Community Programs

[wpseo_breadcrumb]

Across the state, local organizations offer programs and resources to meet the needs of fathers in local communities. Below is a list of more than 50 initiatives and programs in Texas that aim to increase fathers’ involvement and improve the quality of fathers’ interactions with their children.

Is your organization’s work missing? Please complete the Community Programs Form to request that your program be added to the table.

Fatherhood Initiatives in Texas

Filter by Location:

Filter by Program:

Search:

Export:
Export to CSV

Program & Organization	Location	Program Features	Program Focus	Eligibility
"Access & Visitation Direct Service Providers Attorney General of Texas, Child Support Division - Family Initiatives (partner with Harris County, El Paso County, Bexar County, and Tarrant County domestic relation offices (DROs); New Day Services (Fort Worth); Family Ties (Waller); American Family Law Center (Houston)) "	"El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, Fort Worth, Waller"	"Provide visitation services for noncustodial parents, shared parenting education, and information regarding child custody, conservatorship, and possession order issues."	"Access and Visitation, Coparenting"	"Noncustodial parents"
"Alliance for North Texas Healthy and Effective Marriages, dba Anthem Strong Families Alliance for North Texas Healthy and Effective Marriages "	"Dallas"	"Provide training on marriage education, marriage skills, and relationship skills programs; may include parenting skills, financial management, conflict resolution and job and career advancement"	"Healthy Relationships, Parenting Skills, Employment, Financial Stability, Job Readiness"	"Married couples, high school students"
"Access & Visitation Hotline Attorney General of Texas, Child Support Division - Family Initiatives (partner with Harris County, El Paso County, Bexar County, and Tarrant County domestic relation offices (DROs); New Day Services (Fort Worth); Family Ties (Waller); American Family Law Center (Houston)) "	"El Paso, San Antonio, Houston, Fort Worth, Waller"	"Provide visitation services for noncustodial parents, shared parenting education, and information regarding child custody, conservatorship, and possession order issues."	"Access and Visitation, Coparenting"	"Noncustodial parents"
"Bridges to Growth The Georgetown Project "	"Georgetown"	"Builds the skills and confidence of parents and child care providers to create nurturing early environments for children by offering parenting classes, a lending library, and support group, and hosting free children’s events"	"Parenting Skills"	"Parents of young children"
"Community-Based Child Abuse Prevention—Fatherhood EFFECT Texas Department of Family and Protective Services—Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) (contractors operate the program in six counties) "	"Cameron, Denton, El Paso, Fort Bend, Tarrant, and Taylor counties"	"Offers parenting education course and case management. Participants receive child care, transportation, and food/diapers/clothing"	"Parenting Skills, Healthy Relationships"	"Fathers or father figures who have children under age 17, no open or substantiated CPS case, and have at least one risk factor from a designated list"
"Dad’s Workshop Program North Texas Area United Way "	"Wichita Falls"	"Enhance the role fathers play in their child's' lives, and stress the importance of being an active father through a 12 session evidence-based program in a group or one-on-one home-based setting"	"Anger/Stress Management, Child Abuse Prevention, Healthy Relationships, Parenting Skills, Training and Support"	"Young fathers of children age birth to five years. Must reside in Wichita County and have two risk factors from eligibility list."
