The name kind of stops you for a second.
Good Dads.
Simple. Straight to the point. And, according to Scott Lewis, that’s exactly the idea.
Lewis is a project manager with the Springfield-based nonprofit, and he said the mission goes back about a decade. It started with founder Dr. Jennifer Baker, who spent years working in clinical psychology and family therapy. What she kept seeing, over and over, was a pattern.
“When fathers are involved, everything tends to improve,” Lewis said. “Stronger families. Better outcomes for kids. Safer communities.”
So instead of just talking about it, she decided to build something around it.
That became Good Dads.
The organization focuses on helping fathers be more present and more confident in their role. Not just in cities, but in smaller towns and rural parts of Missouri, where resources like this haven’t always been easy to find.
Today, there are about 20 chapters across the state.
Most of the work happens through classes. Real, in-person classes where dads sit down together, share a meal, and talk about life. It’s not just lectures. It’s a conversation. It’s learning from each other.
“There’s no handbook on how to be a good dad,” Lewis said. “A lot of guys didn’t grow up with that example.”
That gap shows up in the numbers. Lewis said about one in four children in the U.S. grow up without a father in the home. That’s part of what drives the program.
Two of the main offerings right now are called Good Dads: Forge and Good Dads: Plus Up. Both run about 13 weeks, meeting once a week for a couple of hours at a time.
Forge is geared toward dads. Plus Up brings in couples, which is something newer for the organization.
The focus isn’t complicated, but it’s important. Communication. Relationships. Parenting. Even financial basics, like avoiding bad loans or making smart decisions with money.
“It’s really about understanding your values,” Lewis said. “Figuring out what kind of dad you want to be.”
The classes are held across Missouri, including several in the Springfield area. And one thing that stands out — they’re free.
That opens the door for a lot of families who might not otherwise have access to something like this.
The program is also built around connection. Lewis said one of the biggest takeaways dads talk about isn’t just what they learned, but who they met.
“They build a support system,” he said. “That matters.”
Good Dads also leans on volunteers to help lead those classes. Facilitators go through training and commit time each week to work with the groups. Many of them, Lewis said, are people who’ve lived through similar situations and want to give something back.
Looking ahead, there’s a lot of excitement around the couples program.
Lewis said he’s seen firsthand how useful the material can be. As a father himself, he said the lessons go beyond just parenting.
“It makes you a better partner, too,” he said. “It changes how you listen, how you show up.”
For those interested, classes and information are available through the organization’s website.
At the end of the day, the idea isn’t complicated.
Strong dads help build strong families. And strong families build stronger communities.
That’s what Good Dads is aiming for, one class at a time.
