How to Find a Fatherhood Program in Your Community

You might think that an organization called National Fatherhood Initiative® would provide direct services to fathers, but we don’t. Instead, we serve as the somewhat unseen backbone of thousands of fatherhood programs across the country, run by human service organizations that use our programs and resources to help dads directly. To that end, the purpose of this post is to give readers ideas for how and where to find a fatherhood program to attend (or to refer someone to attend).

While not every community has a fatherhood program, the good news is that more programs than ever exist to serve fathers. Some serve fathers specifically, while others serve all parents. We suggest that you start your search for father-specific programs. If you don’t find any, expand your search to parenting programs that welcome and have success serving fathers.

How do I search online for a fatherhood program?

1) Use search engines with terms like:

• "Fatherhood programs [your city/county/state]"
• "Father support groups [your city/county/state]"
• "Parenting classes for dads [your city/county/state]"
• "Fatherhood initiatives [your city/county/state]"
• "Dad-specific parenting resources [your city/county/state]"

2) Visit the website of (or call) your state's or community's fatherhood program or initiative. Some states and communities have these and may fund or otherwise support local fatherhood programs. Agencies that typically house these programs or initiatives include human, child, family services, child welfare, child support, and public health departments.

3) Visit websites of (or call) local community action agencies, family resource or support centers, pregnancy resource centers, Head Start and Early Head Start, Healthy Start, home visiting programs for expectant and new parents, faith-based organizations, mayor’s offices, and county courts. Look in their navigation menus for “programs,” “services,” or “what we do.”

4) Check the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse Program Map. These are federally funded fatherhood programs located across the country. https://www.fatherhood.gov/program-map

Can someone in my community refer me to a fatherhood program?

If your online search doesn’t yield results, don’t give up. Fatherhood programs that aren't listed online still may exist in your community. Contact local organizations that may know of fatherhood programs they can refer you to. Use a search engine to locate and contact these types of organizations to inquire about a fatherhood program they may know of.

Organizations include:

• Government human service agencies (human services, child welfare, child support, and public health)
• Head Start and Early Head Start programs
• Family Resource or Support Centers
• Pregnancy Resource Centers
• Community action agencies
• Reentry centers
• Substance abuse treatment centers
• Churches, mosques, synagogues, and other faith-based groups
• Hospitals and other healthcare organizations   
• Courts and legal aid offices

What can I do if my community doesn't have a fatherhood program, but I want to participate in one?

Consider enrolling in NFI’s online, on-demand, self-paced fatherhood program called ProFathering15™! It covers 15 important fatherhood topics in 15-minute segments and costs $15 per dad. 

ProFathering15™ is:

• Available in English and Spanish.
• Accessible from any device with a web browser.
• Ideal for fathers who can't attend in-person programs due to distance, transportation issues, or other constraints.
• Suitable for expectant, new, and seasoned dads of all backgrounds.

To enroll or learn more, visit https://profathering.fatherhood.org/

Organizations can purchase multiple enrollments by calling 240-912-1263 or emailing fathersource@fatherhood.org.

Download this blog as an info sheet to print or share here!

Wishing you much success in your fatherhood program search!