--- title: 4 Keys to Creating an Actionable Father Engagement Plan description: Learn why 4 Keys to Creating an Actionable Father Engagement Plan. image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/4_Keys_to_Creating_an_Actionable_Father_Engagement_Plan.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/actionable-father-engagement-plan#main) - [![NFI mark](https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI%20mark.svg)FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://www.fatherhood.org/) - [STORE.FATHERHOOD.ORG](https://store.fatherhood.org/) [![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=149&height=82&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=65&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=119&height=66&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ![NFI_logo_blue_left (1) 1](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png?width=89&height=49&name=NFI_logo_blue_left%20(1)%201.png) ](https://www.fatherhood.org) - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) Open main navigation Close main navigation - Show submenu for Get Informed Get Informed - [How To Build Strong Families](https://www.fatherhood.org/build-strong-families) - [Why Father Inclusion Matters](https://www.fatherhood.org/why-father-inclusion-matters) - [Father Stats & Infographics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - Show submenu for Get Involved Get Involved - [Fatherhood Programs](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/programs-and-resources) - [Train Your Staff](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/staff-training) - [State, County, and City Agency Services](https://www.fatherhood.org/solutions/collaborative-services) - Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Find Your Stage of Father Inclusion](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-inclusion) - [How Father Friendly Is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) [Get In Touch](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) [Store](https://store.fatherhood.org/?hsLang=en) Show submenu for Get Started Get Started - [Fatherhood Data & Statistics](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-absence-statistic) - [How Father Friendly is Your Organization?](https://www.fatherhood.org/father-friendly) - [Other Free Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/nfi-free-resources) - [Talk With us to Get Started](https://www.fatherhood.org/get-started) National Fatherhood Initiative Blog / [Latest Articles](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood) [NFI-Specific Programs & Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/nfi-specific-programs-resources) # 4 Keys to Creating an Actionable Father Engagement Plan 2 min read ![Erik Vecere](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/NFI-Assets/images/Erik%20Vecere.png?width=100&height=100&name=Erik%20Vecere.png) [** Erik Vecere ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/erik-vecere) As Chief Partner Success Officer for National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI), Erik is responsible for developing and nurturing partnerships with network-based entities that have relationships with human service organizations. One of the biggest challenges I hear from service providers is how to create an **actionable** father engagement plan. There are 4 keys to creating an effective and actionable plan: ### ![4_Keys_to_Creating_an_Actionable_Father_Engagement_Plan.jpg](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/4_Keys_to_Creating_an_Actionable_Father_Engagement_Plan.jpg?width=452&height=301&name=4_Keys_to_Creating_an_Actionable_Father_Engagement_Plan.jpg) ### 1. Process How will you facilitate an effective planning session? It's tempting to jump right into the strategic planning session without giving enough time and thought to the pre-session design. You can ask your planning team to answer a series of questions prior to the meeting such as: - If you were to describe our fatherhood issue in one sentence, what would it be? - What do you want accomplished when we are done? In general and specifically? - What could derail this session? - What are the 3-5 key questions that will crack open our fatherhood issue? You should use a facilitation process during the session that gets everyone engaged, generates new ideas, and creates consensus on the best ideas to move forward with. ### 2. Ownership How will you facilitate a shared vision at all levels of your organization? This is a by-product of an effective pre-session design and planning session because staff will already be an active part of the father engagement plan creation. ### 3. Accountability How will you ensure people follow through on their actions? Once you have brainstormed ideas and established consensus on which ideas to move forward with, the next step during the planning session is to establish a “who/what/when” for each action step. Establish a time to follow up with everyone to get updates on their progress. ### **4. Flexibility ** How will the plan change as actions are completed or no longer make sense? An effective father engagement plan should be a living and breathing document that changes as actions are completed and new information is available. There are many tools available to assist with this process such as [Google Sheets](https://www.google.com/sheets/about/) and [Google Docs](https://www.google.com/docs/about/) where multiple people can update the same document and see everyone’s changes in real time. These four keys will ensure that your father engagement plan is a living, breathing document infused with great ideas and accountability crucial for long-term success. **Click [here](https://www.fatherhood.org/experience) to learn more about how National Fatherhood Initiative’s Father Engagement Experience™ can help you address these four keys.** Are you thinking about developing a father engagement plan? If so, how can you address each of these keys? If you already have a father engagement plan, how might these keys enhance what you already have in place?   Date Published: 08/30/2016 Last Updated: 03/27/2026 ## Learn How to Build a Fatherhood Program That Works Download this free guide for a proven 7-step roadmap—from making the case and securing funding for your program, to launching and measuring real results! [Get The Guide Now!](https://www.fatherhood.org/starting-a-fatherhood-program) ![7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png?width=700&height=700&name=7-steps-starting-a-fatherhood_program.png) [ Previous ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/help-your-board-raise-funds) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/most-vital-cost-fatherhood-program) ## Related Articles ### [Five Leadership Practices That Build Father-Inclusive Organizations Image created with GPT Image 2. Creating a father-inclusive organization doesn't happen through a new but isolated fatherhood program, staff training on how to include fathers, or ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/five-leadership-practices-that-build-father-inclusive-organizations) ### [Beyond Graduation: Keeping Fathers Connected Image created with GPT Image 2. Many organizations do a good job recruiting fathers and helping them complete a fatherhood program. But what happens after the program ends? How do ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/beyond-graduation-keeping-fathers-connected) ### [Funding A Father-Inclusive Effort For Non-Governmental Organizations Image created with GPT Image 2. Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) struggle to identify funding sources for fatherhood initiatives and programs. After all, beyond the ... 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