--- title: Why Good Facilitators are Vital for Program Retention description: Effective facilitation might be more important than a program's content in addressing one of the primary challenges for fatherhood programs. image: https://www.fatherhood.org/hubfs/Images/Blog/Trust-image-Chris-blog.png --- [Skip to main content](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/why-good-facilitators-are-vital-for-program-retention#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-Specific Programs & Resources](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/topic/nfi-specific-programs-resources) # Why Good Facilitators are Vital for Program Retention 3 min read ![Christopher A. Brown](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/chris_circle_icon.png?width=100&height=100&name=chris_circle_icon.png) [** Christopher A. Brown ** ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/author/christopher-a-brown) Chris serves as the President of National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI), where he is responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of NFI's strategic plan and business model, as well as its operations and fundraising efforts. ![Effective Facilitation](https://www.fatherhood.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Images/Blog/Trust-image-Chris-blog.png?width=640&name=Trust-image-Chris-blog.png "Effective Facilitation") A good facilitator is as important as the content of a fatherhood program. That's right. **In fact, a good facilitator might be more important than a program's content in addressing one of the[ primary challenges for fatherhood programs: retaining dads' participation](https://www.fatherhood.org/keeping-fathers-interested-in-fatherhood-program).** By a "good" facilitator, I mean someone who can not only deliver the content of the program's curriculum in an interesting, compelling way. I mean someone who can connect with dads. Someone who shows they care deeply about the well-being of dads, not just as dads but as men, too. This aspect of being a good facilitator is backed by research conducted by the [Child and Family Research Partnership](https://childandfamilyresearch.org/) (CFRP) at the University of Texas as Austin. As part of a project they're conducting for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services' Fatherhood EFFECT program, CFRP researchers interviewed dads who participated in fatherhood programs (including NFI's 24/7 Dad® program) in three Texas communities about the dads' reasons for their participation. (Click [here](https://childandfamilyresearch.org/publications/b0240916/) to download the research brief.) One of three key findings is that dads maintained their participation primarily because of the connection they developed to the program facilitator. As the CFRP researchers write: "Fathers emphasized the importance of a reliable and positive voice in their life; they explained that most of their daily interactions make them feel beaten down and discouraged. The fathers felt that the facilitators of the program really wanted to see them become better men and fathers. The majority of fathers commented that they felt a personal connection with the program facilitators because facilitators personalized the curriculum with experiences from their own lives as a parent."   My own research with facilitators of NFI's fatherhood programs also supports this vital aspect of being a good facilitator. **Indeed, some of the facilitators I've interviewed said that the most important job they must accomplish is to develop this connection.** So many dads, they say, come to their program lacking relationships of trust with other men and authority figures. The rapport they create with dads is key to developing what for many dads is the first relationship of trust they've had with another man, or the first such relationship in many years. Shawn Crable, one of several facilitators of the [24/7 Dad®](https://store.fatherhood.org/24-7-dad-programs/) A.M. and P.M. programs for the [Early Childhood Resource Center](https://www.ecresourcecenter.org/workshops-seminars) in Canton, OH, told me: "We need to build a relationship with [dads] first—understand them, where they come from. We must lower our guard to show them we’ll support them. We share things about our lives. This approach allows dads to talk with us rather than us telling them what to do. It’s a mutual learning approach. Dads won’t open up initially, so we have to develop a relationship that lets them know how much we care first." Shawn's statement points to another factor in a good facilitator making a difference: for the content of a curriculum "to take," facilitators must quickly establish rapport with dads. One of the primary ways in which Shawn and his fellow facilitators establish rapport is to share their own fatherhood stories so that the dads see them as credible and trustworthy. If you facilitate a fatherhood program (or supervise staff or volunteer facilitators), here are some tips to help you create rapport and a relationship of trust with dads. - Acquire NFI's Effective Facilitation Certificate™. This popular online, on-demand, self-paced training will help you become an even better facilitator. As part of this comprehensive training, you'll learn 14 tips for establishing rapport with dads, and so much more. (Click here to learn more and to register.) - Meet with each dad one-on-one before the first program session to learn more about him, his reasons for participation, and to share why you want to help him become a better dad. - As you talk with dads one-on-one and listen to their stories in group, look for opportunities to share your own similar experiences. Be careful, however, and avoid talking too much about yourself. Be very selective in sharing your own story--share stories that will have maximum impact. - Use humor! Dads find it easier to connect with facilitators who use (appropriate) humor. Identify where you can inject humor into the program's content. Share funny stories from your life. - Communicate with dads in between program sessions. If appropriate--and legal, depending on your setting--email, call, or text dads to say you appreciate and enjoy their participation. Offer to talk one-on-one whenever they need help. To draw from an old saying, "Dads won't care how much you know until they know how much you care." Establishing a relationship of trust with dads from the get go will pay dividends in the long run. Have you registered to acquire NFI's Effective Facilitation Certificate™? How much attention do you pay to establishing rapport with the dads you serve? Date Published: 01/19/2017 Last Updated: 10/15/2021 ## 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/an-important-question-from-dr.-martin-luther-king-jr) [ Next ](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/how-your-organization-can-support-national-marriage-week) ## Related Articles ### [Five Leadership Practices That Build Father-Inclusive Organizations Image created with GPT Image 2. Creating a father-inclusive organization doesn't happen through a new but isolated fatherhood program, staff training on how to include fathers, or ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/five-leadership-practices-that-build-father-inclusive-organizations) ### [Beyond Graduation: Keeping Fathers Connected Image created with GPT Image 2. Many organizations do a good job recruiting fathers and helping them complete a fatherhood program. But what happens after the program ends? How do ... Read More](https://www.fatherhood.org/championing-fatherhood/beyond-graduation-keeping-fathers-connected) ### [Funding A Father-Inclusive Effort For Non-Governmental Organizations Image created with GPT Image 2. Many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) struggle to identify funding sources for fatherhood initiatives and programs. After all, beyond the ... 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