Assistance navigating the court system, if necessary
The Strong Fatherhood Network:
The Strong Fatherhood Network meets fathers where they are, and supports them in being the best parents they can be.
Our newest program, which launched earlier this year in Staten Island and the Bronx, is designed to assist fathers from all walks of life. Whether a father has no visitation rights, is actively parenting, or is somewhere in between, the Strong Fatherhood Network (SFN) provides a blend of skills training, one-on-one coaching, peer support groups, and community-based events – all to help fathers learn, grow, and bolster connections with their children.
Services include:
Upon entering the program, each father’s situation is assessed, and they are assigned to one of four tiers of services and support, depending on where they are on their journey. This allows our staff to tailor their services to each individual father’s needs, and best help them address their immediate challenges.
“These fathers may have been through systems where they were dehumanized and made to feel less than. We operate from a place of strength rather than deficiency,” says Ikim Powell, who oversees the program in Staten Island.
Supporting Reconnection
For most of his son’s life, a father had not prioritized parenthood, and the mother had been raising the child on her own for the past 5 years. He now regrets this, and wishes to reconnect with his son. We can provide him with a judgement-free space to reflect, process, and progress on his parenting journey through our parenting courses and peer groups. Our coaches can provide guidance, tools, and logistical support to manage the challenges of reconnecting, and help set him up for stability and success as a father. |
Tier 1 Support
Navigating Court Systems
After an intense conflict with his ex-partner, a father’s visitation rights were revoked. Now, he must win his case with Family Court to regain the ability to see his daughter. To improve his standing in court, he may engage in our programming, and our staff will offer referrals to other services as needed (such as legal consults or anger management.) Additionally, his coach can guide him one-on-one through the entire process, including connecting with his attorney and showing up to court, as well as providing advocacy or court notes as needed. |
Tier 2 Support
Improving Relationships
A father and his co-parent regularly fight over their different parenting styles, and it’s been negatively impacting their relationship and causing frustration each time he has visitation. Our staff can help him manage this situation by helping him reflect on parenting styles, and teaching him coping skills and tools to best work together with his co-parent. Through our peer support groups, he can also gain insights from others who may have overcome similar challenges. |
Tier 3 Support
Boosting Parenting Skills
A married father with two teenage children finds it difficult to participate in their lives – causing conflict with his wife, who feels he isn’t engaged. We can help him and his wife gain the tools to transform their parenting relationship. Both parents can engage in our training and coaching together – this will help him become a more active parent, while assisting both in resolving conflict and supporting one another as co-parents. Additionally, our community events allow the entire family to make memories together. |
Tier 4 Support
While the Strong Fatherhood Network centers parenting training as a core component, it’s designed to support the whole person – so the program also provides copious opportunities for personal growth, leadership, and community.
“Our workshops address auxiliary things that allow them to be the best fathers they can be. Topics include subjects like legal support, intergenerational values, financial planning, and job readiness skills. This helps them be more stable, to support their parenting role,” says Vivian Ayala, who directs the Bronx program.
Through community projects, fathers create opportunities to make memories with their co-parents and children – ranging from father-daughter days and game nights, to volunteering at food pantries and cleaning up local parks. “We allow fathers to lead with community events and become organizers and engineers in their own right,” shares Ikim.
The Strong Fatherhood Network takes pride in providing a judgment-free space where participants feel supported, and peer support groups further encourages fathers to learn from others in the program. “The facilitator isn’t the only one that can disseminate info,” Ikim shares. “We are all a part of a cohort of learning and exchanging together.”
Fathers that participate in the program have the chance to reflect on their own childhoods, break negative cycles, and forge lifetime bonds and connections with their children. “We have the ability to transform the generations to come,” shares Ikim.
Learn more about the Strong Fatherhood Network by reading the FAQs below. If the program could benefit you or someone in your life, get started with the online form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for The Foundling’s Strong Fatherhood Network?
Men who are fathers or serve as father figures, reside in the Bronx or Staten Island, and are over the age of 14 are eligible for the program.
Where is The Foundling’s Strong Fatherhood Network located?
Services are conducted at The Foundling’s offices in the Bronx (501 Southern Boulevard) or Staten Island (1 Edgewater Plaza), as well as offered virtually.
What is the application process, and how long does it take to start services?
To enroll in services, fathers should complete the online form here. The Foundling team will review, and if the applicant is eligible, will respond within 2 business days to request documentation (proof of address, proof of income, and pre-knowledge survey) and schedule an in-person intake session. From there, services will begin.
How can the Strong Fatherhood Network assist fathers that do not have visitation or custody rights, or are otherwise involved in the family court system?
The program provides a judgement-free space for self-reflection, personal growth, and learning coping skills, all while helping fathers navigate the court system. Staff provide case management and connect with courts and attorneys, assisting fathers in the court process each step of the way. They will also help through referrals to necessary programs, provide connections to legal consultations, and provide ongoing parenting support once visitation or custody is regained.
How can the Strong Fatherhood Network assist fathers that have complicated, difficult, or estranged relationships with their children?
Our peer support groups provide a safe space for fathers to gain support and guidance from other fathers. Additionally, we can help fathers learn different parenting techniques and coping methods, and help them repair the relationships they have with their children. The program provides relevant parenting skills training, and our coaches work with fathers one-on-one to bolster parenting and communication skills, provide psychoeducation, teach coping methods, and deliver encouragement and support as he navigates the situation. Additionally, if a father needs additional supports (such as individual therapy) our staff can help by providing in-house treatment or referrals.
How can the Strong Fatherhood Network assist fathers that have difficulties with their co-parent?
The program can help fathers self-reflect and analyze the root causes of friction, and deliver guidance and techniques to resolve or manage conflicts with their co-parent. If the co-parent is open to attending the program, they may participate in our parenting training and coaching as well – providing them with the skills and support to improve the relationship together.
How can the Strong Fatherhood Network assist fathers that are already actively parenting and engaged in their children’s lives?
The program is designed to meet each father where they are. Our trainings can help each father learn new parenting methods, learn what aspects to amplify, and note what to avoid. Successful fathers can give back by providing their insights to others in our peer groups, serving as a mentor and role model. For everyone, the program offers opportunities for professional development, family-friendly events and opportunities, and the chance to connect with other fathers and build community.
How long can participants receive services once enrolled?
The full program (completion of parenting training curriculum, two peer support group sessions, three workshops, and one community project) is expected to be completed within 6 months. However, there is no hard deadline. Fathers that take more time to progress through the program, or have their training interrupted by life circumstances, may remain enrolled and finish at their own pace. Fathers that complete all requirements can continue to attend and engage as an alumni.
Is there a cost? Are there monetary incentives for participating?
This program is absolutely free of charge for eligible participants. Additionally, there are gift card incentives, based on milestones reached in the program (such as attending orientation, participating in a community event, etc.) Fathers can earn up to $200 through the course of the program.
How does the Strong Fatherhood Network offer lasting benefits to fathers?
By taking a holistic approach to fatherhood, the program provides participants with support in all areas of their lives to help them build stability and strength. They leave the program with a renewed sense of focus, purpose, and connection, and the tools to sustain ongoing involvement with their children.
How can I share the Strong Fatherhood Network with my networks and community?
Feel free to download and share the program flyer, send interested people to the program page here, and encourage them to enroll here.