Overall Goals

1. To benefit children by increasing their fathers’ emotional & financial support

The program strives to increase the men’s emotional connection to their children, which in turn increases their motivation and resolve to take care of their children financially.

2. To strengthen co-parenting relationships

All FOCUS participants have experienced the dissolution of their relationship with the mother of their children. The goal is to help the men see that an amicable, low-conflict relationship with the child’s mother leads to positive outcomes for the child.

3. To promote fathers’ parenting skills

Many FOCUS participants were fatherless as children and are at a loss as to how to father their children. Because of the trauma and isolation of being away from their children, they also lack opportunities to develop solid parenting skills. The goal is to prepare men to learn more about parenting after they resolve some of the issues that have hindered them for parenting well in the past.