A Unique, Cost-Effective Way to Build Capacity in Program Facilitation

If you were asked how you would build capacity to deliver, strengthen, and sustain a fatherhood program at your organization or agency, what would you say?

You might have said, “Acquire a proven fatherhood curriculum.” That’s an important starting point. But a strong, sustainable program takes more than the right curriculum. It also takes experienced staff who can train new facilitators, coach them through challenges, and provide ongoing support as they build their skills and confidence.

For National Fatherhood Initiative® partners, completing a 24:7 Dad® Facilitator Training is an important first step. But as they grow the program, some partners struggle with facilitator turnover and wonder who will train new facilitators and coach them as they prepare to facilitate. They might also want a more cost-effective training option.

Build Cost-Effective Capacity to Deliver 24:7 Dad®

To address this, I’m pleased to announce our first public 24:7 Dad® Organizational Master Trainer training!

This new National Fatherhood Initiative® offering can help you build program leaders and a staff development approach centered around coaching. It prepares experienced 24:7 Dad® facilitators—as many as you want—to train and support new facilitators within your organization or a network of organizations. It focuses on four areas: knowing the program, coaching facilitators, protecting fidelity, and teaching others.

This training can create significant capacity for an organization. Instead of depending exclusively on National Fatherhood Initiative® to train new facilitators, an organization can save time and money by training its own staff. As organizations expand into new locations, add staff, increase the number of fathers they serve, or experience normal staff turnover, having an internal Master Trainer can help ensure they are prepared to develop new facilitators and sustain their fatherhood programming over time.

Build Leadership Capacity

Training a facilitator is only the beginning of facilitator development. Master Trainers must develop a deeper understanding of what makes 24:7 Dad® work and prepare to help others facilitate the program effectively.

The OMT training conveys a practical coaching structure built around four actions: Notice, Ask, Coach, and Commit. Rather than simply telling someone what to do differently, the Master Trainer learns to help facilitators reflect, understand their choices, and take ownership of their continued development.

As a result, the OMT training is more than becoming certified to conduct a 24:7 Dad® training. It develops leaders who coach new facilitators using the following process:

• Observe – A new facilitator watches the Master Trainer in action to see effective facilitation.
• Prepare – A new facilitator reviews session content, materials, timing, and potential challenges before facilitating.
• Practice – A new facilitator rehearses key portions of a session through teach-backs or other practice opportunities before co-facilitating a session.
• Co-facilitate – A new facilitator and Master Trainer share responsibility for facilitating a session.
• Lead – A new facilitator facilitates a session independently while the Master Trainer observes.
• Receive feedback – The Master Trainer helps a new facilitator reflect on what went well and areas for growth.
• Continual improvement – Identify what you can improve, put feedback into practice, and continue developing your skills with each facilitation experience.

This process creates a more consistent and sustainable approach to facilitator development. Instead of relying solely on outside training, organizations develop internal leaders who can coach facilitators, reinforce program fidelity, address challenges early, and support continuous improvement. Over time, this helps strengthen facilitator confidence and performance while creating a culture of accountability, learning, and shared responsibility for delivering 24:7 Dad® effectively.

Build Sustainable Capacity for Facilitating 24:7 Dad®

The OMT’s ultimate benefit is program sustainability. 24:7 Dad® programs are more resilient when knowledge, training ability, and leadership are not concentrated in one person or dependent entirely on outside support.

Master Trainers help an organization create a stronger facilitation team. When new staff members come aboard, someone is prepared to help develop them. When experienced facilitators need support, someone understands both the program and the realities of delivering it. And as the organization grows, it can grow its people alongside the program.

Sustainability is not simply keeping a program on the calendar. It means building enough internal knowledge and leadership for the work to continue through growth, transition, and change.

No Time Like the Present

National Fatherhood Initiative® will hold the next 24:7 Dad® Organizational Master Trainer training on October 22, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (EDT), with a one-hour lunch break.

Prerequisite to enroll: You must have completed NFI’s standard 24:7 Dad® Facilitator Training. If you have, register now as slots are limited. If you haven’t completed the standard facilitator training, take advantage of this opportunity by purchasing and completing our on-demand 24:7 Dad® training so you can register.