Elevating the importance of engaging dads in family support services.
The Children’s Trust recognizes the critical role that fathers play in the wellbeing and development of their children and works to advance programs and trainings that support fathers, their families, and the professionals who work with them.
Father involvement is associated with improved cognitive development, social skills, independence, and academic achievement in children. Children with involved dads tend to have higher self-esteem, better peer relationships, and more prosocial behaviors. But it’s not just children who benefit. Fathers themselves experience better health outcomes, greater income, and higher life satisfaction when they are active participants in parenting.
We’re focused on providing resources, training, and guidance on how to foster father involvement, support coparenting relationships, and encourage healthy family dynamics.
By focusing on these areas, we are promoting environments where fathers are supported, valued, and able to play an active role in their children’s lives.
The Fathers & Family Network is a statewide network of family support professionals. We provide funding to local agencies and organizations to convene regional meetings across the Commonwealth to share information, conduct educational workshops and discussions, and provide opportunities for networking and professional development. The result: increased competency for family support staff and greater public awareness of the importance of engaging dads.
Nurturing Fathers is a 13-week, strength-based curriculum that helps to build and fortify positive parenting attitudes and behaviors. We partner with local organizations to bring this impactful program to fathers in Massachusetts.
We support the implementation of Father-Child Interaction groups to connect fathers to community organizations while providing positive experiences for them and their children. These groups are designed to foster meaningful connections between fathers, their children, and their communities. Father-Child interaction groups provide opportunities for children to learn, explore, and develop skills while encouraging fathers’ active participation in their children’s development.
Our 10 year partnership with Hampshire County House of Corrections, to implement Nurturing Fathers, has resulted in over 100 fathers graduating from the Nurturing Father’s program, of which 99 have not returned to incarceration. Hear from the dads involved in that program below:
This program (Nurturing Fathers) has been invaluable. The people, the warmth, that kind of support – I don’t think you can substitute it for anything. You need people around you, you need community.
Luke DeRoy, Nurturing Fathers Graduate
Being a father isn’t about being perfect, it’s about being present. And when we help professionals really see dads, really hear them, we open doors that can change the whole trajectory of a family.”
Steven Pascal, Children’s Trust Director of Home Visiting
Without the generous support from the Children’s Trust, I would not be able to envision a community without the Nurturing Fathers Program. Also, to see the impact programs like this have on the fathers, families and the community is rewarding.
Vuthy Chum, Nurturing Fathers Program Facilitator, Hampshire County House of Corrections
Data from Fiscal Year 2025 (June 30, 2024 – July 1, 2025)
This workshop explores barriers to father engagement and elevates the practices, attitudes, and behaviors that support best practices with fathers.
Read More about Engaging Dads
This workshop explores tools that strengthen cooperation between parents whether they are in a romantic or strictly shared parenting relationship. Participants will understand how healthy co-parenting contributes to positive outcomes for children.
Read More about Parenting as Partners
We were honored to be featured on WCVB's 5 for Good, highlighting the 10th anniversary of our partnership with the Hampshire County House of Correction to implement the Nurturing Fathers program. This story is a powerful reflection of what intentional support and connection can achieve.
