Building Community, Supporting Facilitators

One thing I have learned from my experience working at National Fatherhood Initiative® is that facilitators spend a great deal of their time encouraging others. They help fathers recognize their strengths, work through difficult moments, develop new skills, and remain committed to their children and families.

But who supports and encourages the facilitators? Where do they turn when recruitment is slow, participation drops, a session does not go as planned, or the emotional weight of serving fathers and families feels heavy?

If you facilitate fatherhood programs, I encourage you to intentionally connect with other practitioners, whether that means joining a local or statewide network in your area or becoming part of National Fatherhood Initiative®’s growing community of providers. The goal is simple: don’t do this work in isolation; build relationships with people you can learn from, encourage, and turn to.

Providing Support and Encouragement

In January 2025, we began hosting free quarterly Facilitator Connection Meet-Ups. The goal was for facilitators of National Fatherhood Initiative® programs (24:7 Dad®, InsideOut Dad®, 24:7 Dad® Key Behaviors Workshop, and Understanding Dad™) to have a place to open up about their work with fathers, exchange practical ideas, celebrate progress, and build relationships with people who understand both the challenges and rewards of serving fathers.

The growing interest in our meet-ups suggests practitioners are looking for this kind of community. Before our most recent meet-up in July, our meet-ups averaged about 220 registrations and 55 attendees. But our July 2026 meet-up drew 381 registrations and 100 attendees.

That represents a 73 percent increase in registrations and a 60 percent increase in attendance. Across the meetings, the pattern remains consistent: roughly one in four registrants ultimately joins the live conversation. While we continue to explore ways to increase attendance, the recent rise in registrations and attendance clearly shows that interest in practitioner connection is growing.

Facilitators attending the meet-ups work in many different settings. The July attendees, for example, represented 87 distinct organizations. That diversity reminds me that fatherhood work takes place in many settings, yet practitioners often face similar questions about recruitment, engagement, implementation, and staff support.

Practitioners Want to Hear From Practitioners

The numbers tell only part of the story. During my time at The Fatherhood Mandate: The 2026 National Fatherhood Summit in early August, several practitioners who attend our meet-ups shared how much they value connecting with people who understand this work. Those conversations reinforced the feedback we’ve received on post-meeting surveys: the content matters, but the community around it matters just as much. Practitioners want practical examples, reassurance, and trusted peers who can help them think, troubleshoot, and grow.

Community Is Part of the Infrastructure

Joining a professional community should not be treated as an optional extra. It is part of the infrastructure that helps you stay effective, energized, and consistent. A strong facilitator community benefits you and the fathers you serve by:

• Encouraging you when your work with fathers becomes difficult.

• Reminding you that you are not alone.

• Turning individual experience into shared knowledge.

• Creating pathways for practical, ongoing support.

National Fatherhood Initiative®’s Facilitator Connection Meet-Ups can open the door, but the real opportunity begins after they end. A quick check-in with a fellow peer, sharing resources, or problem-solving call can turn a one-time introduction into ongoing support and continued growth.

My hope is that you will use our meet-ups as a starting point, then intentionally cultivate the relationships that matter most. We can create the space for creating connections, but the strongest community will be built through the connections you and other practitioners continue on your own.

Have you ever attended one of our quarterly Facilitator Connection Meet-Ups? If you facilitate one of our programs, it’s easy to join. Click here.

If you’ve attended one, are there other attendees you could reconnect with this month for encouragement, perspective, or practical support?

If you haven’t attended one, what are you waiting for? What recent win, lesson, or challenge could you share with another facilitator?