"Dads Engaged for Excellence Arlington ISD "	"Arlington"	"Provides opportunities for fathers and father figures to get engaged on campuses and a structured environment for father/student interaction"	"Healthy relationships"	"Fathers and other male role models to Arlington ISD students"
"Cooperative Parenting & Divorce Course Bexar Family Solutions "	"San Antonio"	"2-hour classes for eight weeks with no more than 15 parents per class. Meets the requirement for the Bexar County District Courts for parents mandated to attend cooperative parenting education."	"Coparenting, Healthy Relationships, Anger/Stress Management"	"Available to parents who have volunteered or have been ordered by the Court to attend Cooperative Parenting due to conflict in coparenting their children"
"Compadre Y Compadre The Children’s Shelter "	"San Antonio and Bexar County area"	"Two-week “Daddy Boot Camp”; 15 week parenting class; case management, assessments/screenings, aftercare mentoring, school readiness"	"Parenting Skills, Violence Prevention, Anger/Stress Management"	"Any male caregiver with a child under the age of 18"
"Empowering Families Project (EPF) The Parenting Center "	"Fort Worth, Tarrant County"	"Provides community education, marriage programs and counseling services focused on parenting skills, financial management, conflict resolution, and job, career advancement, and marriage skills training"	"Parenting Skills, Healthy Relationships, Job Readiness, Employment, Financial Stability"	"Low-income parents and families, those on or at risk of going on TANF, and refugees"
"Education Outreach to Justice-Involved Parents Attorney General of Texas, Child Support Division - Family Initiatives (partner with Texas Department of Criminal Justice and Federal Bureau of Prison reentry coordinators and prison facility staff) "	"Statewide; strong collaboration in El Paso, Houston, and Corpus Christi"	"Provides incarcerated, recently released and paroled parents with information about paternity establishment, child support compliance and modification processes."	"Paternity Establishment, Child Support"	"Currently or formerly incarcerated parents"
"Family Place, Family Pathways, My Father’s House Buckner Children and Family Services "	"Amarillo, Conroe, Dallas, Houston, Lubbock, Lufkin, Midland"	"Single parent focus; parents and children are offered safe place to live, counseling services, and lessons in parenting skills, money management, and conflict resolution; provide spiritual mentorship"	"Parenting Skills"	"Must be 18 years or older and enrolled in educational/vocational program"
"Family Group Decision Making (FGDM) Texas Department of Family and Protective Services—Child Protective Services "	"Statewide"	"Practices to work with and engage children, youth, and families in safety and service planning and decision making, including Family Group Conferences (FGC), Circles of Support (COS), and Family Team Meetings (FTM)"	"Violence Prevention"	"Families with open CPS cases"
"Family Education Program Any Baby Can "	"Austin and Travis County area"	"Offers parenting classes that help new and experienced parents to become positive role models for their children, and a family learning center that provides tutoring for diverse literacy needs."	"Parenting Skills, Training and Support"	"All parents"
"Family and Youth Success Program (FAYS – formerly STAR) DFPS PEI (contractors operate the program in multiple sites across the state) "	"Multiple sites across the state"	"Serve youth and their families needing crisis intervention, help with family conflict, concerns involving school performance and attendance and building parent and youth skills"	"Parenting Skills"	"Youth age zero to 17 and through age 18, and their families"
"Fathers in Action AVANCE Inc. Houston and AVANCE Inc. RGV "	"Houston and Pharr-San Juan-Alamo"	"Provides eight-week curricula on parenting skills, conflict prevention and resolution, and coparenting, offer four booster workshops on child support, healthy relationships, and employment, and provide case management and employment services."	"Parenting Skills, Healthy Relationships, Job Readiness, Employment, Financial Stability"	"Fathers, expectant fathers, and father figures to children younger than 18, focusing on fathers of children ages birth to five years"
"Fatherhood EFFECT: Educating Fathers for Empowering Children Tomorrow BCFS Health and Human Services "	"Cameron and Taylor County"	"Parenting education course using the 24/7 Dad curriculum"	"Parenting Skills, Healthy Relationships"	"Families with children under age 17 with no open or substantiated DFPS case living in either Cameron or Taylor County"
"Fatherhood Works Goodwill Industries of Central Texas "	"Travis County, Williamson County, Bastrop County, Hays County"	"The Fatherhood Works program is designed to give fathers/father figures the tools they need for responsible parenting, healthy relationships, and career advancement — with the ultimate goal of improving their economic stability and overall well-being."	"Employment, financial stability, parenting skills, training and support"	"Eligible participants identify as Fathers/Father Figures who reside in Williamson, Hays, Travis, or Bastrop Counties, meet income restrictions, are age 18+, and have a child up to 24 years old."
