Dear NYC DADS,

Welcome to New York City's official website dedicated to helping fathers stay connected to their children.

I'm a dad myself and I know how rewarding and challenging it can be to raise children. Becoming a good father doesn't just happen overnight - it takes guidance, practice, and a community of peers to help you along when you have questions.

It doesn't matter if you live with or apart from your children, or if you're married, divorced, or have never been married. By taking both financial and emotional responsibility for your family, you can ensure that you'll remain a positive influence in your children's lives. After all, studies have shown that when a father is actively present, his children are less likely to do drugs, drop out of school, engage in criminal behavior, experience emotional and behavioral problems, and suffer from depression. So never doubt that what you do makes a big difference.

That's why we created NYC DADS. We hope that you will take advantage of the free events that we are hosting throughout the city, and use this website as your resource for advice and to find community-based parenting programs and activities.

Sincerely,

Robert Doar
Commissioner
New York City Human Resources Administration

Read Commissioner Doar’s Fostering Fathers Op-Ed as seen in the New York Post - June 16, 2008 (in PDF)