Fatherhood is Sacred®, Motherhood is Sacred® (FIS/MIS)

Native American fathers and mothers of children, adolescents, young adults, and adults, also aspiring parents

Fatherhood Is Sacred®, Motherhood Is Sacred® (FISMIS) is Native American Fatherhood and Families Association’s foundational program that is designed to help strengthen families by empowering and uplifting fathers and mothers. The program teaches core principles to help strengthen them as parents. Native people believe in the sanctity of many things: animals, mountains, burial grounds, etc., but the most sacred are their roles as fathers and mothers. FIS/MIS is a program for those wanting to improve family relationships, prepare to become responsible parents, reduce recidivism and substance abuse, and improve safety for their children. This course is uniquely designed with culturally relevant material to teach parents the vital impact of being responsibly involved in each child’s life.

Jane McCord
Native American Fatherhood and Families Association

• https://www.nativeamericanfathers.org/fatherhood-and-motherhood-is-sacred
• Email: janem@aznaffa.org
• Phone: (480) 833-5007

Albert Pooley
Native American Fatherhood and Families Association

• https://www.nativeamericanfathers.org/fatherhood-and-motherhood-is-sacred
• Email: apooley@aznaffa.org
• Phone: (480) 833-5007

The goals pf Fatherhood is Sacred®, Motherhood is Sacred® (FIS/MIS) are:

• Healing from intergenerational trauma
• Understanding of the importance of being involved as a father and mother
• Understanding of cultural principles and practices as a foundation
• Building a strong family that is resilient to divorce, domestic violence, substance abuse, suicide, and human trafficking
• Increasing awareness of the sacred purposes of families with strengthened relationships and communities

The essential components of Fatherhood is Sacred®, Motherhood is Sacred® (FIS/MIS) include:

• FIS/MIS is about people first, then principles, and finally, the program:
  • Traditionally, programs for families in Native American communities focused primarily on the needs of women & children.
  • Today, Native American men are often viewed as the cause of many family and social problems. NAFFA takes the position that fathers are the solution to address problems, the greatest untapped resource available in communities, and that fathers must take the lead in strengthening and keeping families together.
• FIS/MIS uses a culturally rich model that is designed to inspire and motivate parents to devote their best efforts in teaching and raising children. The philosophy is that self-motivation through natural techniques brings change to a person.
• Method is designed to do the following for participants:
  • Uplift one’s spirit, attitude, self-image, self-worth, and feeling of being welcome, wanted, needed, and special
  • Encourage and strengthen hope, bring new hope, inspire a desire for change, build confidence and trust in self and others
  • Assist with recognizing opportunities, identify resources, and improve life skills and problem-solving abilities
  • Teach principles, and responsibilities toward family, fatherhood, motherhood, marriage, and self-control
• FIS/MIS is based on 5 core principles that build on each other: Creator, Choice, Teachable, Wisdom, and Service:
  • Creator–The Creator is at the bottom because this is the foundation, their belief, their higher power. One common belief, which permeates through all tribes is their true belief in a Creator. This is perhaps the greatest legacy their tribal ancestors bring to present and future generations.
    • NAFFA does not endorse any specific religion – including Native American practices.
    • NAFFA believes it is the sacred responsibility of each father and mother to determine how they lead their family spiritually, not a program.
  • Choice–Next to life, choice is their greatest possession.
  • Teachable–Committed and devoted to TRUTH.
  • Wisdom–Understanding plus Courage.
  • Service–When one makes sacrifices for others and gives up selfishness, they open their mind. They begin to understand and gain a deeper appreciation for their family culture and beliefs.
• FIS/MIS teaches that fathers and mothers must truly love the people they serve and love what they bring to the people they serve. These elements are absolutely essential in strengthening the desire for positive change.
• The FIS/MIS foundation in cultural wisdom resonates with tribes in a way that nonnative programs cannot.
• The participants utilize a program-provided workbook during the sessions.

Adult Services

Fatherhood is Sacred®, Motherhood is Sacred® (FIS/MIS) directly provides services to adults (regardless of whether they are parents or caregivers) and addresses the following:

• Intergenerational trauma, divorce, domestic violence, substance abuse, suicide and human trafficking

Recommended Intensity

One weekly 2-hour group session

Recommended Duration

12 weeks

Delivery Settings

This program is typically conducted in a(n):

• Community Daily Living Setting
• Community-based Agency / Organization / Provider
• Justice Setting (Juvenile Detention, Jail, Prison, Courtroom, etc.)
• Public Child Welfare Agency (Dept. of Social Services, etc.)
• Virtual (Online, Smartphone, Zoom, Telephone, Video, etc.)

Homework

This program does not include a homework component.

Languages

Fatherhood is Sacred®, Motherhood is Sacred® (FIS/MIS) has materials available in the following languages other than English:

• French
• Spanish

For information on which materials are available in this language, please check on the program's website or contact the program representative (contact information is listed in this page).

Resources Needed to Run Program

The typical resources for implementing the program are:

A space in which to teach (room or virtual space), workbooks, optional certificates. All printed resources are available online through the Facilitator Resources portal.

Prerequisite/Minimum Provider Qualifications

None. Lived indigenous experience is preferred. Training is provided.

Manual Information

There is a manual that describes how to deliver this program.

Program Manual(s)

Manual details:

• Pooley, A. M. (n.d.). Fatherhood is Sacred®/ Motherhood is Sacred® facilitator manual. Williams Express.
• Pooley, A. M. (n.d.). Fatherhood is Sacred®/ Motherhood is Sacred® participant workbook. Williams Express.

The manual is available to FIS/MIS Facilitators via their login at https://www.nativeamericanfathers.org/fatherhood-and-motherhood-is-sacred. Please contact the training contact below for more details.

Training Information

There is training available for this program.

Training Contact

Training Type/Location:

Training can be obtained at Native American Fatherhood and Families Association offices, onsite at a trainee’s organization, at regional trainings, or wherever interested groups are gathered in sufficient numbers, typically at least 10 future facilitators. There are bimonthly facilitator support sessions available and facilitator recertification is required every 2 years.

Number of days/hours:

3-day intensive training

• There are currently no published, peer-reviewed research studies on outcomes with the appropriate target population for the topic area(s) in which Fatherhood is Sacred®, Motherhood is Sacred® has been reviewed.

• Goodrow, J. A. M. (2015). Program evaluation: Fatherhood is Sacred® and Motherhood is Sacred™. [Master's Project, Humboldt State University]. ScholarWorks. https://scholarworks.calstate.edu/downloads/5t34sn21b

• Hudson, S., & Brotherson, S. E. (2024). Reaching out to fathers in Afro-Caribbean contexts: A case study review of best practices from the Fatherhood is Sacred program in native communities. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, Article 1363173. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1363173