"Father Engagement Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas "	"San Marcos"	"24/7 Dad Fatherhood Groups facilitated by the Father Engagement Coordinator."	"Father Engagement, Parenting Skills, Healthy Relationships, Child Abuse Prevention, Anger/Stress Management, Training and Support"	"Free weekly meeting for fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers, uncles, or father figures"
"Family-Based Safety Services Texas Department of Family and Protective Services—Child Protective Services "	"Statewide"	"In-home services to help families maintain a stable and safe home and to reduce the risk of future abuse or neglect. Services include family counseling, crisis intervention, parenting classes, substance abuse treatment, domestic violence intervention, and day care."	"Violence Prevention, Healthy Relationships, Parenting Skills"	"Families that have been investigated by CPS, whose children at risk of abuse or neglect, or whose children have been removed from the home"
"Family Violence Education Attorney General of Texas, Child Support Division - Family Initiatives (contract with Texas Council on Family Violence) "	"Statewide; special court-based collaboration in Denton and Williamson counties"	"Collaboration with the Texas Council on Family Violence and community advocacy programs across the state in an effort to support safe access to child support services for survivors of family violence"	"Violence Prevention"	"Child support customers who disclose concerns with safety (family violence disclosure)"
"Gabriel Project Life Center Catholic Charities Central Texas "	"Austin and Brazos Valley"	"Works to provide alternatives to abortion by educating and mentoring families and providing material assistance"	"Parenting Skills"	"All moms and dads to be and parents of children 24 months or younger"
"FOCUS for Fathers NewDay Services "	"Fort Worth"	"Works to increase responsible father involvement in the lives of their children through a ten-week program"	"Parenting Skills, Healthy Relationships, Coparenting"	"All fathers"
"Fathers Reading Every Day (FRED) Texas A&M "	"College Station"	"A family literacy program designed to increase parental involvement in children’s early literacy development"	"Training and Support"	"Schools, organizations, or programs offering agricultural-based services. All fathers."
"Involved Dads of Action, Developing and Succeeding Real Men (I-DADS) Housing Authority of the City of Austin "	"Austin"	"Helps participants develop communication and parenting skills; provides connections to helpful resources"	"Parenting Skills, Anger Management"	"Fathers and father figures in the HACA communities"
"Horizon Eagle Horizon Outreach "	"Spring"	"Provides curriculum-based instruction on effective parenting and relationship skills, resources for economic stability; emphasis on veterans suffering from PTSD"	"Parenting Skills, Healthy Relationships, Employment, Financial Stability"	"All fathers, veteran fathers with history of PTSD"
"HEROES: Help Establishing Responsive Orders and Ensuring Support for Children in Military Families Attorney General of Texas, Child Support Division - Family Initiatives (partner with Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG), Family Readiness Group staff, the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN), the Texas Veterans Leadership Program (TVLP), Texas Yellow Ribbon, and child support and legal services programs across the United States and internationally) "	"Statewide"	"Offer service members, veterans and their dependents enhanced, personalized assistance in addressing paternity establishment, child support and parenting time (custody/visitation) matters; Provide appropriate relief in Texas child support cases where military service/combat related injuries have contributed to non-compliance with court orders; and Promote positive coparenting solutions for service members and families"	"Paternity Establishment, Access and Visitation, Child Custody, Coparenting"	"Service members and Veterans"
"Help through Intervention and Prevention (HIP) Texas Department of Family and Protective Services—Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) "	"Multiple program sites statewide"	"Provides voluntary services to families to increase protective factors and prevent child abuse; extensive family assessment, home visiting programs that include parent education and basic needs support"	"Child Abuse Prevention, Parenting Skills"	"Parents whose parental rights were previously terminated/who have had a child die due to child abuse and neglect, who currently have newborn"
"Healthy Outcomes through Prevention and Early Support (HOPES I and II) Texas Department of Family and Protective Services—Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) (contractors operate the program in eight counties) "	"HOPES: Cameron, Ector, El Paso, Gregg, Hidalgo, Potter, Travis, and Webb counties HOPES II: Dallas, Harris, Jefferson, Lubbock, McLennan, Nueces, Taylor, and Wichita counties"	"Offers group sessions, case management, counseling, parent education, and home visitation to promote supportive family environments, healthy relationships, and positive communication"	"Violence Prevention, Healthy Relationships, Parenting Skills"	"Must have child age birth to five years, no open/substantiated CPS case, reside in the county where the contract was awarded, and have two risk factors from a designated list"
"Pathways to Parenting (P2P) Children & Family Institute "	"Dallas"	"Provides one-on-one mentoring to support families, career planning for parents, group classes about pregnancy and parenting for parents with infants, life-skills training, and education and referrals to support healthy child development"	"Parenting Skills, Financial Stability, Employment, Job Readiness, Training and Support"	"To receive P2P’s free services, the participant must be pregnant or have a child under the age of one and be a U.S. citizen. The program is open to men and women."
