.jpg)
Wlaf1450
OAK RIDGE, TN. (WLAF) – On the corkboard beside my desk is a quote from Jimmy Valvano that reads, “My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person; he believed in me.”
Valvano—best known as the legendary college basketball coach who led NC State to a national championship in 1983—was also a broadcaster and tireless advocate for cancer research. Before his death in 1993, he left the world with unforgettable words about perseverance, hope, and living fully. His legacy lives on through the V Foundation, which continues to fund critical cancer research. Yet among all his accomplishments, Valvano named his father’s belief in him as the greatest gift he ever received.
There are sons and daughters of all ages who long for that same gift of belief from their fathers. And there are fathers—young and old, in every community—who want to be better dads but are unsure where to begin or how to give what they themselves may not have received.
Research also shows that father involvement matters: when children grow up with an engaged father, they are less likely to live in poverty, drop out of school, or engage in criminal behavior, and are more likely to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. Additionally, father engagement has been linked to stronger social skills, better stress management, and lower rates of risky behavior among children.
The good news is that support matters—and it works. Through funding from the Tennessee Department of Health, Ridgeview offers the Rural Fatherhood Program, serving Anderson, Campbell, Fentress, Morgan, Roane, Scott, and Union counties. The program is designed to meet fathers where they are and equip them with practical skills, insight, and encouragement to strengthen their relationships with their children—one day at a time.
The program is built on the evidence-based 24/7 Dad® curriculum and is offered through in-person groups, virtual sessions, and hybrid options to reduce barriers to participation. Most importantly, it creates space for honesty, growth, and connection.
Rural Fatherhood Team Lead Jonathon Hash shares, “No one wants to believe they’re the only one struggling to be a better father. When dads hear other dads talk openly about the same frustrations, fears, and hopes, it quickly removes the shame that comes with feeling ‘not good enough.’ That’s when hope and change really begin. Fathers become ready to grow, learn, and practice healthier ways of parenting—and a legacy of belief begins to take root and a community of fathers out and about supporting each other as peers takes shape.”
Belief changes lives. When fathers are supported, children benefit, families grow stronger, and communities are healthier.
To learn more about Ridgeview’s no-cost Rural Fatherhood Program, contact Jonathon Hash at 865-482-1076 or email hashjs@ridgeview.com
About Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services
Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services is a nonprofit community mental health provider serving East Tennessee with a comprehensive array of behavioral health, substance use, and recovery-oriented services. Ridgeview is committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care that promotes hope, healing, and resilience.
If you or someone you love is struggling, Ridgeview offers same-day access through our Walk-in Clinics in Anderson, Campbell, Fentress, Morgan, Roane, and Scott counties. You can learn more at www.ridgeview.com, or call our 24/7 Mobile Crisis Line at 800-870-5481.
Michael Yates is the Director of Development at Ridgeview Behavioral Health Services.
(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED 1/20/2026-6AM-PAID)