Nurturing Fathers Program®Delivered by VSCE Corp

Stronger fathers. Safer kids. Fewer families stuck in the system.

A 13-session parenting program built specifically for men, completed in just 7 weeks. Available to agencies anywhere in the United States, live online or in person.

  • 13 sessions in 7 weeks
  • Twice weekly, 2.5 hours
  • Virtual or in person
  • Pre and post assessment

Thirteen sessions, plus a make-up night in week 7 so more fathers finish.

Who it serves

Fathers referred by the people already working their case. One program, three common referral paths.

Child protection and family services

For county and state agencies working toward safety and reunification.

  • Fathers with open child protection or reunification cases
  • Court-ordered or case-plan parenting education
  • Prevention and voluntary referrals, including family support programs

Probation, jail and reentry

For probation offices, jails and reentry centers supporting fathers coming home.

  • Fathers in jail or reentering the community
  • People under supervision with a parenting condition or goal
  • Residents of reentry centers and halfway houses

Courts and co-parenting

For family courts, attorneys and mediators.

  • Co-parents working through custody and parenting time
  • Fathers who need documented completion for the court

Inside a fathers' group

Small groups, real conversation, and a workbook each father keeps. Sessions run the same way online and in person.

Six fathers of different ages and backgrounds sitting in a circle, one speaking while the others listen, each holding a blue workbook. Two fathers at a table smiling as they work through an open workbook together. A facilitator leading a group of fathers seated in a semicircle with their workbooks.

Illustrative images. Photos do not show actual program participants.

The 13 sessions, week by week

Two evenings a week, two and a half hours each. Groups meet live, so fathers talk with each other and a facilitator, not a video.

Week 1

1The Roots of Fathering
2Self-Nurturing Skills I: Fathering
Intake and AAPI-2 pre-assessment

Week 2

3“The Little Boy Within”
4Self-Nurturing Skills II: The Power to Meet My Own Needs

Week 3

5The World of Feelings and Male Nurturance
6The Power to Nurture: Fathering Without Violence or Fear

Week 4

7Overcoming Barriers: Anger, Alcohol/Other Substances, and Stress
8Discipline and Fun & Games

Week 5

9Playshop: Fun & Games for Fathers and Their Children
10Nurturing Relationships I: Fathering Sons / Fathering Daughters

Week 6

11Nurturing Relationships II: Teamwork Between Father & Co-parent
12A Time and Place for Fathering

Week 7

13Healing the Father Wound
Make-upCatch-up night for any missed session
AAPI-2 post-assessment, certificate and outcomes report

What your agency receives

Every referral comes back to you documented, so you can update case plans and report to the court without chasing anyone.

  • Before session 1Intake with each referred father
  • Start and finishAAPI-2 parenting assessment, so change is measured, not assumed
  • ThroughoutAttendance reports to the referring caseworker
  • Case plans and courtProgress summary for each father
  • At completionCertificate of completion for each father
  • End of groupOutcomes report for your agency

Results across fathers of every background

In a national study of 525 fathers, African-American, Hispanic and White participants all improved significantly in parenting attitudes, measured on the AAPI-2 before and after the full 13-session program. Gains included empathy, realistic expectations of children, and alternatives to physical punishment.

How a referral works

  1. Send the referral

    Call, text or email with the father's name, contact information and what your case plan or order requires.

  2. Intake

    We meet with the father, explain the program and complete the AAPI-2 pre-assessment.

  3. Group sessions

    He joins the next group, twice a week for 7 weeks. You receive attendance reports as he goes.

  4. Completion

    You receive the post-assessment results, his certificate and a progress summary for the case file.

Refer a father or start a contract

Counties, courts, probation offices and reentry providers anywhere in the U.S. can refer individual fathers or contract for a dedicated group.

To get started, send us

  • Your agency or program name and your role
  • How many fathers you expect to refer
  • Virtual, in person, or both
  • Any court or case-plan requirements we should document
Email an inquiry