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Fathers at Work Initiative

An Effective Practice

This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.

Description

Fathers at Work was a three-year national initiative designed to test approaches for helping young low-income noncustodial fathers provide for themselves and their children. The program's primary purpose was to help young noncustodial fathers: (1) increase their employment and earnings, (2) become more involved in their children's lives, and (3) increase their financial support of their children.

Six community-based workforce organizations from Chicago, IL, New York, NY, Philadelphia, PA, Richmond, CA, and Roanoke, VA were selected to participate in the initiative. These organizations provided a combination of employment, child support and parenting services. Enrollment began in January 2001. The program continued at each site through June 2004. Fathers at Work participants averaged 26 years of age. They were mostly men of color and the majority had a criminal record.

This initiative was sponsored by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation.

Goal / Mission

The initiative's goal was to help young noncustodial fathers increase their employment and earnings, become more involved in their children's lives, and increase their financial support of their children.

Results / Accomplishments

Public/Private Ventures conducted an evaluation of the Fathers at Work Initiative. Their results revealed that Fathers at Work participants earned $11,025 per year, about twice as much as comparison group, at the 12-month follow-up. This was $4,602 more than participants made in the year prior to enrolling in the program. In addition, participants' child support payments grew about $32 per month between start of the program and follow-up.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Public/Private Ventures
Primary Contact
Wendy McClanahan
Senior Vice President, Research and Evaluation
2000 Market Street, Suite 600
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 557-4400
wmcclanahan@ppv.org
Topics
Economy / Employment
Community / Social Environment
Organization(s)
Public/Private Ventures
Source
Issue Lab
Date of publication
Oct 2009
Date of implementation
2001
Location
USA
For more details
Target Audience
Adults
Additional Audience
Noncustodial Fathers