My Great Experience Facilitating the New 24:7 Dad® 4th Edition

Given my role as Program Success Director with National Fatherhood Initiative^® (NFI), I wanted to experience firsthand the features and impact of facilitating the recently released fourth edition of NFI’s 24:7 Dad^® A.M. program. Thanks to a partnership with Buffalo Prenatal-Perinatal Network, Inc. (BPPN), I had that opportunity in my hometown of Buffalo, NY, in June.

As a father of three children, with nearly a decade of experience in the fatherhood field, I had the privilege of serving as the lead facilitator alongside my co-facilitator, Jamal Davis, from BPPN, over the course of six weeks, which included 12 evening sessions with a group of primarily Black fathers aged 19 to 70.

I found the 24:7 Dad® fourth edition to be even more facilitator-friendly than the third edition, thanks to the enhanced scripts that aided every session, tailored introduction videos that brought each topic to life, and a PowerPoint® slide deck that made leading each session seamless. These updates helped me manage the group dynamics and discussion as dads shared their lived experience, ranging from the loss and grief after losing a parent to the challenges of relocating and finding suitable employment.

These enhancements not only improved the facilitation process but also deepened the overall engagement of the group. With each session, the dads became more invested—not just in the content, but in one another’s growth. The atmosphere of openness and trust allowed meaningful conversations to unfold organically, revealing recurring themes that underscored the lived realities of these men.

As we progressed through the program, three key highlights emerged:

1. The Importance of Supporting Dads’ Mental Wellness

• Dads shared their mental health struggles, such as suicide attempts. Other dads provided peer support and encouraged self-care.
• By normalizing conversations around mental health and wellness, we can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health care and encourage dads to seek support.

2. The Importance of Providing Resources within a Supportive Environment

• As dads discussed their challenges with finding adequate employment or relationship issues (i.e., father-child, co-parenting, and romantic), other dads shared resources and opportunities that could help them.
• Sharing resources and cultivating a supportive environment where dads feel emotionally safe to share their experiences helps them navigate tough moments, reminding them they are not alone.

3. The Importance of Celebrating Victories

• Whenever dads shared good news, such as obtaining employment and gaining visitation access, the entire group celebrated their achievement.
• Recognizing achievements builds confidence and motivation, reinforcing the positive changes happening in each dad’s life.

Together, we created a space where dads could open up emotionally and be transparent. What stood out most was the way these men supported one another—sharing resources, encouraging self-care, and celebrating every victory, big or small.

How might you use the recently released fourth edition of 24:7 Dad® to impact dads in your community?

Are you currently using the third edition of 24:7 Dad®? If so, set a deadline for transitioning to the fourth edition before NFI stops offering the third edition Fathering Handbooks after May 16, 2026.

 If you currently use the fourth edition, what has been your experience with the enhancements? Please email me at ajohnson@fatherhood.org.

Interested in learning more about the 24:7 Dad^® program? Email me at ajohnson@fatherhood.org.