Fatherhood

• Family Permanency Services
  • In the Division of Family Permanency Services, the Office of Older Youth Development Services the Teen Specialist Unit works closely with the Expectant and Parenting Youth (EPY) in providing the fathers with incentives to provide for their children. This unit also provides round table conversations and forums for father’s that touch upon mental health, wellness, employment, and education. The Office also provides group and 1:1 support to the young fathers.
• Policy, Planning and Measurement
  • The Division of Policy, Planning and Measurement offers training to staff on engagement strategies for fathers. One training focuses on the practical application of strengths-based engagement and motivational interviewing skills when working with fathers and the father figures of children involved in the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice systems. Learners are also trained how to explore the needs of fathers and father figures who have connections to the Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice systems. Another training from the New York State Office of Children and Family Services aims to improve the competency of Child Welfare professionals in increasing the involvement of fathers in the lives of children in the Child Welfare system.
• Youth and Family Justice
  • The Division of Youth and Family Justice contracts with Inwood House to offer parenting and healthy relationship services to youth who are expectant and parenting across DYFJ’s continuum of care and works with all youth to engage them in a curriculum focusing on reproductive health and intimate relationships. The program aims to:
    • Teach young parents how to create safe and nurturing homes so that they can maintain a safe and healthy environment for their children.
    • Educate and mentor expectant and parenting youth in ACS’ care on the availability and utilization of community resources and supportive networks.
    • Educate and counsel all youth on sex education, healthy relationships, and reproductive health so they can achieve informed autonomy and approach relationships with an understanding of healthy boundaries, consent, and avoid risk factors of intimate partner violence and exploitation.
• Prevention Services
  • Prevention services support the entire family, even if services were initially identified for the service needs of a particular family member. When assessing family functioning, all prevention service models promote inclusion of all family members, including fathers even when they do not live in the same household. Further, prevention onboarding training for new case planners emphasizes engaging fathers.
• Child and Family Well-Being
  • The Division of Child and Family Well-Being has three offices that engage in/initiate/support fatherhood work in different capacities. The offices are the Office of Community Engagement and Partnerships which manages the Community Partnerships, the Office of Strategy, Research and Provider Partnerships which manages the Family Enrichment Centers and the Office of Child Safety and Injury Prevention. 
    • The Office of Community Engagement & Partnerships has 11 Community Partnerships throughout NYC. They are networks for providers (community-based organizations, city agencies, grass root agencies), community leaders and residents to share local resources and information.  They collaborate to design and promote strategies to reduce the potential need for child welfare involvement and to support with empowering communities to strive. Staten Island Community Partnership and their members created S.I. Provider Outreach Project aka SIPOP. They offer co-parenting /community forums for Dads. They also host an annual Fatherhood and Family fun day event. Over 2K people attend and they estimate about 750+ fathers participate in the event. Several other Community Partnerships host annual Father’s Day events celebrating Dads and/or have an annual Daddy Daughter Dance once a year. The other Community Partnerships have member organizations that offer support services to fathers.  Some of the organizations include Fathers Alive in the Hood, Fatherhood Academy at LAGCC, Fatherhood Matters just to name a few.
    • The Office of Child Safety & Injury Prevention regularly engages with fatherhood groups to raise awareness among fathers and father-figures about infant safe sleep practices and other child injury prevention topics. OCSIP staff participate in the ACS Fatherhood Working Group, which meets biweekly to develop strategies on engaging fathers throughout child welfare. OCSIP has co-hosted events in partnership with Father’s Forward, Anthem Blue Cross, Blue Shield, and Father’s United on the Move. Such events include partnering with Father’s Forward for its “Dads Take Your Child to School” event.
• Child Protection
  • The Division of Child Protection has several staff affinity groups focused on better engagement with fathers. The Manhattan Men’s Collective was developed to allow a safe space for the male staff of DCP to collaborate and partner to enhance the work experience and develop ideas to improve casework practice involving fathers and father figures. The group formulates strategies and methods of improving ACS engagement with men in the various communities and families we service.  Men of Excellence in Bronx North and South provides mentorship and leadership training, both internally and in targeted workshop opportunities in the community. Brooklyn East’s Brother-to-Brother also has fatherhood engagement support groups, in addition to joining forces with city agencies such as the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office to locate assistance outlets for males that come to the attention of the borough office.
  • DCP maintains and distributes annually a Fathers Resource Guide that provides staff with information on a wide array of citywide programs and services available specifically to fathers and young males.
• Human Resources
  • ACS Office of Human Resources oversees Employee Resource Groups, including the Fatherhood Working Group. The Fatherhood Working Group consists of volunteers from ACS staff, other city agencies and the community. The Fatherhood Working Group recommends activities, events and presentations for fathers and staff. The group has developed a strategic plan for fathers and father-figures who are ACS involved, as well as those within the community as a preventive measure.
• First Deputy Commissioner
  • The Office of Equity Strategies in collaboration with the ACS Fatherhood Working Group is working to develop an Office of Fatherhood Engagement. This office will be an agency resource for divisions that provide services, referrals, and other resources for fathers engaged with the child welfare and juvenile justice system.
  • ACS is working with a comprehensive treatment center for new and expecting parents that offers support groups, therapy, medication management, and other services. The partnership is aiding ACS to develop in-depth training materials for staff on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders that affect parents during pregnancy and the postpartum period. ACS believes for children to thrive and have their needs met, both parents must be healthy physically and mentally. In addition to our focus on Maternal Mental Health, we are interested in supporting the mental health and well-being of fathers who experience perinatal mood anxiety disorders (PMADs) that can interfere with their ability to care for the child and family. Fathers can also play a critical role in recognizing PMADs symptoms in their pregnant or postpartum partner. We know it is important to provide training and informational resources to fathers as they enter their own journey into parenthood. ACS is on the verge of releasing its 3rd video in the PMADs series which centers on the voice of fathers with mental health needs and experience providing support to partners with PMAD, as well as highlighting supportive programs for fathers in NYC.

