce the likelihood of greater father involvement.
      
  • Pennsylvania is recognized as the United States of America’s most comprehensive Father Friendly Service Provider in the Nation.
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