Case Study of Father Engagement in Healthy Start Programs: Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition Fatherhood PRIDE

Since 2015, the Northeast Florida Healthy Start Coalition (HSC) has offered its Fatherhood Parental Responsibility Inspiring Dads Everywhere (Fatherhood PRIDE) program to complement the services it offers to mothers and children. Fatherhood PRIDE and HSC aim to reduce infant mortality rates and improve the lives of pregnant women and their families. Although HSC member programs typically focus on mothers and children, Fatherhood PRIDE emphasizes the role of fathers in the family. Fatherhood PRIDE believes that a father’s physical and emotional presence in his children’s lives is as important to the family’s well-being as his financial contributions. By including fathers in HSC services through Fatherhood PRIDE, the coalition can holistically address the family to support its mission of improving the well-being of children, childbearing women, fathers and their families. This case study highlights Fatherhood PRIDE’s approach to recruiting, enrolling, and retaining fathers through fatherspecific engagement strategies, partnerships with key systems serving fathers, and an intake process that leverages fathers’ existing social networks and supports.