A New Daddying Pinnacle Worth Celebrating
By Grampsy & DCG Founder Allan Shedlin and his granddaughter Casey Berkowitz, LCSW
I’ve written about the pinnacle of parenting: when nurturing your child is nourishing to you. Pinnacles like that are worth savoring.
On Saturday, September 12, I experienced a somewhat different kind of pinnacle to savor: working professionally with my oldest grandchild, Casey, a clinical social worker practicing in Nashville. As I’ve told Casey on more than one occasion, she was the very first of my five grandchildren to put the grand in grandparenting.
We had the honor of spending the weekend with three dozen amazing daddies from around the country. Men who came together as members of the Special Fathers Network, a Dad-to-Dad mentoring program for fathers raising children and young adults with special needs.
The Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F) was invited to screen a short film for the Dads that would stimulate rich discussion facilitated by us. We selected one of our 2027 Official Selections, In Search of the Arctic Fox, submitted by Dad filmmaker Zach Hellmuth. This part of D3F is something we’ve been offering to conferences and retreats for the last couple of years. Our next mini Forum will be at the annual NAFSCE Conference in San Diego on October 29, where we'll screen the 2026 Atticus Award-winning Paper Bag Plan (Best Feature and Equimundo's Men Caring Award for Best Dad-figure Film), with director Anthony Lucero attending for a live Q&A.
Two films featured at recent stops on the Daddying Film Fest & Forum's "Road Show":
Zach Hellmuth's In Search of the Arctic Fox, and Anthony Lucero's Paper Bag Plan.
Having the opportunity to watch Casey shine as she co-facilitated the post-screening discussion was a thrill. Here is how Casey reflected on the experience of providing these very special Dads with opportunities to speak about the joys and challenges of caring for children and young adults with special needs:
Being at the Special Fathers Network retreat in Nashville was an incredibly meaningful experience. It was made even more special by having the opportunity to present alongside my Gramps.
What stood out most was the vulnerability, strength, and openness these fathers shared with one another, defying traditional male stereotypes. They created a space where they could be honest about the challenges they face while also offering encouragement, support, and hope to one another. Their willingness to share their stories and lift each other up was both empowering and deeply inspirational.
It was a privilege to be a part of such a powerful community and a beautiful reminder of just how much strength can come from connection, shared experiences, and simply knowing that you don’t have to navigate something alone. I hope to bring much of what I observed to my own work and create more spaces for such connection, especially for fathers.
Perhaps it should not be a surprise to me that as I reflected on the privilege of working with these Dads, I was reminded that vulnerability, tenderness, and the ability to cry are masculine strengths worth savoring.
Submissions from 70 countries and counting!
Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F)
The Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F) 2027 Call for Entries keeps rolling through the summer long on FilmFreeway! Students (3rd grade-undergrad), Dads, Granddads, Moms, Grandmoms, dad figures, Parenting Podcasters, Musicians, and indie filmmakers can submit films, videos, and podcast episodes through November 23, 2026!
Early-bird discount entry deadline is FRIDAY, October 2nd.
Since 2022, we've received submissions from 70 countries and we're excited to present another amazing collection of the best daddying stories submitted by students, Dads/dad figs, Moms, and indie filmmakers from around the world! Check the D3F website or our FilmFreeway page for submission details and to be inspired by Atticus Award-winning and finalist films from previous years!
SAVE THE DATES: The 6th annual, virtual Daddying Film Festival will take place on Eventive, January 11-20, 2027, and our LIVE Daddying Film Forum, at American University in Washington, DC, will screen select Atticus Award winners and finalists, January 29-30, 2027.
Allan Shedlin has devoted his life's work to improving the odds for children and families. He has three daughters, five grandchildren, a great grandchild on the way, and numerous "bonus" sons, daughters, and grandchildren. Trained as an educator, Allan has alternated between classroom service, school leadership, parenting coaching, policy development, and advising at the local, state, and national levels. After eight years as an elementary school principal, Allan founded and headed the National Elementary School Center. He has written about education and parenting for major news outlets and trade publications, as well as appearing on radio and TV. In 2008, he was the first male honored as a "Living Treasure" by Mothering Magazine and founded REEL Fathers. In 2010, he advised the Obama White House on Dad engagement and fatherhood policy. In 2017, he founded the DADvocacy Consulting Group. In 2018, he launched the DADDY Wishes Fund and Daddy Appleseed Fund. In 2019, he co-created and co-facilitated the Armor Down/Daddy Up! and Mommy Up! programs for veterans and their children. He has conducted daddying workshops with Native American pueblos, veterans’ groups, penitentiaries, Head Start centers, corporate boardrooms, and elementary schools. In 2022, Allan founded and directed the Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F). In 2024, he was named to Who’s Who. In 2025, Allan was honored with an "Official Citation" from the Maryland State General Assembly "In Recognition for All You Do for Dads, Granddads, and Kids of All Ages." He also was named 2025 “Father of the Year” by the Fathers & Families Coalition of America. In 2026, he was honored with the Dr. Charles Augustus Ballard Pioneer Award and induction into the International Father and Family Practitioner's Network Spirit of Fatherhood Hall of Fame. Allan earned his elementary and high school diplomas from NYC’s Ethical Culture Schools, BA at Colgate University, MA at Columbia University’s Teachers College, and an ABD at Fordham University. He considers his D-A-D and GRAND D-A-D the most important “degrees” of all.
Casey Berkowitz, LCSW, is a licensed therapist who works with children, teens, parents, and families navigating anxiety, depression, OCD, trauma, life transitions, and neurodevelopmental challenges. Casey approaches her clients with compassion and warmth, working to create a safe space where clients can meaningfully explore emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Casey is especially passionate about providing neurodivergent-affirming care as she works to increase the understanding and acceptance of a client’s specific needs and identity across their intersecting environments.
Casey received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Brown University where she worked at the Causality & Mind Laboratory. She graduated with her Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was passionate about building out social and vocational inclusion programs at a local community center and interned at the UNC Child and Adolescent Outpatient Unit. Casey has years of experience working in several mental health settings including schools, partial hospitalization programs, in-home therapy programs, crisis work, community settings, and outpatient therapy clinics. In therapy, Casey supports her clients through developing healthy coping mechanisms, developing a strong sense of self, and working to feel safe in their body and environments. Casey uses evidence-based approaches, including CBT, TF-CBT, ERP, PCIT, ACT, BPT, SPACE, and other strength-based approaches. Casey welcomes clients of all identities and backgrounds.
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