Fathers at Work Initiative

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.

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.

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.