About the Amplifying Fatherhood Conference
The inaugural Tennessee Fatherhood Conference took place in Nashville from September 25th to 27th, 2023, marking a historic event in the state's efforts to address fatherhood-related issues. Hosted by Commissioner Clarence H. Carter and TDHS, this statewide conference aimed to raise awareness of the challenges surrounding fatherhood, including family relationships, paternity establishment, child support, healthy co-parenting, and self-sufficiency. With a focus on promoting ongoing initiatives in social services and other programs serving fathers, the event brought together practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and leaders to explore the current state of fatherhood in Tennessee and develop solutions to support families and fathers across the state. Check out the Fatherhood Conference Program Booklet to learn more!
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Conference Archives
Featured Speakers
Featured Keynotes:
![Carter, Clarence_ Official Bluebook Portrait Carter, Clarence_ Official Bluebook Portrait](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1818317318/column_parsys0/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.jpg/1713979999346.jpg)
Clarence H. Carter
Commissioner for the
Tennessee Department of Human Services
![Cherrell Campbell-Street Cherrell Campbell-Street](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1818317318/column_parsys1/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.jpg/1692286503663.jpg)
Cherrell Campbell-Street
Deputy Commissioner for the
Tennessee Department of Human Services
![Kay-James Kay-James](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1818317318/column_parsys2/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.jpg/1692286627532.jpg)
Kay Coles James
Former Secretary, Commonwealth of Virginia
![Fanbase-1686953844615 Fanbase-1686953844615](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1818317318/column_parsys3/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.jpg/1695327107169.jpg)
Troy M. Smith
Founder & Owner of Mostmoto365
![Dr. Warren Farrell Headshot Dr. Warren Farrell Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1781251043/column_parsys0/tn_textandimage/image.img.png/1691701095978.png)
Dr. Warren Farrell
Author of The Boy Crisis
![Dr. Linda Nielsen Headshot Dr. Linda Nielsen Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1781251043/column_parsys1/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691701105640.png)
Dr. Linda Nielsen
Professor of Psychology at
Wake Forest University and Author
![Dr. Brad Wilcox Headshot Dr. Brad Wilcox Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1781251043/column_parsys2/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691701115371.png)
Dr. Bradford Wilcox
Professor of Sociology and Director of
the National Marriage Project at The University of Virginia
![Marcus Meneese Headshot Marcus Meneese Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1781251043/column_parsys3/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767756378.png)
Marcus Meneese
Founder and Executive Director
of Stronger Than My Father
Featured Moderators:
![Johnny Shaw Headshot Johnny Shaw Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_58455165/column_parsys0/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767003920.png)
Rep. Johnny Shaw
Representative of Tennessee (District 80)
![Rep. Mark White Headshot Rep. Mark White Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_58455165/column_parsys1/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767063325.png)
Rep. Mark White
Representative of Tennessee (District 83)
![Geneva Ware-Rice Headshot Geneva Ware-Rice Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_58455165/column_parsys2/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767210270.png)
Geneva Ware-Rice
Executive Director of
His Sparrow Family Center
![Dr. Jerry Askew Headshot Dr. Jerry Askew Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_58455165/column_parsys3/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767276818.png)
Dr. Jerry Askew
Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese
of East Tennessee & Former President of Alliance for Better Nonprofits
Featured Panelists:
![Seth Chamberlain headshot Seth Chamberlain headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_273477258/column_parsys0/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767668045.png)
Seth Chamberlain
Branch Chief for Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood at Administration for Children and Families
![Sharmain Harris Headshot Sharmain Harris Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_273477258/column_parsys1/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767732821.png)
Sharmain Harris
National Speaker and Trainer on
Father Engagement and Justice Reform
![Marcus Meneese Headshot Marcus Meneese Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_273477258/column_parsys2/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767756378.png)
Marcus Meneese
Founder and Executive Director
of Stronger Than My Father
![John DeBerry Headshot John DeBerry Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_273477258/column_parsys3/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767805031.png)
John DeBerry
Senior Advisor to Governor Bill Lee and
Former Representative of Tennessee (District 90)
![Chris Sprowls Headshot Chris Sprowls Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1139056854/column_parsys0/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767835080.png)
Rep. Chris Sprowls
Former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives
![Dr. Rufus Sylvester Lynch Headshot Dr. Rufus Sylvester Lynch Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1139056854/column_parsys1/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767866273.png)
Dr. Rufus Sylvester Lynch
Chair of the Strong Families Commission of Pennsylvania
![Avis Files Headshot Avis Files Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1139056854/column_parsys2/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767891999.png)
Avis Files
Program Director of Pathway, Inc.
![Cheri Tillis Headshot Cheri Tillis Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1139056854/column_parsys3/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767911187.png)
Cheri Tillis
CEO of the Fathers and
Families Support Center
![Dr. Pat Littlejohn Headshot Dr. Pat Littlejohn Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1610271513/column_parsys0/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767949515.png)
Pat Littlejohn
Former Executive Director of South Carolina Center for Fathers and Families
![Commissioner Tanguler Gray Headshot Commissioner Tanguler Gray Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1610271513/column_parsys1/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767977285.png)
Commissioner Tanguler Gray
Commissioner of the Office of Child Support Enforcement
![Joe Jones Headshot Joe Jones Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1610271513/column_parsys2/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691767993836.png)
Joe Jones
Founder, President, and CEO
of Center for Urban Families
![Dr. Cynthia Osborne Headshot Dr. Cynthia Osborne Headshot](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1610271513/column_parsys3/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.png/1691768023146.png)
Dr. Cynthia Osborne
Professor of Early Childhood Education and Policy and Executive Director of the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center at Vanderbilt
![Fanbase-1686953844615 Fanbase-1686953844615](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1690648755/column_parsys0/tn_textandimage_copy/image.img.jpg/1695327107169.jpg)
Troy M. Smith
Founder & Owner of Mostmoto365
![Concert seen from the crowds with a young boy and his father watching the performance Concert seen from the crowds with a young boy and his father watching the performance](/content/tn/humanservices/for-families/2023-tdhs-fatherhood-conference---amplifying-fatherhood/jcr%3acontent/contentFullWidth/tn_columnctrl_1996415202/column_parsys0/tn_image.img.jpg/1691700938829.jpg)