Jump to Navigation | Jump to Content

Project Description

The National Quality Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers and the Child Welfare System (QIC NRF) is a collaborative effort between the American Humane Association , the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, and National Fatherhood Initiative and funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau.

The focus of this project is a result of the federal Child and Family Services Reviews and the “What About the Dads?” report, which indicated that there is very little meaningful engagement occurring between the child welfare system and fathers. The QIC NRF promotes the importance of gaining more knowledge regarding the engagement of non-resident fathers and their children who are involved in the child welfare system.

The purpose of this project is to determine, through a research design, the impact of non-resident father involvement on child welfare outcomes. Child welfare outcomes include child safety, permanence, and well-being. Included in this design is the examination of the relationship between children, non-resident fathers, and/or paternal relatives. Throughout this project, information gained from the QIC NRF will be disseminated through this Web site and to the Children’s Bureau, sub-grantees, child welfare agencies, private service providers, the courts, legal systems and other stakeholders.

Information about the QIC process | "Bringing Back the Dads" Information Sheet | Abstract

Questions or Comments

Have information that you would like to see added? Have questions about navigating the web site? Click here to email your questions or comments.

Four Model Intervention/Evaluation Projects Funded to Enhance Father Engagement in the Child Welfare System

The National Quality Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers and the Child Welfare System, in late February 2008, announced the funding of four projects that will test model intervention and evaluation project initiatives that, through systemic collaborations, we hope will strengthen positive father engagement in the child welfare system. These projects are with:

To view information about these projects, click here

Upcoming Events

Workshop on Non-Resident Fathers and Child Welfare Cases at ABA National Conference, May 15-16

»The Status of Non-Resident Fathers in Child Welfare

FATHER ABSENTEEISM

Today more American children are growing up without their biological father in the home than at any other point in American history. Trends such as divorce and remarriage, as well as more children being born outside of marriage, result in a diminishing role of fathers in the daily lives of their children. Over twenty-five million American children (or 33.5 percent of children in the U.S.) live absent their biological father. (Krieder, 2005).

National changes in children’s living arrangements have also caused a shift in the traditional paradigm of the mother, father, and child household. Of the 73.2 million children under 18 years old living in the United States in 2004, 67.7 percent (49.6 million) were living with two parents, 27.9 percent (20.4 million) were living with a single parent, and 4.3 percent (3.1 million) were living with neither parent. (U.S. Census Bureau, 2005). (More...)

PDF version | Microsoft word version

Back to Top