--- title: "2014 Progress Report: Serving you. Serving Fathers. Serving Families." description: NFI turned 20 years old in 2014. Here are a few things we've accomplished! [Progress Report] image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hub/135704/file-601035516.jpg --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/nfi-2014-progress-report#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 News & Updates](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/nfi-news-updates) # 2014 Progress Report: Serving you. Serving Fathers. Serving Families. 4 min read ![Melissa Byers](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/melissa_circle_icon.png?width=100&height=100&name=melissa_circle_icon.png) [** Melissa Byers ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/melissa-byers) Melissa is the Chief Marketing Officer at National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI). Melissa oversees the organization's marketing, communications, graphic design, and product fulfillment functions. National Fatherhood Initiative turned 20 years old in 2014. We understand that measuring effectiveness is key to making a difference in the lives of children and families. We use a variety of methods to measure our impact. We want to be good stewards of the resources we’ve been given to do this important work, and we want to make sure we are using the best approaches to accomplish our mission. Please review our 2014 Progress Report to learn how we are connecting fathers to their children. ### NFI is a Second-Question Organization in a First-Question World ![20th_Anniv_NFI_Logo](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hub/135704/file-601035516.jpg?width=300&name=file-601035516.jpg)NFI’s mission is to improve the well-being of children by increasing the proportion of children with involved, responsible, and committed fathers. Sounds like an easy job, right? After all, doesn’t everyone want fathers to be great role models? **However, NFI is a second-question organization in a first-question world.** Most people who want to help children ask the “first question”: What can I do to help that child in need? That’s an important question. But, if you really want to make a positive, long-term difference in the life of a child, you need to ask the “second question”: How did the child get there in the first place? Why does he need my help? More often than not, you will find that the child does not have the love, nurture, and guidance of an involved, responsible, and committed father. Children from father-absent homes are two to five times more likely to use drugs, live in poverty, fail in school, and suffer from a host of other risks. **No other single factor hurts children more than father absence.** Therefore, NFI is committed to addressing the second question by connecting fathers to their children heart to heart. In our first question world most people are focused on *intervention*, which is good and noble and must happen. But NFI is also committed to *prevention*. We seek to create a world in which fewer and fewer children need our help because they have great dads who have been given the skills and encouragement they need, via NFI’s efforts, to be the kinds of dads their children need them to be. ### NFI Accomplishes This By - **Developing and distributing evidence-based and evidence-informed fatherhood skill-building resources and programming** designed for all types of fathers, used by community organizations, organizations in the corrections arena, and military installations across the United States. - **Helping build the capacity of organizations seeking to begin or enhance fatherhood programs** through father-friendly assessments, skills training, technical assistance, strategic planning, and community mobilization around fatherhood. - **Executing state, local, and governmental contracts, subcontracts, and projects** related to building and implementing sustainable fatherhood programs and services in a high-quality manner. **View [NFI's Progress Report](http://issuu.com/mjsteward/docs/2014-nfi-progressreport?e=0/9549942).**     ### NFI's Community-Based Fatherhood Initiatives Learn more about [What Happens When 120+ Fathers Become Trained Dads in San Diego](https://www.fatherhood.org/fatherhood/fatherhood-programs/san-diego-is-getting-fatherhood) ### NFI's Solutions for Incarcerated Fathers Read about [381 Dads and Counting: How Kentucky Department of Corrections is Changing Fathers from the Inside Out](https://www.fatherhood.org/fatherhood/fatherhood-programs/381-dads-and-counting-kentucky-doc) ### NFI's Solutions for Fathers in the Military Find details on [Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington State](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hub/135704/file-523422552.pdf?t=1412181968073) and how NFI is helping support deployed dads.  ### NFI's State and Local Government Agency Fatherhood Initiatives Learn how NFI is helping [New Jersey Focus on Fatherhood](https://www.fatherhood.org/fatherhood-program-camp-case-study). ### Resources Distributed and Practitioners Trained NFI is the #1 provider of fatherhood resources and the #1 trainer of fatherhood program practitioners in the country. One way to measure our impact is to ensure that we are continuing to distribute hundreds of thousands of resources and training hundreds of new practitioners each year. **To date, we have distributed over 6,627,468 fatherhood resources and we have trained over 13,700 individuals from over 6,300 organizations on how to deliver our programs to dads.** ### Testimonials Finally, NFI collects stories from around the country from the dads and organizations who have been impacted by our work. This may not be the “hardest” measure of success, but it is certainly the most satisfying to read. Here are some examples that help us know our work is making a difference. *“I’ve seen a positive change in my life during this program…I now know what I need to do to break the cycle and help my children become productive, well-balanced adults.”* *“I’ve taken a good look at my role as a father and how important my role is, as well as how much of an impact I am to my children whether I’m in their life or not.”* *“Because of your resources, more fathers are trying to be better fathers by spending family time together, showing affection to their children and they realize that a father’s job is never done.”* *“My husband (after being home alone with a vomiting infant and needing some practical help in being a dad)…said it best when he said, 'I thought common sense would be enough.' Thank you, NFI, for offering the tools to help this new father add the most important letters to his…titles, DAD!!!”* # ![fathersource_logo_web](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hub/135704/file-717990650.png?width=275&name=file-717990650.png) # Keep up with the latest news, products, tips, and more with [NFI's FatherSource™ email](https://www.fatherhood.org/signup)!    Date Published: 10/01/2014 Last Updated: 06/11/2018 ## 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/how-your-vote-in-november-could-harm-or-help-children) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/father-factor-spotlight-alexander-the-terrible-horrible-no-good-very-bad-day) ## Related Articles ### [A Model for Using The $154 Billion Man Report As co-publisher of the $154 Billion Man Report: The Economic Argument for Investing in Fathers, National Fatherhood Initiative® has been encouraged by how human service ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/a-model-for-using-the-154-billion-man-report) ### [[Press Release] New Report Estimates $154 Billion in Annual Taxpayer Costs Linked to Father Absence New Report Estimates $154 Billion in Annual Taxpayer Costs Linked to Father Absence Updated analysis shows federal spending on assistance programs for single mother-headed ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/press-release-154-billion-dollar-man-report) ### [National Fatherhood Initiative® Releases Fourth Edition of 24:7 Dad® Fatherhood Program New edition features improvements that support easier facilitation for a stronger impact on fathers and families GERMANTOWN, Md., April 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, National ... 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