The USC School for Early Childhood Education is focused on getting dads involved in their children's development. Studies have shown that fathers' involvement is associated with children who more often stay in school and stay out of trouble.

As part of the USC Fatherhood Initiative, the USC School for Early Childhood Education, which has six locations, trained all its staff members to be more dad-friendly, since they previously were used to working much more closely with moms. And the strategy has worked. In May 2010, more than 80 fathers attended a pancake breakfast with their children.

The School for Early Childhood Education, which USC oversees using state and federal dollars for Head Start and preschool, launched the Fatherhood Initiative in 2009. The school holds monthly events directed at dads, always involving duct tape, but also including dancing, math and much more.

The initiative culminates on June 12, 2010, with a Junior Olympics event complete with a 3-legged race, water relay and balloon stomp -- and lots of dads.

Learn more about the USC School for Early Childhood Education: http://communities.usc.edu/education/...

Learn more about community engagement at the University of Southern California: http://communities.usc.edu/