Fathers Uplift

What Fathers Uplift does

Fathers' UpLift is a U.S. nonprofit organization founded in 2011 by Dr. Charles C. Daniels Jr. and Samantha Fils-Daniels, headquartered in Dorchester (Boston), Massachusetts, and recognized as the country's first mental health and substance abuse treatment facility designed specifically for fathers and families. A second office in Cincinnati's Over The Rhine neighborhood opened on September 5, 2025. The organization delivers trauma-informed, father-centered behavioral health services through four core program lines: Direct Service (individual/group therapy), Reentry Support (Uplift coaching for justice-involved fathers), Mother & Father Allyship, and Workforce Development (Learn @ FUL, including the USTR Fellowship for clinicians of color). These programs are operationalized through the proprietary Reconnection Strategy Model, a framework that integrates traditional behavioral health with father-child reconnection as the success metric, supported by 15-week evidence-informed group curricula (Managing Emotions, Pre-Father Care, Wellness & Recovery) and a Weekly National Drop-In Group offered virtually.

The technical and intellectual property layer consists of the Reconnection Strategy Model and the Father-apy licensing program, which annually licenses ten external organizations to replicate the Managing Emotions and Pre-Father Care curricula; the FUL Affiliate Clinician Program extends the same model through a national Resource Portal routing clients to affiliated clinicians by geography. Program-level outcome data reported by the organization include 96% goal-confidence among participants, 87% improved quality of life at six months, 84% recent in-person engagement with their children, a recidivism rate roughly one-quarter of the general re-entering population, and a 66.7% first-attempt social work licensure pass rate for USTR Fellows (versus ~47% national).

Revenue and go-to-market are diversified across public funding, fee-for-service clinical billings, licensing, donations, and education. Massachusetts state funders — Executive Office of Health and Human Services (HCBS Workforce Grant), the Massachusetts Office of Economic Development ($200,000 CERP award in FY24), the Department of Public Health, and the Department of Mental Health — anchor grant revenue. Insurance-billable clinical services (Medicaid/MassHealth and commercial plans including BCBSMA) plus $30 per-session out-of-state course fees generate fee-for-service income. Licensing of the Father-apy program to outside organizations, a $20/month Dadvocate donor membership, the Bags for Dads wraparound support program, and foundation grants (Schooner, Yawkey, Cummings, Wellington Management, with prior venture/philanthropic capital from Praxis and Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation in 2017-2018) round out the income mix. Customer acquisition is community-led and referral-driven, combining self-referral, institutional referrals, healthcare and child-welfare partnerships, and community events such as the Recovery Birthday Block Party and Father's Day celebrations.

Name

Fathers Uplift

Legal name

Fathers' UpLift

Website

https://fathersuplift.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fathers' UpLift is a Boston-based nonprofit operating the nation's first mental-health and substance-abuse treatment facility for fathers and families, delivering trauma-informed therapy, reentry coaching, evidence-based group curricula, workforce development, and a licensed replication program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mental Health Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Family & Parenting Support Services (BPAGAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Co-Parenting, Father Engagement & Caregiver Inclusion Programs (EDACALAI), Home Visiting & Parent Coaching Programs (EDACALAC), Parent Mental Health, Stress Management & Wellness Programs (EDACALAJ)

Keywords

• Mental health therapy
• Substance abuse treatment
• Fatherhood programs
• Reentry support services
• Father coaching services

Headquarters

HQ city

Dorchester

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Fee-for-Service Clinical Services: Revenue generated from clinical therapy services billed to Medicaid and commercial insurance plans. The organization provides outpatient mental-health and substance-use services with administrative team handling claims and scheduling.
2. Government Grants and Funding: Received $200,000 from Massachusetts Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Program for FY24 to support clinical therapy and peer-driven coaching. Also received HCBS Workforce Development Grant and funding from MA Dept. of Public Health and MA Dept. of Mental Health.
3. Licensing and Affiliate Programs: Revenue from licensing the Father-apy program to organizations replicating their evidence-informed approaches, and from affiliate clinician arrangements.
4. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donations, Dadvocate monthly membership program ($20/month), and Giving Tuesday campaigns to support programs including therapy, transportation, and emergency support for fathers.
5. Educational Program Fees: Course fees for out-of-state learners ($30 per session) when health insurance does not cover costs. Massachusetts residents have health insurance accepted for all courses with assistance obtaining insurance if needed.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Fathers' UpLift provides trauma-informed mental health therapy, substance abuse treatment, and fatherhood-focused coaching for fathers and fathers-to-be, anchored by the proprietary Reconnection Strategy Model. Core service lines include Direct Service (therapy), Reentry Support (Uplift Coaching), Mother & Father Allyship, Workforce Development, and the USTR Fellowship, delivered in person at Boston and Cincinnati offices and virtually nationwide, with the Father-apy licensing program extending the model to other organizations.

