Centering Fathers’ Mental Health as a Core Prevention Strategy

Romero Davis is the senior director of child and family well-being at Social Current. A mentor for professional development and community justice champion, Davis has worked nationally with agencies in areas such as poly-victimization; trauma in families; equity, diversity, and inclusion; juvenile justice; and domestic violence. He is a member of the technical assistance team for Child Safety Forward.

Michael Cupeles is a passionate advocate for fatherhood, early childhood education, and the well-being of families and communities. Having overcome childhood sexual abuse, he transformed his experience into a lifelong mission to support parents, especially fathers, in breaking cycles of pain and building safe, loving environments for their children. He is nationally certified through the Fathers & Families Coalition of America and the National Fatherhood Initiative, and serves as an ordained minister and chaplain, committed to human rights and holistic family well-being.  

Michael is the coordinator of the Men’s Initiative at Gateway Community Action Partnership Early Head Start & Head Start, where he leads innovative fatherhood engagement and prevention programs that help fathers build parenting skills, navigate complex systems, and connect with workforce development resources to achieve economic stability. For seven years, he has sustained the publication of the Fatherhood Times newsletter, an influential resource for fathers across New Jersey.  

At the state and national levels, Michael serves on the New Jersey Department of Children & Families Office of Family Voice Fatherhood Engagement Committee, acting as a liaison to the New Jersey Head Start Association. He is also the Community Liaison for the New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence through the Men of Courage Network and is featured in the documentary Men of Courage produced by Byron Hurt with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New Jersey Department of Women.  

Michael is an active member of the Birth Parent National Network (BPNN) through the Children’s Trust Fund Alliance; the FRIENDS CBCAP Parent Advisory Council, where he chairs the newsletter committee; the National Expert Board for the Quality Improvement Center on Helplines & Hotlines (QIC-H2); and the Family Network Housing Advisory Board.  

Michael is also the managing partner of Unified Family Dynamics Consultants, providing leadership and training to strengthen families and systems of care. Previously, he served as vice president and chief strategy planning & development officer for Latino X Radio, a nonprofit media organization in New Jersey. His work blends lived experience, community leadership, and strategic systems change, making him a powerful national voice for fatherhood engagement and family strengthening. 

Tristan Gross has over 15 years’ experience working with public health issues including infant mortality, teen pregnancy prevention, men’s health, tobacco prevention, eliminating racial disparities, and intimate partner violence. He has worked as an advocate for youth, men and boys, and social justice causes providing direct service to communities. These experiences provide the foundation for training and learning opportunities facilitated for professionals, consultation to organizations and policy recommendations to lawmakers. Tristan’s passion for the work of creating social and institutional change has always been fueled by his experiences and informed by his own personal healing and growth journey. His vision is to create a world where every human being has access to the resources and support necessary to reach their full potential. 

William Walker is an experienced mental health therapist and social worker with a specialized background in parenting care and services, including fatherhood engagement, trauma counseling, and adoption services. As the owner and clinical director of Thriving Families Counseling Services in West Des Moines, Iowa, William oversees a dedicated team of staff and students who provide individual and family mental health services to the community. 

William Walker holds a master’s from the University of Iowa, a bachelor’s from the University of Northern Iowa, and an associate’s from Ellsworth College. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and a Certified Trauma Specialist. Additionally, William is certified in the 24/7 Dad program, Quenching a Father’s Thirst, Carrying Dad’s Curriculum, and Effective Parenting.