Visit the ACS website for more information.

• Fatherhood Initiative Pilot Program:
  • In April 2024, the New York City Department of Correction (DOC) and Department of Youth & Community Development (DYCD) partnered with SCO Family of Services to launch the Fatherhood Initiative pilot at the Robert N. Davoren Center on Rikers Island. The initiative offers 12 weeks of programming aimed at assisting young fathers in custody with maintaining a healthy and positive relationship with their children and co-parents, culminating in a family engagement celebration.
• Children’s Museum of Manhattan Partnership:
  • In October 2022, DOC resumed its partnership with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan to facilitate off-island visits for incarcerated parents and their children. This initiative provides families with an opportunity to connect through facilitated programming in a supportive, non-institutional setting.
  • Additionally, in 2024, DOC and the Children's Museum of Manhattan launched visit hubs in two facilities on Rikers Island with interactive exhibits to promote playful interactions and bonding between incarcerated parents and their children.
• The Fatherhood Club:
  • The Fatherhood Club is a six-week program created by DOC to strengthen the bond between fathers and their children as well as provide a space for men to learn from one another as peers. Upon completion, participants celebrate with a "Fatherhood Club Ceremony" alongside their children. DOC partners with 100 Suits for donations of tailored suits that fathers wear on the day of the event. DOC also partners with Children of Promise who provide informational resources to families.

Visit the DOC website for more information.

• New York City Nurse-Family Partnership (NYC NFP) is an evidence-based nurse home visiting program for low-income first-time mothers. Clients up to 28 weeks pregnant are paired with specially trained nurses, who provide information and guidance throughout the pregnancy and until the child’s second birthday. NYC NFP nurses support families to have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies, become knowledgeable and nurturing parents, achieve education and employment goals and provide their children with the best possible start in life.
• New Family Home Visits Initiative: The New Family Home Visits (NFHV) Initiative screens families through the first citywide Coordinated Intake and Referral System and partners with Agency and external home visiting program to deliver high quality home visiting programs to pregnant and parenting families. Trained health workers connect eligible families with community support, services and referrals. All NFHV Initiative programs are available regardless of immigration status, age or gender identity and are free of charge. Other eligibility criteria differ by program.
  • Newborn Home Visiting Program: The program offers post-partum home visits to families with an infant up to 3 months old to facilitate the adjustment to parenthood, assure a safe living environment for families, provide topic-specific education, and identify health and social issues that require referral to community-based services. Families are visited by a public health professional; however the program has a multi- disciplinary team including nurses, social workers and certified lactation counselors to support clients’ needs identified during. Support and screening areas include child development, adjusting to parenthood, breastfeeding support, infant safe sleep education, mental health and chronic illness education. The program also distributes cribs and other essential item.  The NHVP is available to:
    • First-time parents with a baby up to 3 months old who live in certain TRIE neighborhoods
    • All families, regardless of how many children they have, who have a baby up to 3 months old and are NYCHA residents in a TRIE neighborhood, engaged with the Administration for Children’s Services or living in a Department of Homeless Services shelter
    • To view the list of TRIE neighborhoods and check whether you are eligible, visit nyc.gov/health and search for newborn home visiting program.
  • All programs engage Father’s when present for visits and refer to community partners as needed.

Visit the DOHMH website for more information.

• Father Friendly City: NYC Parks offers an array of family-centered recreation, aquatics, and outdoor education programs that are father-friendly, potentially providing a recreational outlet for fathers and their children. Recreation runs inter-generational sports and arts programs at our recreation centers and parks citywide. Also, Aquatics leads toddler Learn to Swim programs, where children are accompanied by their parent or guardian to learn critical swimming skills. NYC Parks Recreation Center Memberships are required for most programs at our recreation centers. Membership is free for those who are 24 years old and younger. Additionally, the Urban Park Rangers offer a variety of free outdoor recreation and educational programs year-round in all five boroughs. Programs include, but are not limited to, archery, fishing, canoeing, hiking, art, history, nature exploration, and camping, and all necessary equipment is provided. Some of the programs mentioned above require selection through a lottery system in order to participate. You can find out more about upcoming special events and programs by visiting nyc.gov/parks.
• Workforce and Training: NYC Parks provides career development and training opportunities through Media Education programming, including resume review sessions and TechOpps. TechOpps allows participants to obtain official certifications from Microsoft and Adobe, becoming Microsoft Office Specialists and Adobe Certified Associates. This program requires pre-registration, and you must have a NYC Parks Recreation Center Membership to participate. These types of programs support career advancement opportunities for everyone, including fathers. The programs described above are not offered at every recreation center media lab. To learn more about Media Education programs and find a recreation center media lab near you, you can visit the NYC Parks website.

Visit the Parks website for more information.

The New York City Department of Probation (DOP) supports individuals reentering their communities, including fathers, through personalized, one-on-one engagement. Probation officers assess each client’s needs—particularly around family dynamics—and connect them to external services such as DYCD’s Fatherhood Initiative, mentoring programs, job opportunities, and parenting classes.

DOP also runs two key initiatives:

• Arches, a mentoring program for young adults up to age 24, emphasizes personal development. If the client is a father, mentors offer guidance to help strengthen family roles.
• NeON Works focuses on job readiness, equipping clients with skills for employment—a crucial factor in supporting their families.

Through these tailored supports, DOP helps fathers rebuild their lives by fostering stronger family ties, financial stability, and personal growth.

Visit the DOP website for more information.

Since 2002, DYCD has been committed to enhancing children’s development through programs that encourage fathers to become personally involved with their children and relate to their co-parents. DYCD’s Fatherhood Initiative helps fathers reconnect with their children and develop essential parenting skills by helping each participant (1) increase engagement and responsibility in his relationship with his child/children; and (2) provide material and financial support to his child/children or (3) assist fathers in attaining needed benefits and services. DYCD’s program is informed by studies that show that children with involved fathers are less likely to get into trouble at home, school, or in the neighborhood, and that an active and nurturing style of fathering is associated with better verbal skills for infants, greater patience for toddlers, and better intellectual functioning and academic achievement among adolescents. Children with involved fathers are more likely to exhibit self-control and pro-social behavior.

The circumstances confronting non-custodial fathers must be addressed in order for them to establish positive, healthy, supportive relationships with their children. This includes reconciling the roles of adolescence and fatherhood; surmounting challenges such as unemployment or homelessness; and addressing difficulties resulting from absence due to incarceration and reentry. To do this, DYCD has two program options to address the particular needs of the target populations: non-custodial fathers 18 years and over and fathers with prior involvement in the criminal justice system. Programs help fathers by providing them and their children with up to six months of case management, with follow-up services as needed for up to one year, and service plans that address five core areas: parenting skills development, effective co-parenting with the child’s guardian; employment/education; child support; child visitation/placement.

Program services include:

• parenting skills classes
• individual and family counseling
• assistance with child support and arranging child visitation.
• mediation and conflict resolution training
• educational and employment counseling and referrals; HSE and ESOL referrals
• father-to-father mentoring
• family budgeting and consumer education

DYCD’s Fatherhood Initiative partners with the NYC fatherhood working group, five borough Responsible Fatherhood Coalition and – for the past several years – has coordinated Dads Take Your Child to School Day, Mother’s Day Recognition, and Father’s Day events.

Participant Eligibility:

• Non-custodial fathers ages 18 and over;
• Fathers with prior involvement in the justice system living at or below the poverty guidelines in one of the five boroughs of New York City.

Program Methodology: Programs conduct a ten-week parenting course. Program Goals of the Fatherhood Initiative:

1. Improve father’s relationship with child(ren) and Mar-25
2. Increase father’s financial and material support for his child(ren).
3. Assist fathers in attaining needed benefits and services.

Courses addresses six core areas:

• Parenting skills development
• Effective Co-parenting with the child’s guardian
• Employment and Education
• Child Support
• Child education and well-being
• Visitation and Placement

Courses are conducted in collaboration with an evidence-based curriculum 24/7 Dads AM and PM editions. This curriculum serves as a foundation on how Fatherhood classes are prescribed and taught across the five boroughs of New York City.

Visit the DYCD website for more information.

NYC Health + Hospitals supports fathers and families through comprehensive programs that include pediatric social work for families with complex medical and social needs, specialized prenatal care via the Maternal Medical Home, and enhanced pediatric primary care services such as the Pediatric Community Health Workers program, HealthySteps, PlayReadVIP, and Reach Out and Read. Additionally, through its partnerships—including the Prevention Pathways Partnership with NYC Administration for Children’s Services- and participation in the Children’s Cabinet Fatherhood Working Group, the health system connects families to vital community resources and actively promotes father inclusivity and family well-being.

• Pediatric Social Workers: Pediatric social workers assist pediatric patients and their families in the Emergency Department, inpatient units, and outpatient clinics. When families have complex medical, social and concrete needs, social workers help them access resources and services, such as financial assistance, housing support, child care, discharge planning, mental health and substance use disorder treatment, safety planning, and more.

• Maternal Medical Home: The program is designed to improve high-risk obstetric (OB) outcomes by providing referrals to necessary specialty care, mental health services, and enhanced wraparound services to address socioeconomic challenges, as well as parenting support and education. Every pregnant patient receiving prenatal care within the City’s public hospital system undergoes a health and psycho-social screening during their prenatal journey to evaluate who could benefit from additional coordinated care and/or support services. The program aims to create a stable, safe, and healthy environment for the expectant patient and family to successfully take care of themselves and their newborn.
• Pediatric Primary Care
  • Pediatric Community Health Workers (CHWs): Pediatric CHWs are part of the pediatric clinics at all of NYC Health + Hospitals 11 hospitals and 5 of its Gotham Health sites. Pediatric CHWs work to support the health and wellbeing of young children up to age 5 and their families with issues such as early care and education; parenting support; social needs, such as food, housing, benefits, and health insurance; and asthma management.

• HealthySteps (HS): HS a program of ZERO TO THREE, is an evidence-based, interdisciplinary pediatric primary care model that promotes the health, well-being and school readiness of babies and toddlers up to the age of five. The model brings together the expertise of a child development and behavioral health promotion and prevention expert, the HealthySteps Specialist, and the pediatric primary care provider to foster healthy child development and life-long well-being.
• PlayReadVIP: PlayReadVIP is a relationship-based, individualized parent-child intervention that is administered to families with children age 0-5 years in the context of pediatric primary care. A session is delivered by a certified PlayReadVIP Coach (typically with a bachelor’s level degree) utilizing a curriculum focused on supporting interactions in the context of pretend play, shared reading and daily routines; all shown to enhance child development and school readiness.
• Reach Out and Read: is an evidence-based literacy intervention that leverages the well-child visit, using books and shared reading to support caregivers in fostering early literacy and healthy relationships.
• Prevention Pathways Partnership: NYC Health + Hospitals is in a partnership with NYC Administration for Children’s Services, Division of Prevention Services to increase patient referrals to ACS prevention programs. Prevention programs, delivered by community-based organizations, strengthen families and promote family safety and wellbeing.
• The Children’s Cabinet Inter-Agency Fatherhood Monthly Working Group: In an effort to expand inclusivity of fathers in our family-friendly practices and programs, NYC Health + Hospitals is a member of this group, which is dedicated to improving awareness of Fatherhood work and identifying strategies to improve access across populations and agencies.

Vist the Health and Hospitals website for more information.

HRA’s Office of Child Support Services is piloting an alternative way to better serve young adult parents, most of whom have very young children (under the age of 5). The youth model, referred to as the OCSS Young Parent Initiative (YPI), takes a two generational approach to reducing poverty. By working with both mothers and fathers, YPI identifies parents between the ages of 18-24 as part of the intake process, and incorporates youth principles, recognizing the strengths of custodial and noncustodial parents and supporting their long-term development as parents. The model assigns those who agree to participate with a navigator for each parent to help guide them through the process of establishing an order; It also completes an assessment to identify the service needs of the family to support both parents in their effort to parent their child.  The goal is to provide an overall experience that results in more young custodial parents receiving consistent child support payments, child support orders better aligned with young noncustodial parents’ (NCP) incomes, fewer young NCPs accumulating child support debt, and ultimately better outcomes for children. 

Parent Success Program

• HRA OCSS launched a second offering through the Parent Success Program, a debt reduction opportunity designed to assist noncustodial parents (NCPs) in reducing up to $7,500 in child support-related arrears owed to the New York City Department of Social Services (DSS). The program now includes two offerings for eligible NCPs to reduce permanently assigned arrears through either participation in a certified drug treatment program (previously established) or engagement in employment or job training activities (new).
• Parent Success for Drug Treatment:
  This component allows eligible NCPs to eliminate up to $7,500 in permanently assigned arrears upon successful completion of a drug treatment program certified by the New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports. Eligible participants must submit documentation showing completion of their drug treatment program to be eligible for DSS debt reduction.
• Parent Success for Employment:
  This pathway is available to NCPs with permanently assigned arrears owed to DSS who enroll in a qualified DSS employment or job training program, begin a new job through the program, and make at least 90 days of income withholding payments through an employer. Upon identification through a data match that a participant meets these

requirements, they will have their DSS debt reduced by up to $7,500.

Career Services: Helping NYC Fathers Build Strong Futures

• HRA Career Services offers a range of free workforce development programs that are open to all adults in New York City, including fathers looking to strengthen their careers and financial futures. These programs help New Yorkers prepare for and connect to employment opportunities that provide family-sustaining wages, benefits, and clear pathways for advancement.
• Programs include:
  • HRA Business Link, which matches skilled jobseekers with employers, hosts job and resource fairs across the 5 boroughs, and provides job opening alerts through the TEXT 2 WORK service.
  • NYC Pathways to Industrial and Construction Careers (PINCC), offering free training and connections to jobs in construction, transportation, and utilities.

Jobs Plus Program (JPP), a place-based employment initiative for residents of 40 NYCHA developments, providing on-site career services and support to build skills and boost income.

Visit the HRA website for more information.

Family Justice Centers

• Each borough’s Family Justice Center provides one-stop support for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence—including case management, safety planning, legal help, housing assistance, referrals, economic empowerment, counseling, and more—all under one roof. Services are free and open to everyone, regardless of language, income, gender identity, or immigration status, with interpretation services available at every location.
• Family Justice Centers serve fathers who are survivors of domestic and gender-based violence.

Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP)

• CVAP stations a crime victim or domestic violence advocate in all NYC police precincts. CVAP advocates provide information about the criminal justice process, supportive counseling, connections to individual or group therapy, and help navigate the legal and financial challenges that can emerge after reporting a crime

Supervised Visitation Program

• Support and facilitate safe visitation between children and non-custodial parents and provide the court with reports on the families' participation

Family Court and Criminal Court Programs

• Safe areas to wait for court hearings, safety planning, crisis intervention, help navigating the court processes, and advocacy services are available to survivors of domestic and gender-based violence in the Family Court programs. Safe Horizon operates the Family Court program in all five boroughs in NYC and collaborates with Family Legal Care to provide legal information and support to all families navigating the Family Court. Safe Horizon operates the Criminal Court program in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, and Staten Island which offer safe spaces in the criminal court houses for any victim of crime and can help navigate the criminal court process.
• Legal information, resources, and referrals related to family court proceedings are available to fathers who are not survivors of crime or abuse in all five boroughs. These services are provided by Family Legal Care, a subcontractor of Safe Horizon.

Respect and Responsibility

• A free, non-mandated, city-wide Abusive Partner Intervention Program for adults who have caused harm, have been abusive, or are abusive in their relationship(s). We utilize a curriculum rooted in trauma-informed healing, reflection, and accountability. The program includes multiweek intervention and individualized assessments, case management, counseling, and other supportive services for program participants.

Visit the ENDGBV website for more information.

• The Healthy Start @ NYCHA program provides safer homes and connections to supportive resources to expectant families. The program helps members of growing families, including fathers, access available support through virtual and in-person activities and events, including community and father-inclusive baby shower events.

Visit the NYCHA website for more information.

New York City Public Schools is committed to empowering every family and ensuring that all our events are fully inclusive. We carefully design activities so that no household feels excluded and that all families can participate. Fathers and father-figures are encouraged to participate in our Family Connectors program.

• Family Connectors
  • A citywide, interagency effort to help families get connected to City resources while also helping to remove barriers to learning. Part of the larger NYCPS Cares initiative, this program will train trusted community members, or Family Connectors, to provide City public school families with information, resources, and even referrals to other City agencies and local community organizations.
• Early Childhood Education:
  • Created the first Head Start Dad’s Hub, which meets virtually and in-person and offers the ability to be supported, connect with other fathers, share experiences and learn more about resources
  • Launched the inaugural Head Start Family and Fatherhood Engagement Forum. Encouraged programs to elect fathers and father figures to their Delegate Agency Policy Council. As a result, multiple fathers were elected, and some were subsequently elected to the Citywide Policy Council.
  • Head Start team meets monthly with DYCD and the Children's Cabinet to further their fatherhood initiatives and collaboration.
  • LYFE program provides a two-generational model to support student parents, including fathers. Parents are enrolled as students and also receive childcare.
  • Webinar series called Connections that shares resources and information with the early childhood program community, including topics related to fatherhood.

Visit the NYCPS website for more information.

CUNY Fatherhood Academy (CFA)

• The CUNY Fatherhood Academy is a free program designed to promote being a great dad and provides support to unemployed and underemployed dads with their educational goals and getting new and better jobs. The program serves dads ages 18-30, through education, employment, and personal development. CFA provides a variety of academic and personal supports including GED preparation classes, tutoring, individualized counseling, parenting seminars, financial incentives, and job preparation.

CFA offers two program tracks: HSE Prep and College Prep. Additionally, college and career readiness workshops are offered to prepare dads for college enrollment and identify a career path. Attaining a High School Equivalency (HSE) diploma, enrolling into college, increased family time, and getting a new or better job are all essential goals for the dads enrolled in the CFA.

NYC Men Teach

• NYC Men Teach is a teacher recruitment and retention initiative that aims to increase the number of qualified male teachers of color within NYC Public Schools. Men Teach provides academic and financial supports to participants so they can enter the NYC teaching workforce. Program participants may receive monthly metro cards, free certification exam practice tests and other financial incentives, as well as access to a dedicated program counselor who will help with advisement and academic supports. Participants also convene for a seminar focused on culturally responsive education.

Visit the YMI website for more information.