Product overview

Fathers' UpLift is the country's first mental health and substance abuse treatment facility designed specifically for fathers and families. The organization operates as a unified service model centered on father-child reconnection, offering Direct Service (therapy), Reentry Support (Uplift Coaching), Mother & Father Allyship, and Workforce Development (Learn @ FUL) as core programs. These are supplemented by the USTR Fellowship for therapist recruitment, Father-apy licensing program for replication, group courses (Pre-Father Care, Managing Emotions, Wellness & Recovery, Homecoming Programming), the National Fatherhood Directory, and the PRESENT book publication. The organization serves fathers and families in Boston, MA and Cincinnati, OH, with virtual services available nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Direct Service (Therapy) Trauma-informed individual and group therapy providing mental health and substance abuse treatment for fathers, delivered by staff who share backgrounds with the community served. Billed to Medicaid and commercial insurance plans.
• Reentry Support (Uplift Coaching) Specialized pre-release and community-based coaching for men facing challenges related to incarceration and re-entry, including pre-release planning and post-release support.
• Mother & Father Allyship Partnership program where fathers work on being better allies to the mothers in their lives and to themselves, fostering healthy co-parenting relationships.
• Workforce Development (Learn @ FUL) Targeted training activities focused on building skills in the social work field, emphasizing practice, licensure preparation, mentorship, reflection, and self-awareness.
• USTR Fellowship (United States Therapist Recruitment) Fellowship program providing financial support, mentorship, and licensure exam preparation for aspiring therapists from underrepresented backgrounds to become licensed mental health professionals, supported by HCBS Workforce Development Grant funding.
• Father-apy (Licensing Program) Annual licensing program distributing ten licenses per year to organizations interested in replicating Fathers' UpLift's evidence-informed Managing Emotions and Pre-Father Care group programs; licensees receive training, guidance, evaluation resources, and client referrals.
• Managing Emotions Course 15-week evidence-informed group course on remaining in control of emotions such as anger, guilt, sadness, and hopelessness; equips participants with tools for recognizing physical and emotional responses and practicing forgiveness.
• Pre-Father Care Course (Self-Parenting) 15-week evidence-informed course covering practical knowledge, tools, and insight for fathers at any phase of their journey, including men on the verge of becoming a father.
• Wellness & Recovery Course 15-week evidence-informed course focusing on wellness, relapse prevention, and recovery, helping learners identify origins of unhealthy behaviors and implement physical, mental, and emotional health practices.
• PRESENT (Book) Trade book by Dr. Charles C. Daniels Jr. titled 'Present: The Crisis of American Fatherhood and the Power of Showing Up', published by Convergent Books (Penguin Random House) on June 3, 2025; serves as a thought leadership product supporting the Fathers' UpLift mission.
• FUL Affiliate Clinician Program Affiliate program enabling clinicians to deliver Fathers' UpLift's interventions in their own contexts; affiliates are listed in the Resource Portal and receive guidance, training, evaluation resources, and client referrals based on geography, capacity, and performance.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of fathers felt confident about their ability to achieve their desired goal after services
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• New ProfitcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 May 2023Partnership with New Profit for greater impact and scaling of Fathers' UpLift's programs and mission to support fathers and families.
• University of Tennessee College of Social WorkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to develop an enhanced licensure prep curriculum for social work students, sharing USTR Fellowship learnings with academic institutions.
• TPC (Partner Logo)minorOthersCommunity partner supporting fathers and families.
• FFH (Partner Logo)minorOthersCommunity partner organization.
• City of BostonminorOthersMunicipal government partner based in Boston.
• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMAF)minorOthersHealth insurance partner accepting coverage for Massachusetts residents.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse: Federal resource hub providing fatherhood program information, evaluation tools, and best practices. Comparable in supporting the fatherhood services ecosystem, but functions as a clearinghouse rather than a direct service or therapy provider.
• Casey Family Programs: Large national operating foundation focused on child welfare and safe family reunification. Comparable in mission of strengthening families and reducing out-of-home placements, including father-engagement themes, but operates at significantly greater scale.
• Mental Health America: National community-based mental health nonprofit addressing a broad range of populations. Comparable as a behavioral health peer focused on access and outcomes, though not specialized to fathers or father-child reconnection.
• Parents as Teachers: Large established parent-education and family-engagement organization with a national affiliate network. Comparable in delivering evidence-informed parent programming at scale, but focused on early-childhood parenting broadly rather than fathers or behavioral health.
• Boys Town: Established national child and family services organization offering behavioral health, parenting programs, and youth services. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the family behavioral health space, though much larger and operating residential models.
• Children's Home & Aid: Regional child welfare and family services provider across the Midwest offering counseling, parenting programs, and family preservation. Comparable as a multi-service family support organization with overlapping therapeutic and family-engagement offerings.

Others

• Child Trends: National research organization producing evidence on child and family wellbeing, including fatherhood research. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem participant informing fatherhood policy and program design.

Direct peers

• National Center for Fathering: Father-focused nonprofit providing resources, training, and community programs to strengthen father engagement. Comparable in mission and father-centric programming, though oriented toward faith-based and educational rather than clinical services.
• National Fatherhood Initiative: National nonprofit focused on fatherhood research, advocacy, and program replication. Highly comparable as a father-engagement specialist organization, though it lacks Fathers' UpLift's clinical/therapy depth.
• Nurturing Fathers Program: Evidence-based fatherhood program delivered through community organizations to increase father involvement. Directly comparable as a replicable father-engagement curriculum model, though not a clinical provider.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fathersuplift
• Facebookfacebook.com/FUplift
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fathers-uplift

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fathers Uplift