"Parenting Awareness & Drug Risk Education (P.A.D.R.E.) Life Steps "	"Austin"	"Helps expecting, new and current fathers overcome the challenges that often come with parenting through case management and a nurturing father program"	"Parenting Skills, Healthy Relationships"	"All fathers"
"Parenting and Paternity Awareness (p.a.p.a.) Attorney General of Texas, Child Support Division - Family Initiatives (partner with Texas Education Agency and Regional Education Service Centers) "	"Multiple program sites statewide"	"Public school curriculum (14 sessions) on rights, responsibilities, and realities of parenting"	"Parenting Skills, Paternity Establishment, Violence Prevention"	"Public school students"
"Parenting 101, Positive Parenting, Parenting Help, and Helping Children Cope with Divorce DePelchin Children’s Center "	"Multiple program sites statewide"	"Courses that cover child development, communication, positive discipline, stress management, causes of child misbehavior, and positive parenting strategies; divorce class offers guidance on navigating the process to minimize negative impact on children"	"Parenting Skills, Coparenting"	"All parents"
"Parenting & Family Life Classes Family Houston, a United Way Agency "	"Houston"	"Provides parenting classes, as well as coparenting and divorce classes which qualify as court-mandated divorcing parent education"	"Parenting Skills, Coparenting, Anger/Stress Management"	"All parents/caregivers"
"Parent Education Family Service Association of San Antonio "	"San Antonio"	"Parenting classes to teach effective nurturing and disciplining; in-home parenting sessions; speakers bureau to spread word on child abuse prevention throughout the community"	"Parenting Skills"	"All parents"
"Parent Collaboration Group Texas Department of Family and Protective Services—Child Protective Services "	"Statewide"	"Partnership between CPS and parents who are or have been recipients of services from CPS that allows input from biological parents in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the CPS program"	"Father Engagement"	"Nominated by current Parent Liaisons or Regional DFPS staff"
"Noncustodial Parent Choices Attorney General of Texas, Child Support Division - Family Initiatives "	"21 out of 28 Workforce Development Board areas"	"Provides enhanced child support case compliance monitoring and employment services for un/underemployed, NCPs who owe child support"	"Child Support, Employment/ Financial Stability"	"Noncustodial parent must: have a full service child support case; be in front of the court on non-payment of support contempt charges or establishing a first-time obligation; have a social security number and be legally eligible to work in the US"
"Navigating Fatherhood Man in Me "	"Pflugerville"	"Provide fatherhood and parenting group sessions using the 24/7 Dad curriculum"	"Parenting Skills, Father Engagement"	"Unknown"
"Motivation, Education, and Training, Inc. Motivation, Education, and Training, Inc. "	"New Caney"	"Provides employment, vocational training, emergency support, housing services *New grantee, information on fatherhood program not available online"	"Employment, Financial Stability, Job Readiness"	"Migrant and seasonal farmworkers, low-income families"
"Military and Veteran Families Pilot Prevention (MFVPP) program Texas Department of Family and Protective Services—Prevention and Early Intervention (PEI) (contractors operate the program in three counties) "	"Bell, Bexar, and El Paso counties"	"Promote positive parental involvement, educate, facilitate, and otherwise support parents’ ability to provide continued emotional, physical, and financial support for their children, and prevent child abuse and neglect occurrences in military communities through parent education and case management"	"Child Abuse Prevention, Parenting Skills"	"Military and veteran families who include a person registered as the “primary caregiver” who is an active duty or former military member, National Guard member, Ready Reserve member, veteran, military retiree or their dependents, and a child aged zero to 17 (or expecting a child)"
