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State Initiatives

A number of states have existing Responsible Fatherhood Programs. These programs can be excellent sources on information on state specific legislation as well as provide innovative program models and collaboration opportunities.

Sample of existing State Responsible Fatherhood Initiatives:

  • Fatherhood Initiative of Connecticut Exit Disclaimer
    Fatherhood Initiative of Connecticut, Connecticut Department of Health and Human Services.
    The goal of the Fatherhood Initiative of Connecticut is to promote the positive involvement and interaction of fathers with their children, with an emphasis on children eligible, or formerly eligible for services funded by the temporary assistance for needy families block grant.

  • Iowa Fatherhood Exit Disclaimer
    Iowa Fatherhood, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services.
    This site contains links to a variety of other sites with Iowa, regional, or national importance. We have tried to include those whose content can most directly support the role of Iowa's parents with their children.

  • Illinois Fatherhood Initiative Exit Disclaimer
    Illinois Fatherhood Initiative.
    The mission of Illinois Fatherhood Initiative is to end father absence by connecting children and fathers and promoting responsible fatherhood by equipping men to be better father and father figures.

  • Wisconsin Fatherhood Initiative Exit Disclaimer
    Midwest Center on Workforce and Family Development, Inc.
    The Wisconsin Fatherhood Initiative (WFI) was established in August of 1998, challenging all departments of state government to review their programs and policies to ensure that fathers are not discouraged from involvement in the development and care of their children, and to increase public awareness for the critical role fathers play in the lives of their children.

  • Alabama Department of Human Resources, Alabama Fatherhood Initiative Exit Disclaimer
    Alabama Department of Human Resources.
    The Department of Human Resources Fatherhood Initiative was developed to further the welfare reform goal of strengthening families, enhancing child support collections and addressing other needs of children who are growing up without the involvement of natural fathers in their lives.

  • Georgia Fatherhood Programs Exit Disclaimer
    Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education.
    The goal of this program was to help the children by helping the parent who could not or would not support them. In partnership with the Department of Human Resources, Office of Child Support Enforcement, the Department of Technical and Adult Education Special Workforce Services began the Fatherhood Initiative as a pilot program at seven technical institutions.

  • New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Responsible Fatherhood Initiative Exit Disclaimer
    New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
    The NYS Strengthening Families through Stronger Fathers initiative bridges the gap between these employment programs, welfare programs and child support policies through a newly created, first in the nation, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for non-custodial parents and the establishment of five separate pilot programs aimed at promoting responsible fatherhood.

  • Indiana Fathers and Families
    Indiana Department of Child Services.
    A collection of research findings regarding the impact of parental involvement, or lack of parental involvement, on children, and findings from opinion polls on the subject of fatherhood.


Resources from Online Library

  • Connecting Low-Income Fathers and Families: A Guide to Practical Policies - Welfare Peer Technical Assistance Network. This guide is designed to assist state policymakers in their consideration of policies related to low-income families.

  • Restoring Fathers to Families and Communities: SIX STEPS for Policymakers - This guide was developed by the Social Policy Action Network to help fill the gap in information available for state and local officials about what they can do, legislatively and administratively, to help fathers help their children. Each of the six steps offered include a menu of policy options and provide detailed examples of what states, communities, and nonprofits nationwide are already doing to promote responsible fatherhood.

Other Relevant Resources

  • Guidebook for Financial Managers of Discretionary Grants (PDF - 492 KB) - Developed by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), this manual is intended to serve as an additional reference tool and guidebook for financial managers, program directors, and others responsible for the administration and financial management of federal discretionary grants (such as Head Start, Early Head Start, State Collaboration, Runaway & Homeless Youth grants, etc.).