FATHERHOOD Specific Programs
10 Facts about Father Engagement (The Fatherhood Project)
- Fathers and infants can be equally as attached as mothers and infants. When both parents are involved with the child, infants are attached to both parents from the beginning of life.
- Father involvement is related to positive child health outcomes in infants, such as improved weight gain in preterm infants and improved breastfeeding rates.
- Father involvement using authoritative parenting (loving and with clear boundaries and expectations) leads to better emotional, academic, social, and behavioral outcomes for children.
- Children who feel a closeness to their father are: twice as likely as those who do not to enter college or find stable employment after high school, 75% less likely to have a teen birth, 80% less likely to spend time in jail, and half as likely to experience multiple depression symptoms.
- Fathers occupy a critical role in child development. Father absence hinders development from early infancy throughout childhood and into adulthood. The psychological harm of father absence experienced during childhood persists throughout the life course.
- The quality of the father-child relationship matters more than the specific amount of hours spent together. Non-resident fathers can have positive effects on children’s social and emotional well-being, as well as academic achievement and behavioral adjustment.
- High levels of father involvement are correlated with higher levels of sociability, confidence, and self control in children. Children with involved fathers are less likely to act out in school or engage in risky behaviors in adolescence.
- Children with actively involved fathers are: 43% more likely to earn A’s in school and 33% less likely to repeat a grade than those without engaged dads.
- Father engagement reduces the frequency of behavioral problems in boys while also decreasing delinquency and economic disadvantage in low-income families.
- Father engagement reduces psychological problems and rates of depression in young women.
Fatherhood Education
Act for Youth:
This weblink provides a wealth of educational resources on the benefits of being an active father and how to develop parenting and life skills as a young father.
Fatherhood Support Programs
New Opportunities
232 North Elm Street, Waterbury, CT, 203-575-4210
The Fatherhood Initiative is designed to engage 110 fathers ages 17+ in services designed to increase the father's involvement with his children.
Eligibility: Resident of Greater Waterbury area; Fathers ages 17+
Hours: M-F: 8am-5pm
Pathways to Responsible Fatherhood Initiative
CATHOLIC CHARITIES - ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD, SOUTHSIDE FAMILY CENTER
35 Groton Street #1, Hartford, CT, 860-297-7800
Fatherhood program offers parenting, education, supports and other services to men who are fathers, expectant fathers or primary caregivers...
Eligibility: Males who are fathers, expectant fathers or primary caregivers
Hours: M-F: 9am-5pm; Evenings by appointment
CATHOLIC CHARITIES - ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD, ASYLUM HILL FAMILY CENTER
896 Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT, 860-244-9944
Fatherhood program offers parenting, education, supports and other services to men who are fathers, expectant fathers or primary caregivers...
Eligibility: Males who are fathers, expectant fathers or primary caregivers
Hours: M-F: 10am-8pm
CATHOLIC CHARITIES - ARCHDIOCESE OF HARTFORD, FAMILY CENTER AT PARKER MEMORIAL COMMUNITY CENTER
2621 Main Street, Hartford, CT, 860-757-0827
Fatherhood program offers parenting, education, supports and other services to men who are fathers, expectant fathers or primary caregivers.
Eligibility: Males who are fathers, expectant fathers or primary caregivers
Hours: M-F: 10am-3pm (ages 21+), 3-6pm (ages 8-15), 6-9pm
Fatherhood Engagement Services
Career Resources, Inc.
350 Fairfield Avenue, Bridgeport, CT, 203-610-8678
Father for Life provides life skills, parenting skills, advocacy and support for all interested parents. Services are offered in the greater Bridgeport area...
Eligibility: Fathers and parents who want to improve their relationship with their children
Hours: M-F: 8:30am-4:30pm
John S. Martinez Fatherhood Initiative of Connecticut
55 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT, 866-628-3237
Department of Social Services collaborates with a wide range of partners to assist communities and agencies in identifying and addressing the needs of fathers and families.
Eligibility: General public requesting information on Fatherhood programs and related resources available and agencies wanting to be.
Hours: M-F: 8am-4:30pm
Madonna Place
240 Main Street, Norwich, CT, 860-886-6600
The Program Fatherhood Initiative provides information and support to non-custodial and custodial fathers regarding parenting, healthy relationships, child and family development, family health, financial stability and personal growth and goals...
Eligibility: Custodial and non-custodial fathers
Hours: M-F: 9am-4:30pm
The Village - The Village South
331 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford, CT, 860-236-4511
Intensive program for fathers involved with an open DCF case. The program provides outreach, case management and parenting education and strives to enhance the positive level of involvement of fathers in their children’s lives and teach fathers the skills.
Eligibility: Fathers in DCF Region 4 (Hartford and Manchester areas) involved in an open DCF case
The Village - Manchester
300 Parker Street, Manchester, CT, 860-236-4511
Intensive program for fathers involved with an open DCF case. The program provides outreach, case management and parenting education and strives to enhance the positive level of involvement of fathers in their children’s lives and teach fathers the skills.
Eligibility: Fathers in DCF Region 4 (Hartford and Manchester areas) involved in an open DCF case
Resources
F.E.L.T. (Fatherhood Engagement Leadership Team)
CT Fatherhood Initiative
The Village Fatherhood Engagement Services
2-1-1 CT
Podcast (pending)