Richard O'Keef

Richard O'Keef is a distinguished parenting educator and author dedicated to transforming parenting practices. With years of experience teaching parenting education in the community and in prisons, Richard has witnessed firsthand the challenges parents face, often trapped in cycles of abuse and trauma. His mission is to break these generational cycles and help parents build stronger, healthier relationships with their children.

Richard's journey into parenting education began with his own struggles as a young parent. Without a stable father figure and overwhelmed by the demands of raising children, he turned to books and resources to educate himself. Dissatisfied with the complexity and fluff (the non-essential material) of many parenting guides, Richard distilled practical, actionable advice into his teachings, focusing on meeting the four essential emotional needs of children. His approach has received positive feedback from inmates, who report significant improvements in their relationships with their children even while being incarcerated.

O'Keef's educational background includes an undergraduate degree in Interpersonal Communications from Brigham Young University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. This academic foundation complements his wealth of practical experience in family dynamics. Since 2016, O'Keef has been employed as a Fatherhood Educator. In this role, he conducts parenting classes for incarcerated individuals in state prisons and county jails, focusing on breaking cycles of abuse and reducing recidivism through effective parenting strategies.

O'Keef's professional philosophy centers on his innovative concept of the "4 Emotional Needs" of children. This framework forms the cornerstone of his approach, designed to foster stronger parent-child relationships, enhance cooperation, and guide children towards making sound decisions. He is the author of multiple parenting books, including "The 7 Essential Dad-Skills," "3-Step Parenting: How to Replace Misbehavior with Cooperation," and "How to Get Kids to Behave: The Manual that was Supposed to Come with Kids." His most recent book, "911: What Is Your Parenting Emergency," synthesizes his extensive knowledge into actionable strategies for parents facing challenges.

The overarching mission of Richard O'Keef's work is to equip parents with the necessary tools to guide their children away from potentially destructive life paths. His aim is to elevate the concept of "Meet the 4 Emotional Needs" to a level of recognition comparable to that of "The 5 Love Languages" within parenting discourse. Through his literary contributions, educational efforts, and advocacy, O'Keef continues to pursue his vision of empowering parents to raise confident, responsible children within nurturing family environments.

O'Keef is a father of six, grandfather of twenty-three, and great-grandfather. Residing in Salt Lake City, Utah, he maintains an active lifestyle, engaging in hiking expeditions in the local mountains and regular jogging, having completed three marathons.

Discover more about Richard's work and how he can help transform your parenting journey at 911ParentingEmergency.com.