Category: Marriage and Relationships

The Truth About Marriage, Responsible Fatherhood and Child Well-being

Marriage produces some of the best outcomes for children when it is healthy, stable, and cooperative. This is not a controversial statement. What we must stop doing, though, is turning marriage into a simplistic solution, as if the presence of a ring automatically creates safety, trust, emotional maturity, patience, shared responsibility, and the ability to repair conflict.

father in the grocery store with his daughters

America’s Most Expensive Blind Spot: The $154 Billion Cost of Ignoring Fathers

This report lands because it restores dignity to the fatherhood conversation and refuses to reduce fathers to heroes or hazards. It frames fathers as economic actors, relational anchors, and public health factors. It suggests that improving father involvement is not just about a man “doing right.” It’s about building conditions where doing right is possible, repeatable, and supported.

If America is willing to spend $154.2 billion cleaning up the consequences of instability, America should be willing to spend far less building stability. This frees the fatherhood conversation from ideology and moves it toward stewardship.

Pair of hands resting on a pregnant belly in the shape of a heart

A Dad’s First Big Assignment: Supporting Mom Through Pregnancy, Delivery, and Postpartum

When fathers learn, plan, advocate, and rest with intention, moms recover better, babies thrive, and the whole house breathes easier. 

Show up. Ask questions. Carry the load you can carry. Guard the rest and watch the signs. Put the helplines in your phone. And remember, your baby doesn’t need a perfect dad — your baby needs you, present and prepared.

father comforting his daughter

When Winning Feels Like Losing: The Hidden Scoreboard of Fatherhood and the Battle for Connection

Parenthood, in general (and fatherhood, in particular), is often talked about in the language of winning and losing. We hear it in courtrooms: “I won custody.” We hear it in child support battles: “He lost his rights.” We even hear it in the tone of everyday conversations when someone asks, “What happened with your case?” and the answer comes back, “I won.”

But every time a parent “loses” in court, there is another loss that no one writes about — the child’s. The child loses the rhythm of consistent connection. They lose the security of shared presence. And they begin to internalize the idea that love and belonging are things people have to compete for.

black and white photo of a man holding his head in his hands

What Fatherhood Programs Must Say About Domestic Violence

As an organization that works daily with fathers — men who are often healing, learning, and rebuilding their relationships — FI sees firsthand that domestic violence is not just a women’s issue or just a criminal justice issue. It’s a family issue. A public health issue. A community issue. 

When fatherhood programs give men the language, space, and opportunity to confront domestic violence, they often become some of the strongest advocates for ending it.

Parents and two children sitting on a couch looking at the camera and smiling

Gentle Warriors Academy Receives $6.5M Grant to Strengthen Fathers, Families, and Communities in Georgia

The grant award expands GWA’s ability to equip fathers, couples, and co-parents with the skills, coaching, and support that build resilient families — improving child well-being, enhancing relationship health, and advancing long-term household stability.

Op-Ed: Empowering Black Men — Reclaiming Our Health, Rewriting Our Legacy

How many aspects of our lives could drastically improve with just a few minutes of intentional care daily? This revelation prompted me to emphasize one critical truth: “Not taking care of yourself, particularly when you have children and family, is the most selfish act you can engage in.”

What Is the Role of Fathers in Maternal Health?

When it comes to maternal health in the United States, women face several challenges, including high mortality, racial disparities, and inadequate mental health support. These factors put women at risk, and, unfortunately, attempts to address them often overlook a key group of advocates: men and fathers.