The National Quality Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers and the Child Welfare System (QIC NRF) is a collaborative effort between the American Humane Association , the American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law, and National Fatherhood Initiative and funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children’s Bureau.

The focus of this project is a result of the federal Child and Family Services Reviews and the “What About the Dads?” report, which indicated that there is very little meaningful engagement occurring between the child welfare system and fathers. The QIC NRF promotes the importance of gaining more knowledge regarding the engagement of non-resident fathers and their children who are involved in the child welfare system.

The purpose of this project is to determine, through a research design, the impact of non-resident father involvement on child welfare outcomes. Child welfare outcomes include child safety, permanence, and well-being. Included in this design is the examination of the relationship between children, non-resident fathers, and/or paternal relatives. Throughout this project, information gained from the QIC NRF will be disseminated through this Web site and to the Children’s Bureau, sub-grantees, child welfare agencies, private service providers, the courts, legal systems and other stakeholders.