This blog post from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is the fourth installment of the “Self-Sufficiency Series: Solutions from the Field” and highlights Children First SHARP (Supporting Parents, Holistic Case Management, Access to Employment, Reaching Goals, Positive Parenting), an evidence-based model for serving noncustodial parents; this is a collective, one-stop approach between Goodwill Industries, the Kenosha County Child Support Agency, and several other community partners. Services provided include assistance with job searches and resume building, work supports, and a weekly Children First Job Club that facilitates peer support and networking.

This webinar from the Office of Adolescent Health presents relevant research and strategies for engaging young fathers in workforce development and employment activities. The webinar featured two example programs from different states as well an experienced researcher who provided an overview of what is known through the existing research about engaging young fathers.

This letter from Clarence H. Carter, Director of the Office of Family Assistance, highlights several OFA-funded resources available to states wanting to participate in efforts to strengthen marriages, support healthy relationships, and encourage positive father involvement. These resources include: The National Resource Center for Healthy Marriage and Families, which helps human services agencies develop the capacity to promote healthy relationship skills and The National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, which is a resource for responsible fatherhood information.

This video from the Center for Court Innovation explains the UPNEXT program, a workforce development program for fathers, many of whom have interacted with the justice system. The information is given from the perspective of a successful program participant who explains how UPNEXT helped him become updated on his child support, find and maintain a job, and regain custody of his daughter.

This article summarizes several listening sessions that the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse held with fathers to gain information about workforce development efforts. It highlights three main themes and suggestions that emerged from the sessions – Put People before Performance, Motivate Everyone to Self-Actualization, and Utilize Multi-Generational Approaches.

On March 21, 2018 from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. EST, in recognition of Women’s History Month, this National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse webinar will highlight the important roles that women have played, and continue to play, in the field of responsible fatherhood. Presenters will: discuss how the voices of women have influenced fatherhood research, advocacy, and public policy; explore the role of female professionals in the development and implementation of fatherhood services; and provide tips from female experts on how women can effectively deliver front-line fatherhood services such as case management and group facilitation.

This article, published in the Juvenile Justice Information Exchange, describes programs designed to provide employment support to fathers who are in the criminal justice system. The T.O.R.I. Program and RIDGE Project are described in detail in their approach to provide assistance for reentry, particularly for fathers. The article also discusses grants provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for fathers and resources available to help support employment and parenting of returning young fathers.

This Congressional Research Service report explores the involvement of child support enforcement in fatherhood programs and discusses initiatives to promote and support father-child interaction outside the parents’ relationship. The report also focuses on the need many see for more work-oriented programs that would enable fathers to consistently meet their child support obligations and reviews the current initiatives already in place.

This tool developed by the National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) helps organizations such as local Head Starts, community action agencies, and family support programs assess their capacity to develop services for fathers and increase father involvement in existing family services. It offers low- and no-cost strategies that organizations can use to better engage fathers in services.