"MCH Family Outreach Services Methodist Children’s Home "	"Abilene, Bryan/College Station, Corpus Christi, Dallas, El Paso, Houston, Killeen, Las Cruces, Lubbock, San Antonio, Tyler, Waco"	"Provide In-Home Services and Parent Education programs for families. In-Home Services offers early intervention services including case management, parent support, and resources and referrals for parents. Parent education provides guidance and support for developing parenting skills."	"Parenting Skills"	"Parents with children ages zero to 18. Parents or children must be facing crisis"
"Just Beginning First 3 Years "	"Dallas"	"Addresses the parenting support needs of teen fathers within the juvenile justice system by giving them tools to communicate with and build positive relationships with their child"	"Parenting Skills, Healthy Relationships, Incarceration/Reentry"	"Fathers in the juvenile justice system"
"iParent SA Parenting Support The Children’s Shelter "	"San Antonio/ Bexar County"	"Provides short- and long-term services including in-home and group-based parent training, child school readiness, developmental assessments, family enrichment activities, case management, 24/7 crisis intervention, and emergency day/overnight respite"	"Parenting Skills"	"Parents/guardians with children under 18 in San Antonio or Bexar County"
"Strengthening Families Program Youth Advocacy "	"Austin"	"Provide an evidence-based curriculum focused on reducing family-related risk factors and building protective factors in young children and their parents/caregivers to reduce substance abuse or violent/risky behaviors in youth"	"Parenting Skills"	"Parents or caregivers of children in fourth through eighth grades who live in the 78744 zip code"
"Services to Fathers, Parent-Child Education Program AVANCE-San Antonio "	"San Antonio"	"Provides educational courses for fathers, case management, and support services such as meals and transportation"	"Parenting Skills, Violence Prevention, Child Abuse Prevention, Anger/Stress Management"	"Must have a child birth to three years old and have income within the federal poverty guidelines"
"Services for Incarcerated Parents and Parents Returning to the Community Attorney General of Texas (OAG), Child Support Division - Family Initiatives "	"Multiple program sites statewide"	"Creates and delivers resources about paternity and child support to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated parents (handbook and DVD); encourages incarcerated parents to remain emotionally and financially engaged with children; parents can request review of their child support obligation"	"Child Support, Paternity Establishment"	"Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated parents"
"San Antonio Fatherhood Campaign San Antonio Fatherhood Campaign "	"San Antonio"	"Offers a variety of classes and workshops on parenting and other issues relating to today's needs for being a well-rounded parent and responsible father"	"Parenting Skills, Coparenting, Healthy Relationships, Domestic Violence"	"All fathers"
"SAFE Futures SAFE Alliance "	"Austin area"	"Provides child abuse and family violence prevention through parenting skills, domestic violence education, evidence-based services for fathers, support for survivors of domestic violence and their children, and assistance with housing, mental health, or other issues affecting wellbeing"	"Domestic Violence, Parenting Skills, Father Engagement, Financial Stability"	"All parents who have experienced domestic violence in their families"
"Safe Babies DFPS-PEI "	"Selected hospitals across the state"	"Evaluate hospital-based education programs for fathers or male caregivers at the baby’s birth"	"Violence Prevention, Parenting Skills"	"Fathers or male caregivers receiving in-hospital education at selected hospitals"
"Responsible Fathering Initiative Texas Department of Family and Protective Services—Child Protective Services "	"Statewide"	"Provide men with support and services to help them be fully involved dads; identify ways to engage fathers"	"Father Engagement"	"N/A"
"Project Help through Intervention and Prevention (HIP) Texas Department of Family and Protective Services "	"Multiple program sites statewide"	"Provides voluntary services to families to increase protective factors and prevent child abuse; extensive family assessment, home visiting programs that include parent education and basic needs support"	"Child Abuse Prevention, Parenting Skills"	"Parents whose parental rights were previously terminated/who have had a child die due to child abuse and neglect, who currently have newborn"
