NYS Fatherhood Initiative → Information & Resources
Information & Resources
- Forms and Publications
- Being a Responsible Dad
- Child Support Information
- Resources for Working Families
- Fatherhood Initiatives in Other States
Forms and Publications
The following forms and publications are available at no cost:
- Video: “What you Need to Know About Child Support Hearings and Services”
- Video: “Beyond the Visiting Room: Kids Need their Dads”
- Video: “If Not You, Who? Kids Need their Dads”
- Pub 4719: “Establishing Paternity. What You Should Know”
- Pub 4719-S “Establishing Paternity. What You Should Know” Spanish
- Pub 4720 “Teen Parents and the Law”
- Pub 4720-S “Teen Parents and the Law” Spanish
- Pub 4721 “What Non-Custodial Parents Need to Know About Child Support”
- Pub 4721-S “What Non-Custodial Parents Need to Know About Child Support” Spanish
- Pub 4894 Responsible Fatherhood Initiative
- Pub 4894-SP Responsible Fatherhood Initiative Spanish
- Pub 4894-RU Responsible Fatherhood Initiative Russian
- Pub 4894-CH Responsible Fatherhood Initiative Mandarin Chinese
- Pub 4894-AR Responsible Fatherhood Initiative Arabic
- Pub 4901 “A Driver’s Manual for New Dads”
- Pub 4901-SP “A Driver’s Manual for New Dads” Spanish
- Pub 4901-CH “A Driver’s Manual for New Dads” Mandarin Chinese
- Pub 4901-AR “A Driver’s Manual for New Dads” Arabic
- Pub 4901-RU “A Driver’s Manual for New Dads” Russian
- Pub 4901-HA “A Driver’s Manual for New Dads” Haitian Creole
- DSS 4515 Child Support Standards Chart
You may use the Request for Forms and Publications form to request any of these items. Please mail the completed form to the address shown on the form.
Being a Responsible Dad
What is the difference between Dad and Mom?
There may be differences in the role a mom and a dad may play in the raising of a child. However, BOTH parents share in the responsibility for raising, nurturing and caring for their child - even when the parents are not married. While each of us may have a different view on how we should parent and we are all taught different lessons about parenting, it is important to remember that dads make special and unique contributions to their child's growth.
Being a responsible dad begins long before your baby is born, and is closely tied to the quality of the relationship he has with the mother of his child. Thus, it is important that even if you are not married to the mother of your child that you ensure that you are involved in the pregnancy and contribute to the well-being of the mother and your child - even before your child is born.
Here are some excellent ways to maintain a good relationship with the mother of your child - even if you are not married:
- Consider Marriage
- Go with her to prenatal doctor's appointments
- Help plan for the baby
- Encourage her to eat healthy
- Learn and share new information about babies in general
- Understand the different changes both of you are going through as you prepare for parenthood
- Talk about the future of the baby and your plans for the baby's success
- Be there when the baby is born and make a commitment that you will always be there for them
- Make a firm commitment to the mom and your child by establishing paternity of your child at the hospital
The baby is home, what do I do?
This is when the fun begins. Bringing your child home from the hospital can be the most joyful time and at the same time the most stressful time you will have being a parent. A new baby is fun but they need a lot of work and attention. This time is when the family finds out what YOU are made of!
There are a few ways to help you through the first weeks:
- Be willing and eager to help, everywhere!
- Show everyone that you can be counted on to do traditional caring: changing diapers, burping, feeding, changing clothes and comforting the baby when they cry.
- Be positive, constructive and encouraging to the mom and help build her confidence as a parent.
- Learn how to spend time alone with your child while mom is resting.
- Use this time to change bad habits, e.g., smoking, not communicating with mom, not expressing your feelings, etc..
- For more information on being a new dad go to www.newdads.com.
Once you get through the first few weeks you'll be well on your way to being a respectful, loving, caring and responsible dad.
What do I do to remain a responsible dad?
- Respect Your Child's Mother
- Spend Time with Your Child
- Earn the Right to be Heard
- Discipline with Love
- Be a Role Model
- Be a Teacher
- Eat Together as a Family
- Read to Your Child
- Show Affection
- Realize That a Father's Job is Never Done
Child Support Information
Child support can be complicated. For noncustodial parents, (mostly fathers) the process would be less complicated if you had just a little information regarding the process.
Child support is not intended to punish or inconvenience either parent, but to make sure that children get support from both of their parents.
This information is provided at the link below will help non-custodial parents understand what happens when one or both parents seek child support services.
https://newyorkchildsupport.com/non_custodial_parent_info.html
Resources for Working Families
The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is providing this information to assist Working Families in accessing valuable resources to help make ends meet. The information includes: program descriptions, eligibility requirements, benefits and how to apply. The program information provided is from various New York State agencies; if you have any questions regarding individual programs please visit the Resources for Working Families website.
