Fatherhood in action

Learning how to stay calm under pressure and show up consistently for his children was one of the biggest lessons Mikhail Foster Sr. took away from six weeks in the Responsible Fatherhood program at Fathers & Families Support Center.

The father of six said the program challenged him to look inward, manage his emotions and strengthen his faith so he can be a better father and role model for his children.

“I have to stay positive for my kids,” Foster said. “Everything starts with me.”

As families celebrate Father’s Day this weekend, research continues to challenge long-standing stereotypes about Black fatherhood. A landmark study by the National Center for Health Statistics found that Black fathers are highly engaged in their children’s lives and, in several measures of daily caregiving, reported higher levels of involvement than white and Hispanic fathers. 

Researchers found Black fathers were more likely to help young children with activities such as bathing, dressing and diapering and were often highly involved in daily routines such as reading, playing and helping with homework.

Studies have also linked positive father involvement to stronger social-emotional development, improved academic outcomes and healthier relationships for children.

For nearly three decades, Fathers & Families Support Center has worked to help fathers build on that involvement by strengthening parenting skills, improving communication and increasing emotional and financial support for their children.

Founded in 1997 by Halbert Sullivan, the St. Louis organization offers parenting education, employment services, legal assistance and mentoring programs designed to help parents become more emotionally and financially involved in their children’s lives. 

The Family Formation Program, the organization’s cornerstone initiative, begins with an intensive six-week course focused on parenting, communication, healthy relationships and financial responsibility, followed by at least a year of supportive services.

Since its first Responsible Fatherhood class nearly 28 years ago, the organization has served almost 23,000 fathers and positively impacted more than 57,000 children.

The organization reports measurable results. In 2025, 81% of participants said they improved their parenting skills, 78% reported stronger co-parenting relationships and 71% said they increased interactions with their children.

For Foster, those findings reflect what he and his fellow graduates worked toward during the six-week program.

“My biggest takeaway was learning how to get outside of myself,” he said. “Looking at myself and learning how I can better myself.”

He said the program taught him the importance of controlling his emotions, strengthening his faith and allowing spirituality to serve as a guide in his life.

Cheri Tillis, CEO of Fathers & Families Support Center, said she watched significant changes unfold during the six-week program.

“In those six weeks, lives were transformed,” Tillis said. “Frowns were turned into smiles. Men who may have been experiencing loneliness now have a brotherhood.”

She said the fathers made a conscious decision to invest in themselves and their children.

“Most importantly, your children have role models they can look to,” Tillis told graduates during the ceremony. “They can feel the difference.”

Darryl Covin, a facilitator with the program, said the curriculum goes beyond teaching fathers how to provide financially. It also focuses on emotional intelligence, communication and accountability.

“We know how hard you can be as a man, but let’s see how soft you can be,” Covin said.

He encourages participants to practice patience, listen more carefully and communicate more effectively with their families.

“We encourage the men to take their rightful place as leaders in the family,” he added.

The emphasis on emotional intelligence mirrors what researchers have found about effective fatherhood. Studies show children benefit not only from financial support but also from consistent emotional connection, guidance and engagement. Experts say fathers who are actively involved in their children’s daily lives can have a lasting impact on their confidence, behavior and overall well-being.

The program also seeks to strengthen families through economic stability. The center served 977 individuals in 2025, while 267 participants gained or maintained employment, earning an average wage of $18.65 per hour. According to the organization, those employment gains translated into more than $10 million reinvested into the local economy.

Between 2019 and 2024, participants in the Family Formation Program contributed nearly $5.9 million in child-support payments, helping provide greater financial stability for children and families throughout the region. The organization estimates that for every dollar invested in its programs, nearly five dollars are returned to the St. Louis community through increased employment, family stability and reduced dependence on public assistance.

For Tillis, the graduation ceremony was not the finish line but the beginning.

“I’m most proud that they took a leap of faith and stayed committed,” she said. “Showing up is the first step.”

She hopes graduates continue applying the lessons learned long after the certificates are handed out.

“There is no playbook for parenthood,” Tillis said. “But if they utilize what they’ve learned here, they will be better for it.”

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