Recruitment & Retention Tips
Overcoming common barriers to father participation
Recruiting and retaining fathers is one of the most important—and sometimes most challenging—aspects of running a successful fatherhood program. Many fathers are hesitant to join at first due to low confidence in their parenting skills, scheduling conflicts, or a reluctance to seek help.
The good news: once fathers participate, they consistently report that the experience is valuable—and often transformative for their families. Whether you are launching a new fatherhood program or strengthening an existing one, the resources below offer proven strategies for father engagement and retention.
Common barriers to father participation include work schedules, lack of transportation, distrust of social services, and cultural stigmas around seeking parenting support. Addressing these barriers directly in your outreach messaging and program design can significantly improve both enrollment and long-term retention rates.
Explore the following resources to help you recruit and retain fathers in your fatherhood program:
View articles about recruitment & retention in our Championing Fatherhood Blog.
Download our free guide: Getting And Keeping Fathers Interested In Your Program.
Download our free guide: How To Start A Fatherhood Program
Enroll in our on-demand Recruitment and Retention Certificate™ Training