"Pregnancy to Age Three (P-3) Home Visiting Program Lumin Education "	"Dallas"	"Home visiting parent education program based on the “Parents as Teachers (PAT)” model that teachers parents to be actively involved in their child’s education and development"	"Parenting Skills"	"Parents with children ages zero to three"
"Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) and the PRAMS2 Pilot Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Family and Community Health Division (FCH), Office of Maternal & Child Health "	"Statewide"	"A statewide surveillance system that surveys mothers within 60 to 180 days after the birth of their children about their experiences before, during, and after their pregnancy"	"Maternal and Child Health"	"Representative sample of new mothers in Texas"
"PIPsqueaks Groups Partners in Parenting (PIP) "	"Austin"	"Provides weekly groups where families share their experiences and learn about parenting tips and resources"	"Parenting Skills"	"New parents"
"Watch D.O.G.S. Local chapters of the National Center for Fathering Program "	"1390 schools in Texas"	"Fathers and father figures of K-12 children volunteer at least one full day a year at their child/student’s school during the school year"	"Father Engagement"	"Fathers or father figures who volunteer at least one full day a year"
"TYRO Champion Dads Alliance for North Texas Healthy and Effective Marriages (ANTHEM) "	"Dallas area"	"Provides free workshops on fatherhood, navigating the child support system, anger management and communication"	"Parenting Skills"	"All fathers"
"Twogether in Texas Healthy Marriage Program Texas Health and Human Services Commission "	"Multiple program sites statewide"	"Dedicates its services to increasing the wellbeing of children by providing voluntary marriage and relationship education"	"Healthy Relationships"	"Married or unmarried couples"
"Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative (T.O.R.I.) Texas Offenders Reentry Initiative "	"Multiple program sites statewide"	"Provides an array of supportive services to assist ex-offenders reduce rates of recidivism and lead productive lives, including services focused on housing, family, employment acquisition, education, health care, and mentorship"	"Parenting Skills, Employment, Financial Stability, Training and Support, Incarceration/Reentry"	"Ex-offenders"
"Texas Home Visiting DFPS (contractors operate the program in multiple sites) "	"Multiple program sites statewide"	"Families receive services through evidence-based based home visiting programs and are referred to supplemental services as needed"	"Parenting Skills"	"Families with children ages zero to five; some programs have income eligibility requirements"
"Texas Healthy Baby Initiative DSHS "	"Statewide"	"Provide information to mothers and fathers about pre- and inter-conception health, partner involvement, informed decision-making prior to and during pregnancy, and injury during a baby’s first year"	"Parenting Skills, Coparenting"	"N/A"
"Teen Parenting Services LifeWorks "	"Austin area"	"Case management services and home visits to support pregnant and parenting teens to complete their educations and develop parenting skills, and parenting groups provided at local school and community locations"	"Parenting Skills, Employment, Financial Stability"	"Teen/young adult parents"
"Strong Start SAFE Alliance "	"Austin area"	"Provides parenting education to learn how to increase positive behaviors and decrease challenging behaviors in children"	"Parenting Skills"	"Parents of children five years of age or younger"
"Strengthening Relationships/Strengthening Families (SR/SF) Texas State University "	"San Marcos"	"Provides high school youth training on value of marriage, relationship skills and budgeting; and job readiness and financial literacy/management skills; incorporates case management, referrals, and home visits as needed"	"Healthy Relationships, Employment, Financial Stability, Job Readiness"	"Pregnant and parenting teens"
"Young Parents Program LifeWorks "	"Austin area"	"Apartment-based transitional housing program for pregnant and parenting youth. Includes case management, parenting classes, and full-time supervision"	"Parenting Skills"	"Teen/young adult parents"

Export to CSV