Frequently Asked Questions
What does National Fatherhood Initiative do?
National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) works to improve the well-being of children by increasing the proportion of children growing up with involved, responsible, and committed fathers. We accomplish this by educating all Americans, equipping fathers with skill-building resources, and engaging all sectors of society. Learn more about our mission and strategy here.
Where does National Fatherhood Initiative work?
National Fatherhood Initiative programs are used in all fifty states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico. Our resources are being utilized by over 6,000 community, state, and regional organizations and have reached over one million fathers.
How do you measure success?
Several ways. First, many of our skill-building resources that are used to educate fathers have built-in evaluation tools, and independent evaluations show that our resources significantly change fathers' attitudes and increase their confidence and knowledge.
Additionally, we receive letters, e-mails, and pictures, from fathers across the country who have experienced an NFI program.
I’ve seen a positive change in my life during this program…I now know what I need to do to break the circle and help my children become productive, well-balanced adults.
I’ve taken a good look at my role as a father and how important my role is, as well as how much of an impact I am to my children whether I’m in their life or not.
My husband (after being home alone with a vomiting infant and needing some practical help in being a dad)…said it best when he said, 'I thought common sense would be enough.' Thank you, NFI, for offering the tools to help this new father add the most important letters to his…titles, DAD!!!
Do you provide assistance with custody issues?
National Fatherhood Initiative does not provide legal counsel. If you are having custody issues, we recommend that you contact Parent Help at 1-800-716-3468. You can also find Parent Help online at www.parenthelp-ny.org.
Do you advocate for fathers' rights issues?
National Fatherhood Initiative focuses on raising awareness about the importance of fathers, producing skill-building resources, and engaging all sectors of society around father involvement. While fathers' legal and custodial rights are important, they are not NFI's main focus. National Fatherhood Initiative does not provide advice on legal matters related to the family court system. However, we recommend that you contact Parent Help at 1-800-716-3468. Parent Help is a free service funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that offers free confidential telephone assistance for dads and moms on finding solutions to visitation disputes, mediating co-parenting plans, and understanding custody, child support, and the court system. You can also find Parent Help online at www.parenthelp-ny.org.
Do you have a chapter near me? Can you refer me to a local organization running a fatherhood program?
Since we are not a membership-based organization or an association, we do not have local chapters or members. However, we will be posting a full-list of organizations running our programs in the near future - stay tuned!
How are you funded?
National Fatherhood Initiative is supported by a variety of funding sources. Individual donors, corporations, private foundations and government grants support NFI's various efforts. Click here to learn more about supporting NFI.
Is National Fatherhood Initiative a religious-based organization?
No. National Fatherhood Initiative is a non-sectarian, non-partisan, non-profit organization.
Have another question? Contact us.