Biography
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Biographical Notes
Dr. Ron Klinger, a family psychologist, founded the Center for Successful Fathering, Inc. in 1995 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. In 1996, he wrote a fatherhood curriculum, Accepting the Challenges of Fatherhood (ACF), based on his interviews of grassroots dads. The ACF curriculum was subsequently translated into Spanish.
In 1997, Dr. Klinger was invited by former Secretary of Education Richard Riley and former Vice President Al Gore to Washington, D.C. to participate in a press conference releasing the findings of a national study on the powerful role fathers play in the educational success of their children. In 1998, through a relationship with the Texas Education Agency’s Parental Involvement and Community Empowerment Division and the Texas Attorney General’s office, Dr. Klinger launched the Texas Fatherhood Initiative as a cosponsor of a statewide, one-day Texas Fatherhood Forum, A Call to Action.
Dr. Klinger and his wife, Gay -- a family counselor -- have written a book, The Common Sense, No Frills, Plain English Guide to Being a Successful Dad (that every mother should read too).
In 2000, the Texas Education Agency presented to Dr. Klinger the Vanguard Award for the CSF’s pioneering efforts in the involvement of fathers in public schools.
Since the fall of 1998, Dr. Klinger has facilitated father/student programs, provided training and presented in local, regional, state and national programs and conferences.
In the early childhood arena, Dr. Klinger has facilitated programs for parent educators and/or fathers and families from Even Start, Healthy Families, Early Head Start and Head Start organizations. In 2001, Dr. Klinger developed Fathers: Bonding Through Play, an English/Spanish video curriculum package for fathers of children ages 0 to five. He is currently developing a Care giving Workbook for fathers of infants and toddlers.
In 2002-03, Dr. Klinger presented at the Texas Head Start Association Conference, El Paso, TX; National Head Start Parent Training Conference, Dallas, TX; Region VI Head Start Conference, Hot Springs, AK: Zero to Three Early Childhood Training Conference, Washington, D.C. and the Region IV Head Start Conference, Greensboro, NC.
Dr. Klinger and his wife, Gay, are the parents of a teenage son who is currently studying at the University of Texas in Austin.