When fathers are actively involved in their children’s lives, the whole family thrives.
As Father's Day approaches, join us in celebrating dedicated dads and father figures across Massachusetts. When dads are actively engaged in their children's lives, the results are safe, happy children.
For over two decades, the Children's Trust's Fatherhood Initiative has worked to advance evidence-based programs and trainings that support fathers, their families, and the professionals who work with them. These initiatives play a key role in ensuring the services we offer are effectively engaging dads across the state.
Learn more about our work below.
The Children’s Trust partners with community agencies to bring the Nurturing Fathers Program to Massachusetts fathers. The program is a 13-week, strength-based parenting group that helps fathers build and strengthen positive parenting attitudes and behaviors.
Our partner agencies:
Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction (Northampton,
MA)
Smart from the Start (Roxbury, MA)
Hampden County Jail and House of Correction (Ludlow, MA)
United Teen Equity Center (UTEC) (Lowell, MA)
“I promise to be the one who will always listen. I will build a snowman with you… I will always encourage you. I will always include you, and I will love you forever and always.”
– Mikey, Nurturing Fathers Program Graduate
The Fathers & Family Network (FFN) was created in 1996 and has since been recognized as both a statewide and national model of excellence. The Children's Trust partners with community agencies and organizations to convene FFN meetings in seven regions across the Commonwealth. The result is enhanced capacities and competencies programs and professionals who work with fathers and greater public awareness of the important role fathers have in families.
Research indicates that an involved, responsible father significantly benefits a child’s social, emotional, academic, and financial well-being, including children with special needs. Yet some family support practitioners focus solely on mother and baby, even when the father can be engaged in services.
Our training opportunities explore the attitudes and behaviors that prevent best practices with fathers and help family support professionals understand the benefits of engaging dads.
Training support includes:
Training for group facilitators
Professional development for family support professionals
Developing best practices and new programs for reaching and engaging dads and families
Building awareness about the important role of fathers in raising healthy children
Our programs provide parents with the guidance they need to give their children safe and healthy childhoods. Please help us reach more families.
The Governor Paul Cellucci Fatherhood Award is named in memory of the late Governor Cellucci out of respect and gratitude for his dedication to fathers and support of the Children’s Trust.
This award celebrates leaders across Massachusetts who reflect Governor Cellucci’s commitment to elevating the importance of dads in the lives of their children.
Michael F. Collins, MD Chancellor of the University of Massachusetts Medical School
The Honorable Robert A. DeLeo Former Massachusetts Speaker of the House
R. Robert Popeo Chairman and President Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Robert K. Coughlin President and CEO Massachusetts Biotechnology Council
Focus on FatherhoodVirtual Discussion Friday, June 17, 2022 8:30-9:15 am via Zoom
Experts in child development, parenting education, and family support discussed the latest research and best practices on engaging fathers, as well as where the work of the Children's Trust Fatherhood Initiative is headed.
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For over two decades, the Children's Trust's Fatherhood Initiative has worked to advance evidence-based programs and trainings that support fathers, their families, and the professionals who work with them. These initiatives play a key role in ensuring the services we offer are effectively engaging dads across the state. 
