About Our Conference

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The New England Fathering Conference Planning Committee is excited to offer attendees two and a half days of learning, sharing and fellowship focused on fatherhood! Fatherhood has changed over the past few decades as society embraces new roles and expectations for fathers. This year’s conference theme, "Heart of a Father, Strength of a Man”, highlights the dual nature of fatherhood: the emotional depth and nurturing aspect of a father's love alongside the protective and guiding strength he provides.  Strength is more than physical ability, with inner strength being just as vital while navigating relationships, especially with children. “Fathering with heart” embodies love, hope, resilience, and the determination to face challenges or take risks as a parent. These qualities motivate fathers and their families to overcome adversity or pursue goals, and we all, as part of the broader community, benefit from this perseverance. This multi-day educational event for professionals brings together human service providers, social workers, health professionals, educators, program directors, government representatives, family advocates, and fathers in programming across the region. The event offers an opportunity for them to learn, share information and experiences, and network within and across states. As in the past, we are committed to featuring a talented, diverse array of speakers and presenters who will inspire and challenge us. The conference encompasses four arenas: Dads and Family/Community, Dads and Health, Dads and Education, and Dads and Systems.

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Conference History

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The New England Fathering Conference (NEFC) was initiated in Massachusetts in 1999 and was held there annually until the Planning Committee decided to rotate the event around the New England region every two years. We’ve continued hosting successful conferences in Connecticut (2008, 2009 and again in 2016 and 2017), Rhode Island (2010, 2011, 2014 and 2015) and Maine (2012 and 2013), each with 300-400 attendees and presenters from across New England and beyond! We then brought the conference to Springfield Massachusetts for 2018 and 2019, highlighting how our work with fathers supports the legacy they are creating for their children and celebrating our 20th annual event.   In 2020, 2021, and 2022 COVID-19 prevented the NEFC from meeting in person, but our work continued online.  In 2020, we offered a three-part webinar series for fatherhood professionals, in 2021, we offered eight workshops at four quarterly sessions to keep folks engaged, and in March 2022 we hosted an online conference (Opportunities for a New Beginning).  In March 2023 (Parents and Children Thriving Through Change) and 2024 (Healthy Fathers, Families and Communities), we were very excited to sell out our 23rd and 24th annual conferences in Newport, Rhode Island.  In March 2025, we sold out our 25th annual event in Mystic Connecticut with the theme: A Legacy of Connecting and Belonging. and we are excited to be returning to Mystic again in March 2026, this time our theme is Heart of a Father, Strength of a Man.