The Four Pillars of Support

We serve our families through intensive case management and wraparound services which include:

Mentoring and Coaching

Family Forward provides one-on-one mentoring to help expectant mothers, fathers, and families access resources, identify strengths, and achieve goals.

Resource Connection

Family Forward has partnered with over 20 local organizations to connect families with needed resources such as quality prenatal care, baby supplies, child care, and more. We believe having security with the basic needs of life is the first step to experiencing lifelong success.

Education

Family Forward promotes healthy pregnancies, nutrition, and early childhood development through education and referrals.

Community Building

Family Forward links families to supportive networks within their own neighborhood and community. Part of helping families overcome barriers is introducing them to community so they never have to do so alone.

Supporting Families by Supporting Fathers

Having active, engaged fathers in the family unit is a vital component of ensuring the stability of the family as a whole. Our fatherhood initiative builds up a community of men by offering robust, wraparound services using two different curricula:

24/7 Dad®

This curriculum is based on a philosophy that supports the growth and development of fathers and children as caring, compassionate people who treat themselves, others, and the environment with respect and dignity. This philosophical basis of caring and compassion forms the underlying structure that constitutes the values that are taught in the 24/7 Dad® programs. Each 24/7 Dad® Program consists of 12 group-based sessions that build on each other.

Key Fathering Topics:

• What it Means to Be a Man
• Showing and Handling Emotions
• Men's Health
• The Father's Role
• Discipline
• Children's Growth
• Working with Mom and Co-Parenting
• Sex, Love, and Relationships
• Improving My Communication Skills

Fathering in 15 Course

Fathering in 15 is a free, self-paced course online. The course offers 15 sessions in both English and Spanish on topics such as child development and money management. At the end of the course, fathers will receive a certificate of completion.

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Ensuring Families Can Ride Safe

With the support of the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, Family Forward is able to provide free car seats to families who cannot absorb that expense. Alongside community partners, we host car seat safety events where families can pull their car up, receive education on installing their car seat, and learn what is developmentally appropriate for their child when it comes to car seat safety.

If you are interested in learning more about car seat safety by participating in a car seat event, please fill out our Car Seat Inquiry Form and we will add you to our waitlist.

Building a Strong Network

Family Forward would not be possible without our strong network of community partners who come alongside us to invest in our families:

• American Job Center Tennessee
• A Step Ahead Chattanooga
• Bethany Christian Services
• The Bethlehem Center
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee
• Centerstone Mental Health Centers
• Chambliss Center for Children
• Chattanooga 2.0
• Hamilton County Health Department
• Hamilton County Head Start
• Chattanooga Housing Authority
• CHOICES Pregnancy Center
• City of Chattanooga
• Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
• Creative Discover Museum
• Erlanger Health System
• Goodwill
• Hamilton County Government
  • Department of Education
  • Health Department
  • Head Start
  • Juvenile Court
  • Mental Health Court
  • Sheriff's Safe Journey Program
• Ladies of Charity
• La Paz Chattanooga
• Metropolitan Ministries
• Nurture the Next
• Orange Grove
• Partridge Health System
• Partnership for Families, Children & Adults
• Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee
• ResCare
• Salvation Army
• Signal Centers
• Silverdale Detention Center
• The Speech & Hearing Center, a program of Signal Centers
• Tennessee Early Intervention System
• TriState Transportation Group
• University of Tennessee Social Work Officer of Research and Public Service
• United Way of Greater Chattanooga

In order to receive services from Family Forward, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be pregnant OR be a parent/primary caregiver of a child ages 0-5
• Live in the following zip codes: 37404, 37407, 37410, 37411, or within City limits IF exception criteria are met*
• Be a father living anywhere within Hamilton County

*Please note the following exceptions:

• Applicant is homeless
• Applicant is a teen parent
• Applicant is a recent survivor of interpersonal violence
• Applicant has a household member with a disability
• Application submitted is because of a CPS referral or is court ordered

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