The profound EFFECT of fatherhood on families 

A quiet transformation is happening in homes across Longview and Beaumont. You won’t see it on the news or hear it shouted from the mountaintops, but fathers are reading bedtime stories. Dads are playing ball with their children at the park. Families are thriving. Lives are changing. The Fatherhood EFFECT, a program offered in these communities by Buckner, is helping men reclaim their role in the family, not just as providers, but as engaged fathers shaping a better future for their children. 

A heart behind the help 

Kevin Pineda leads Fatherhood EFFECT in Longview. He sees firsthand how men, often overlooked in the parenting conversation, are stepping forward, not because they have all the answers, but because they want to grow.  

“The purpose is to offer support to fathers in the community,” Pineda explains. “Whether that’s a biological dad, a grandpa, stepdad, or even a foster parent. Anyone who plays a father role is welcome.” 

Using the nationally recognized “24/7 Dad” curriculum from the National Fatherhood Initiative, the program walks men through topics they don’t usually talk about. How to manage emotions, how to lead with empathy, and how to be a steady, loving presence in their homes.  

“We’re not just teaching parenting skills,” Pineda says. “We’re helping men understand their role as leaders and partners.” 

That’s what Adrian Moreno needed, even though he didn’t know it at the time. 

The breaking point 

A mechanic by trade, Adrian Moreno, moved from West Texas to Beaumont hoping for a fresh start and better employment opportunities. But the job was punishing. He worked long hours in sweltering heat. The pressure mounted until his body gave out. 

“I had a heat stroke on the job,” Moreno said. “I was trying to support my pregnant wife, working long hours in the heat. Physically and mentally, I was done, but I couldn’t see it.”  

However, the physical demands of the job, the stress of impending fatherhood, and the financial pressure of trying to find a home left him reeling.  

“I didn’t want help,” he says. “I told myself, ‘I’m fine. I just need to push through.’ But it wasn’t true. I was falling apart.” 

His wife, Danica, reached out for support. Buckner connected her with resources, including the Fatherhood EFFECT program. But asking for help wasn’t easy, and it took her husband longer to accept it.  

“I didn’t think the help was for men. There’s a stigma there. I didn’t want to be seen as weak. But it wasn’t weakness. It was pride.” 

Moreno’s pride began to crack during a retreat at Camp Buckner. Over dinner, one of the program leaders casually asked Adrian a simple question, “How are you doing?” 

He answered, “Which version do you want?” 

Laughing it off, he says, “Deep down, I knew I needed to talk to someone. I needed help. And finally, I admitted it.”  

Adrian Moreno enrolled in Fatherhood EFFECT and began attending virtual sessions during COVID. Eventually, when home visits resumed, he welcomed the face-to-face connection. 

“That changed everything. The team walked with me through anxiety, stress, and even discipline strategies for my kids. They didn’t judge. They just helped,” he said. 

Faith and brotherhood 

Faith was an anchor for the Moreno family. “We’re believers in my family. So being able to pray, to talk about God, and to get direction made all the difference.” 

Transformation is the goal, though each story is different, adds Pineda. “Some guys are just trying to reconnect with their kids. Others are single dads trying to find jobs and stable housing. We walk with them. Not to fix them, but to support them.” 

Getting men into the program remains one of the biggest challenges.  

“Wives will tell me, ‘My husband would never do this,’” Pineda says. That’s why he meets dads where they are. Whether it’s a church event, a community gathering, or a backyard cookout, he shows up with one message: “You matter. And there’s support for you, too.” 

Don’t go it alone 

Society doesn’t always echo that message. “There’s a misconception that resources are just for moms,” Pineda explains. “Even the images and language in our community programs often exclude men. But dads play a vital role. They’re more than providers. They’re teachers, guides, and emotional anchors.” 

The data backs him up. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that one in four children grows up without a father in the home.  

“Children from father-absent homes are four times more likely to live in poverty. Eighty-five percent of incarcerated people came from fatherless homes,” Pineda says. “Father involvement lowers rates of depression, teen pregnancy, and school dropouts. It changes everything.” 

Scripture reinforces the importance of fathers. In Ephesians 6:4, Paul urges fathers, “Do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Proverbs 20:7 adds, “The righteous man walks in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.” 

Go together 

Adrian Moreno is seeing those blessings firsthand. Today, he and Danica are raising three young children. Life will always be challenging, but now it’s grounded.  

“I’ve learned to slow down, to talk to my kids, to lead with love. It’s not perfect, but it’s real. It’s better than it was.” 

He’s also helping other dads in the group find their voice. “In the beginning, I stayed quiet on the Zoom calls. I thought I was alone. But as soon as I opened up, I realized I wasn’t. And other guys started to open up, too. Iron sharpens iron.” 

Pineda agrees. “Fatherhood is a calling. When men embrace it, families change. Communities change. Their legacy changes.” 

Fatherhood EFFECT walks beside men who seek a better way and gives them tools to build a future for their loved ones and themselves. And sometimes, that transformation starts with an honest answer to the question, “How are you doing?”