Somehow, we blinked and the holidays are already here. While we hurdle toward the end of the year, nonprofits everywhere are neck-deep in their spreadsheets: crunching their numbers, gathering statistics and packaging everything together in appeal letters, annual reports, PowerPoints, e-newsletters and everywhere else we can think of putting them! As a communicator, I believe in the power of numbers. And this week on the Good Dads blog, we’re shining a spotlight on some of the most important statistics that we use to inform our programs and resources for all dads.
I hope you’ll take a moment to reflect on these important numbers. Think about what each means to you. Let me know which numbers resonate the most with you. I also hope that, during the 12 Days of Giving, you’ll be inspired to click the Donate button at the top of the website. It’s the fastest, most direct way you can help change the story in numbers like these:
18 million
That’s how many children in the U.S. live in a home without a dad, according to Census data. That’s approximately 1 in 4 kids!
429
That’s how many dads we’ve enrolled in our New Pathways for Good Dads program throughout the state since the beginning of 2025. Way back in 2018, when Good Dads was awarded its first state contract to serve this population of fathers, we were expected to meet a minimum enrollment of 60 dads within the first six months of the contract. We blew past that number, quickly enrolling 90 dads…then 100 dads… then well over 100 dads. Then (as now) this speedy and outsized enrollment was a testament to how needed this program is: how many dads craved a space to learn together, develop social support and work hard to achieve their fatherhood goals.
After far surpassing that minimum enrollment of 60 participants in late 2018, Good Dads’ founder and director, Dr. Jennifer L. Baker, started making some phone calls. The conversations, as she tells it, went a little like this:
Baker: We’ve enrolled way more than 60 participants in our region, with no signs of slowing down. The state is getting a handsome return on its investment because of the work that we do. Can we have more money?
State Employees: No.
Baker: Well, the funds the state provides aren’t going to be sufficient for the number of dads we have in our program. What do you suggest we do?
State Employees: We suppose you could start turning people away.
Baker: Gee, I don’t want to do that.
State Employees: Well, you can ask other people for money.
While this humorous little anecdote certainly isn’t meant to villainize the state departments we collaborate with to support responsible fatherhood, it is a perfect opportunity for a friendly reminder about that little Donate button at the top of our website!
42
That’s how many schools in Missouri are using the Good Dads Strong Schools program to encourage fathers to feel welcome in their students’ schools. It’s amazing to see how far this program has spread! When dads know they play an important role in their students’ education, it benefits everyone: families, students, school leadership and the whole community. See if your neighborhood elementary school is one of the 42 participants on our Strong Schools map. And see how easy it is to bring the program to your local school!
1.04 million
That’s how much money the dads in our New Pathways program contributed to their child support cases between September 2024 and September 2025. When dads enroll in New Pathways, many of them hadn’t been paying toward their child support cases in a long time. But as they participate in the program, several important things happen:
- Dads gain access to child support resources and a child support specialist who can be helpful with their cases by explaining the arrears process and, in some cases, make arrears more manageable for those who have faced persistent poverty.
- Participants are less likely to be subject to punitive measures, like having their wages garnished or their driver’s licenses suspended, because they demonstrate they are willing to be cooperative with offices that manage child support.
- These fathers have access to career resources: They can get a job or a better job so they can reliably pay what they owe without going hungry or risking homelessness.
- They begin to truly understand the value of fatherhood to their children. Inspired by what they learn in Good Dads classes, they truly work hard to be the best dads they can be.
19
That’s how many chapters have joined the Good Dads community network throughout the state—with three or four new chapters joining very soon! We started the chapter model not that long ago, with an idea we at one time called “Helping Fathers in the Heartland.” This program, which later became Good Dads Great Communities, equips communities and organizations with the tools and strategies they need to launch their very own Good Dads initiatives. This year we even hosted a Great Community of the Year Contest and celebrated the outstanding achievements of three very special community chapters: Texas County (third place), Rolla (second place) and Ava (first place). Check out the video spotlights for each!
10
It’s our 10th birthday this year! Founded in 2015, Good Dads started in a tiny office in Downtown Springfield and has since grown statewide. More than two-dozen communities throughout the state have adopted one or more Good Dads programs because they recognize the need to support and encourage responsible fatherhood. Who knows how much growth we’ll see 10 years from now!
77
That’s how many New Pathways for Good Dads classes we’ve hosted this calendar year across the state, with the help of our class facilitators. New Pathways dads enroll in “Within My Reach” a leading healthy relationships course from the brand PREP, Inc., and Good Dads’ own fatherhood skills curriculum, “Good Dads 2.0.”
150+
Okay, I will concede that this is not an exact number. But this rounded estimate reflects the large quantity of facilitators and class mentors who generously volunteer their time to lead New Pathways for Good Dads classes, interface with fathers in the program and provide advice and social support. These community-focused leaders are the “secret sauce” for Good Dads’ success!
I love the way one Springfield facilitator, Benjy, a retired anesthesiologist, testified to his experience leading classes for Good Dads:
“Good Dads has given me a sense of purpose and fulfilment, reminding me that retirement is about finding new avenues to contribute to community.”
276,865
That’s the total number of open child support cases on Missouri’s Department of Social Services Case Counter (as of the end of November). We estimate dads are the paying part in around 8 in 10 child support cases. Of course, many dads have more than one open child support case, too.
55
That’s the estimated percentage (more than half!) of child support cases in Missouri that go unpaid, according to an email correspondence Good Dads had with the then-assistant deputy director of the Family Support division late last year.
While the reasons why someone can’t (or won’t) pay child support are layered and complex, we hypothesize a combination of these most common motivations for dads:
- Dads are confused about the child support system, and they don’t feel supported in this aspect of their lives. (A good first step is to check out our Child Support FAQs page.)
- Those experiencing persistent poverty face many more barriers to paying child support when they don’t have a job or a home. Sometimes, punitive measures like taking away a driver’s license create more hurdles to holding a steady job, making money and paying on time.
- Child support arrears (past due support) accumulate into many thousands of dollars and can feel insurmountable, especially for dads who were formerly incarcerated and whose support owed did not pause during their time in prison.
- Some men feel betrayed or wounded by the mothers of their children and see withholding child support as a way to “get back” at an ex. (This is not a helpful way to think about child support, and our staff can re-frame the issue and help others see it in a different way.)
What’s a dad to do to overcome these problems? Just to toot our own horn for a minute: Enrolling in the New Pathways program has changed thousands of lives for the better. It can heal wounds, change perspectives, offer camaraderie and provide resources for navigating the child support system.
183
That’s how many businesses, organizations and individuals have generously donated to Good Dads campaigns this year — thank you for your support!
4
That’s how many bespoke programs Good Dads developed as we achieve our mission to help kids and communities one dad at a time.
- Good Dads Strong Schools: Our before-school breakfast program for dads and their young learners.
- Good Dads 2.0: For dads hoping to build a safe and stable home for themselves and their families, even if they grew up in a home that was very unstable.
- Good Dads Great Communities: For communities who recognize the importance of focusing on fatherhood and want to bring dad-specific resources to their neighborhood, town or county.
- Fundamentals Good Dads: Designed for any dad who wants to be more involved in his children’s lives, and is especially effective in the workplace as an HR benefit.
When you donate to Good Dads, you are supporting all of our programs and resources to reach fathers. In the waning days remaining in 2025, we hope you’ll choose to make a charitable contribution to these numbers and the many more numbers we’ll achieve together in 2026.
