What is Responsible Fatherhood?

Fathers must be encouraged in their efforts to raise children well. "Responsible fathers" do not pose a threat to their families.

Responsible fathers are men who:

• Wait until they are emotionally and financially prepared
  to father children.
• Establish legal paternity when they biologically father
  a child.
• Play an active role in their children's education.
• Teach their children to care for themselves and others.
  This may mean understanding the importance of diet,
  rest, exercise and self-defense skills.
• Actively share parental responsibilities with their child's mother.
• Provide moral and philosophical guidance for their child by:
  • Teaching through positive examples;
  • Teaching awareness of racial/ethnic and cultural identity; and
  • Teaching the importance of spirituality.
• Model responsible behavior including paying bills on time, following through on responsibilities, and commitments.
• Conduct themselves with basic dignity and self-respect.
• Recognize that a father's health and vitality are interconnected with those of his children.
• Love, care for, and protect their children.
• Determine, together with the mother, appropriate limits and discipline.
• Prioritize quantity and quality time with their children.
• Limit the amount of television time
• Separate problems in other relationships from the relationship with their children.
• Take responsibility for knowing basic life and child development skills such as changing diapers, fostering early child development, and providing for basic health needs.
• Recognize that fatherhood is a life-long commitment.
• Teach and raise children in a way that will help them be successful.
• Build their child's self-esteem, self-worth, and self-confidence.
• Help their children learn how to make good decisions on their own using thoughtful consideration of options and the opinions of others.
• Teach their children how to be collaborative not just competitive.
• Ensure their child is financially supported.
• Maintain responsible relationships as a part of a family and as a role model.