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WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of President Obama's Fatherhood and Mentoring Initiative, The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC), funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance will team up with community agencies and barbershops across the country as part of Fatherhood Buzz to provide fathers with key tips, information and strategies that focus on men's health. Barbershops, which serve as unofficial outlets for peer education in many communities, were chosen as the trusted hub to share information about fatherhood and the essential role that fathers play in society. Events will include national and local resources for fathers, including handouts on health and wellness, parenting tips, networking, and positive conversations.

On average, men live five years less than women – with heart disease as the leading cause of death. Fatherhood Buzz events will encourage fathers to treat their health as part of their commitment to being a responsible father. Fathers who model a healthy lifestyle can have a powerful and positive impact on the development and health of their children. In fact, studies have found that children who have actively engaged fathers are more likely to have good physical and emotional health, to achieve academically, and avoid drugs, violence, and delinquent behavior.

"The three ways you can be a responsible father and man is by eating right, getting exercise and getting regular preventive health screenings," says Kenneth Braswell, Director, National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC). "We are doing this outreach through barbershops to ensure that men, especially fathers, know about the importance of their health for themselves and their families."

Encouraging health among fathers through conversations is just one topic in a series of topics sponsored by NRFC being used to strengthen fathers and families through barbershops across the country.

President Obama's Fatherhood Initiative's Fatherhood Buzz is a pilot program of The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC)--an established, national and international resource for fathers, practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. A service of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families' (ACF) Office of Family Assistance, NRFC develops and collects information about policies, priorities, trends, research findings, and promising fatherhood practices.  The NRFC disseminates that knowledge to practitioners and the fatherhood field to support well-being and economic self-sufficiency outcomes for fathers, children, families, and communities. For more information, call 1(877) 4DAD-411 or visit www.fatherhood.gov.

Listing of the community partners and barbershops http://1.usa.gov/1gHhvyU

SOURCE National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse