Fatherhood Program Incentives, Supports, and Retention with Dr. Armon Perry and Dr. Jeff Shears

This I Am Dad podcast examines a practical question for fatherhood programs: what helps fathers participate consistently enough to benefit from services? The conversation explores the difference between incentives and supports, the barriers that can make participation difficult, and why programs should ask fathers directly what they need. Examples include transportation, food, gift cards, and other supports that can reduce the practical costs of participation.

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) practitioners, the discussion offers a useful reminder that engagement is not simply about asking clients to attend. TANF programs may need to design services around participants’ schedules, transportation challenges, family responsibilities, and other realities that affect retention. These lessons can inform fatherhood initiatives within TANF as well as broader strategies for making services easier for families to access and complete.