Father’s Auxiliary

One of the primary objectives of the National Father’s Auxiliary is to encourage involvement of fathers at the local, regional and national level. This is done by establishing a line of communication between each region and all chapters who choose to have a Father’s Auxiliary to share information and ideas.

Father’s Auxiliary Structure

National

A National Chairperson rotates among the regions every two years and is appointed by the National President of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. This committee is responsible for the following:

  • Organizing Regional Representatives for the purpose of gathering and disseminating information for the support of the regional and local chapters.
  • Interfacing and coordinating with the national Jack and Jill of America, Inc., organization through the National Corresponding Secretary, who serves as the liaison for the National Father’s Auxiliary to the National Executive Board.
  • Facilitate communication, promote ideas and forward concerns of Jack and Jill Fathers to the national Jack and Jill of America, Inc. organization through its National Executive Board liaison.
  • Advocate the understanding of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. organizational goals among fathers.

Regional

The Regional Father’s Auxiliary Chair is appointed by the Regional Director and takes on the following duties:

  • Facilitates the organization of Father’s Auxiliaries at the local level.
  • Communicate information from the national level to the local auxiliary.
  • Facilitate cooperation, disseminate information, and coordinate activities between local auxiliaries.
  • Study opinions and attitudes of local auxiliaries and promotes activities for the purpose of improving the effectiveness of the organization.
  • Communicate and coordinate with the regional teen, local and regional Jack and Jill of America, Inc., officers.
  • Provide assistance as needed at the teen regional conferences, cluster days and other organized activities.
  • Advocate the understanding of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., organizational goals.

Local

Chapters are encouraged to have a local Father’s Auxiliary that will be led by a father appointed by the Chapter President to perform the following duties:

  • Act as a point of contact for the purpose of gathering and disseminating information to the local Fathers.
  • Organize the local auxiliary according to the needs of the local Jack and Jill of America, Inc., chapter and coordinate with its officers.
  • Advocate the understanding of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., organizational goals.
  • Assist with local programming as needed.
  • Assist with community service projects as requested.

Programming & Community Initiatives

The work of the Fathers Auxiliary is done at the local level under the direction of the chapter president. Programming and initiatives may be shaped by local community needs or areas of focus for a chapter or may align with national community initiatives that support the Jack and Jill mission. Here are examples of how Jack and Jill fathers can make a difference.

Engaging with Programming for Local Children and Families

Several of the activities that the fathers have supported include:

  • Serving as mentors and role models for children, especially boys
  • Planning children age-group activities
  • Organizing Family Day Picnics
  • Organizing ski trips, investment clubs, etc.
  • Helping the Teens with their conference scrapbooks, plays and oratorical competitions.

Ensuring the Safety & Well Being of our Children

One important task that fathers help with is ensuring the safety and well-being of our children at activities – , especially when our teens are at evening or overnight activities – , including parties and teen conferences and act as area cluster workday chaperones.  The night security provided by our dads ensures our teens are safely where they should be, and they also ensure that outsiders are not engaging with our teens inappropriately.

Dads who take on this duty are part of POPs, which stands for Parents on Patrol, and assist with important tasks such as:

  • Ensuring the safety and security of our Teens and Moms.
  • Serving as the liaison to hotel or college campus security and emergency services personnel (as appropriate).
  • Partner with the regional team and host chapter to ensure smooth execution of teen conference logistics and the conference agenda.

Supporting Community Initiatives

Recognizing the need to increase the involvement in fathers in the lives of children, especially boys, President Barack Obama has launched two initiatives, which Jack and Jill chapters have the opportunity to support.

My Brother’s Keeper

President Obama launched the My Brother’s Keeper initiative in 2014 to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential. Through this initiative, the Administration is joining with cities and towns, businesses and foundations that are taking important steps to connect young people to mentoring, support networks and the skills they need to find a good job or go to college and work their way into the middle class. Jack and Jill Fathers across the nation have the opportunity to organize efforts to align with this initiative.

National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse

The goals of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse (NRFC) are to provide, facilitate and disseminate current research, proven and innovative strategies that will encourage and strengthen fathers and families. Jack and Jill Fathers may visit this website for resources and ideas on how to promote responsible fatherhood in communities across the nation.

Getting Started

If a member’s spouse is interested in forming a local Fathers Auxiliary, he should contact the Chapter President, who will guide the process of how to establish a Fathers Auxiliary group and its operating guidelines.

If a Chapter President, member or father would like support in establishing or strengthening a Fathers Auxiliary group, they may contact the Regional Fathers Auxiliary Chair for assistance.

The Regional Fathers Auxiliary Chairs for 2020-2022