I want to find fatherhood programs in my community. How do I find one?

Whether you're a father or a professional serving fathers, this guide can help you find a fatherhood program to support the growth and success of fathers and families in your community. It also includes information on ProFathering15™, a National Fatherhood Initiative® (NFI) program available online to fathers and organizations everywhere.

While not every community has a fatherhood program, the good news is that more programs than ever serve fathers. Some serve fathers specifically, while others serve all parents. 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.

Online Search

Starting your search online is the fastest way to find a fatherhood program.

1. Start with search engines. Use search 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 the 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

Community Referrals

If your online search doesn’t yield results, don’t give up. Fatherhood programs that aren't listed online may exist in your community. Contact local organizations that may know of fatherhood programs.

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

ProFathering15™

For fathers without access to a local program, NFI offers ProFathering15™, an online, on-demand, self-paced fatherhood program. 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.