About Us
Our History: In 2019, in partnership with the Michigan Office of Child Support, the University of Michigan School of Social Work received a grant from the Fatherhood Research & Practice Network (FRPN). The Michigan Action Plan for Father Involvement (MAP-FI) was created to explore ways of expanding support for father involvement and to guide the establishment of permanent structures for improving policies and programs that benefit fathers and their families.
Mission
To create and implement a comprehensive action plan promoting healthy and engaging relationships between Michigan children and their fathers.
Vision
Michigan's children with a father-fueled future.
What we believe
The loving care of a father is a foundation for his child's wellbeing and creates a life-long relationship.
A father can play a critical role in his child's life even if he does not live full-time with his child.
A harmonious community of care around a child, with parents and caregivers supporting AND collaborating with each other, is a foundation for the child's healthy development.
Father's caring instincts and emotional relationships with their children should be celebrated as part of what it is to be a father.
Fathers need support and acknowledgment. They deserve validation from their partners, families, communities, and policymakers.
The "support" in child support is not just financial; both parents share a responsibility to provide physical, emotional, and financial support to allow for the child's healthy development.
Fatherhood is an evolving journey over time. Like all parents and caregivers, fathers need time, practice, and guidance- to care for, nurture, play with, and teach their children.