Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs signs a proclamation naming September 25 “Family Day” and the week of September 24-30 as “Family Week” in the City of Cullman.

On Thursday, Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs officially proclaimed September 25, 2017, as “Family Day” and the week of September 24-30, 2017, as “Family Week” in the City of Cullman.

The Alabama Family Rights Association (ALFRA) and the Exchange Club of Shelby County are partnering together this year to encourage the entire state of Alabama to participate in this year’s “Family Day.” “Family Day” is a national movement to celebrate parental engagement as an effective tool to keep America’s children substance-free.

Families are the cornerstone of an orderly society. But according to a statement issued by ALFRA Family Day Event Coordinator Kenneth Paschal, “Over the last several decades, Alabama families have grown progressively weaker. Family Day in Alabama has evolved to ‘Family Week’ and expanded to reflect the importance of connecting with children throughout the day/week and making a concentrated effort to implement programs that stress the importance of a child’s needs and the importance of interacting together as a family.”

“This is a good time to remember the importance of families in the upbringing of children,” said Mayor Woody Jacobs. “It’s our responsibility as adults to be involved in our children’s lives, and to protect and encourage them.”

During Family Day and Family Week, families are asked to show support for our children by eating a meal or sharing an activity together. Some ideas include organizing a block party, hosting a potluck at church, playing games that include the family, eating dinner as a family and using conversation starts, and attending a movie night in the park.

Families are also encouraged to take a photo or video of everyone enjoying time together and post it on social media using the hashtags #MyFamilySelfie or #FamilyDayAL17, in order to help spread the word about the importance of parental engagement in our children’s lives.