Last Monday, we sent out an important progress report on the New Pathways for Good Dads program. As we celebrate a decade of hard work among our staff, volunteers and program participants, we want to say thank you and recap some of our recent accomplishments.
In 2018, The New Pathways for Good Dads (NPGD) program hosted its first cohort of dad participants at Victory Mission, a men’s shelter in Springfield.
In 2021, we developed our own evidence-based curriculum that better served the dads we meet.
In 2022, we surpassed 100 facilitators trained in the NPGD program.
In 2023, southwest MO fathers enrolled in our program contributed more than $1.3 million to their child support cases.
In 2024, the Missouri General assembly awarded Good Dads with funds to bring services to more communities in the state that we previously could not serve.
288 dads have enrolled in NPGD since last summer. We’re on track to enroll nearly 500 dads across the state by the end of the fiscal year.
The class participation rate is high, at 81%, 66% of Southwest Missouri dads paid toward their child support cases, and 18 Missouri towns and counties are serving at-risk dads with the New Pathways program.
It’s safe to say that these programs help dads become the best fathers they can be. But don’t just take our word for it! Hear more from a few of our Good Dads facilitators.
Dick Clay
Dick has been serving as a facilitator for both SRCC in Springfield and the Believe Church in Mt. Vernon.
As Good Dads continues to grow, Dick says he wants to continue being of service and making a difference in people’s lives as much as possible.
“I’ve experienced a sense of purpose being able to connect with these men,” he said.
Dick feels he can be someone these men can trust to discuss difficult topics with. Once fathers have finished the classes, he says he likes the prospect of seeing them make the next step forward.
“I really appreciate the Good Dads organization and the mission of helping men pick up the pieces of their lives to become better men and better dads,” he said.
Jeremy Kitchingham
Jeremy serves fathers in the Joplin area by facilitating classes at the Alliance of SWMO. As one of the first Good Dads facilitators, Jeremy is excited that Good Dads and the New Pathways program are continuing to expand their outreach.
“I have a lot of dads that have found our program that don’t have to be there, just eager people wanting to make a difference. They heard about Good Dads and want to become Good Dads themselves.”
Jeremy shared some recent exciting moments while facilitating classes, including a father who had the chance to see his child for the first time in a while.
“He was super excited and so were we,” Jeremy said.
In the future, Jeremy hopes that Good Dads gains a broader reach. He spreads the word on Good Dads through social media posts and Facebook Reels of recent podcast episodes.
“The more exposure we have, the better it’s gonna be. It looks like (Good Dads) is expanding, and I’m excited about that.”
Rhonda Andersen, Director of Training and Education
Rhonda plays an integral role as the director of training and education at Good Dads. While serving as a facilitator, she says she loves seeing the men grow and become more comfortable interacting with the other fathers by smiling and laughing together.
“One of my favorite things is getting to know each one of the dads as an individual and seeing them grow with their confidence and willingness to share their stories, their struggles and their joys.”
Seeing fathers gain employment, take steps in their recovery journey and reach new milestones is important to Rhonda. She mentioned one father was excited because he had the chance to tithe at his church, because now he had enough money to do so.
Rhonda wants to continue our efforts to reach more fathers and help kids and communities one dad at a time.
Save the Date!
Facilitator Training
When: April 23rd-25th, 2025
Are you or someone you know interested in being more effective in their work with fathers? Our Good Dads spring facilitator training event is for you! Nonprofit leaders, social workers, counselors, retirees, teachers, nurses, business leaders and public servants can all benefit from training to facilitate Good Dads courses. Those who have graduated from the New Pathways program are eligible to facilitate a minimum of 12 months after their graduation date.
Spring Graduation
When: June 12th, 2025
Fathers in our program will receive their diplomas and formally graduate from the New Pathways for Good Dads Program in the evening of June 12, 2025. We will announce event details this spring. Don’t miss the spring 2025 graduation with Good Dads!
Learn More
Whether you’re a dad, mentor, or someone passionate about positive parenting, Good Dads provides several valuable resources that include insights and tips on fostering meaningful fatherhood and mentoring relationships.
Sign up for the Good Dads Newsletter, explore the blog or dive into our brand-new podcast episodes!