Fatherhood Initiatives in Other States
Alabama Fatherhood Initiative
The DHR Fatherhood Initiative is a joint effort of the Department of Human Resources (DHR) Child Support Enforcement and Family Assistance divisions that began in Year 2000. The DHR Fatherhood Initiative was developed to further the welfare reform goal of strengthening families, enhancing child support collections and addressing other needs of children who are growing up without the involvement of natural fathers in their lives.
http://www.dhr.state.al.us/page.asp?pageid=427
Fatherhood Initiative of Connecticut
The goal of the Fatherhood Initiative of Connecticut is to promote the positive involvement and interaction of fathers with their children, with an emphasis on children eligible, or formerly eligible for services funded by the temporary assistance for needy families block grant. Additionally, the Fatherhood Initiative of Connecticut shall identify those services that effectively encourage and enhance responsible and skillful parenting, and those services that increase the ability of fathers to meet the financial and medical needs of their children through employment services and child support enforcement measures.
http://www.fatherhoodinitiative.state.ct.us/
Fatherhood Initiative of Colorado
Whether it's doing homework together, playing catch or reading a story, fathers can enjoy being a fan of their kid. The Be A Fan of Your Kid public service campaign is designed to provide tips, suggestions and resources for fathers on positive fathering and role modeling. Launched on Father's Day 1998, this program provides dads and other father figures such as step-dads, uncles and grandfathers with a wealth of information on positive fathering skills and a forum to learn from both experts and other dads.
http://www.beafanofyourkid.org/
Georgia Fatherhood Program
In 1997, the State of Georgia decided to make a real difference in the lives of its children by establishing what was known as the Fatherhood Initiative. The goal of this program was to help the children by helping the parent who could not or would not support them.
http://www.ganet.org/GAFatherhood/index.html
Hawaii State Commission on Fatherhood
The mission of the Hawaii State Commission on Fatherhood is to promote healthy family relationships between parents and children by emphasizing the important role fathers play in the lives of their children. The Commission serves in an advisory capacity to state agencies and makes recommendations on programs, services, contracts, policies, and laws relating to children and families.
http://www.hawaii.gov/dhs/fatherhood/fatherhood/
Illinois Fatherhood Initiative
The mission of Illinois Fatherhood Initiative is to end father absence by connecting children and fathers and promoting responsible fatherhood by equipping men to be better father and father figures
http://www.4fathers.org/
Iowa Fatherhood Initiative
Iowa's Fatherhood website was created to give the parents of Iowa easy access to information that will help them be actively and positively involved with their children. This site contains links to a variety of other sites with Iowa, regional, or national importance. We have tried to include those whose content can most directly support the role of Iowa's parents with their children.
http://www.dhs.state.ia.us/fatherhood/
Kentucky Fatherhood Initiative
The Kentucky Fatherhood Initiative's (KFI) mission is to support fathers and fatherhood programs in Kentucky. Through web-based services, an annual conference, and technical/ logistical support, the KFI seeks to expand the presence of fathers in the lives of their children.
http://www.uky.edu/SocialWork/trc/kfi.html
Maryland Fatherhood Initiative
The Maryland Fatherhood Initiative was established to help break this generational cycle. By improving the lives of fathers, children, and families these initiatives will increase the opportunity for children to lead positive and productive lives as adults and become effective parents themselves.
http://www.dhr.state.md.us/oci/mdfh.htm
Mississippi Department of Human Services
The goal of the Responsible Fatherhood Initiative is to assist fathers in becoming "Team Parents;" to share the legal, financial, and emotional responsibilities of parenthood with the mother(s) of their children; and to improve the self image of fathers and their families.
http://www.mdhs.state.ms.us/cs_resp.html
Nebraska Fatherhood Initiative
The Nebraska Fatherhood Initiative is a statewide collaborative effort aiming to restore fathers' hearts back to their children and families. Its mission is to enhance the knowledge and skills of practitioners and actively encourage and promote the involvement of fathers in the lives of their children and families.
http://nebraskachildren.org/about_us/programs/fatherhood/
Pennsylvania Fatherhood Initiative
Fatherhood Initiatives, in Pennsylvania and nationally, are designed to motivate and challenge fathers to become involved in their children's lives by focusing on services that promote strong families through personal and parental responsibility.
http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/Child/ChildWelfare/003670969.htm
Central Texas Fatherhood Initiative
The Central Texas Fatherhood Initiative is a non-profit organization that motivates and trains fathers to take a more active role in their children's lives. By forming strategic alliances with other individuals and community organizations that serve fathers, CTFI is helping to lead a broad-based social movement back to responsible fatherhood.
http://www.centraltexasfatherhood.org/index.shtml
Virginia Fatherhood Initiative
Virginia Department of Social Services promotes responsible fatherhood and two-parent families through various joint projects that include community campaigns and training (e.g. community groups, local fatherhood programs, visitation and mediation programs, and targeted groups such as incarcerated fathers, nonresidential fathers, young fathers and fragile families). Related activities promote the fatherhood movement through the 21 local child support district offices in Virginia.
http://www.dss.virginia.gov/family/dcse/fatherhood.html