Advocating for Nurturing Custody, Healing & Ongoing Relationships
You are not alone. When the system feels overwhelming, when distance grows between you and your children, ANCHOR stands with you — with legal support, community, and a path forward rooted in your child's best interest.
ANCHOR for Fathers was founded on a simple conviction: that the bond between a father and his child is sacred, necessary, and worth fighting for. We serve fathers navigating New York City's Family Court system, providing the legal support, emotional grounding, and community they need to stay present in their children's lives.
We believe children thrive when they have healthy, loving relationships with both parents. ANCHOR helps fathers focus on what matters most — not winning a case, but strengthening the relationship with their child. We honor the role of mothers and promote cooperation, co-parenting, and mutual respect as the foundation for every child's wellbeing.
Too many fathers walk into court alone, overwhelmed, and unprepared. We exist to change that — one father, one family, one case at a time.
Every father is treated with respect and recognized as essential to his child's life.
Fair treatment in the courts, grounded in law and the best interests of the child.
Respect for both parents and commitment to co-parenting as the foundation of a child's wellbeing.
Addressing the emotional toll of custody conflict with real support and honest self-reflection.
Navigating Family Court is more than a legal challenge — it tests your patience, your mental health, your sense of self. ANCHOR addresses all of it.
Court preparation, case review, guidance on custody and visitation rights, document assistance, and referrals to family law attorneys who understand our community's needs.
Facilitated groups where fathers share experiences, build solidarity, and develop strategies together. You are not alone in this — and hearing other fathers' stories changes everything.
Classes and workshops that strengthen your parenting skills and demonstrate your commitment. Courts notice fathers who invest in growth — and your children will, too.
Evidence-based programs that give you tools to manage the intense emotions custody battles produce. Staying grounded is both a personal necessity and a legal strategy.
Education, documentation support, and advocacy for fathers experiencing alienating behaviors. We help you name it, prove it, and fight it — in and out of court.
Connection to housing, employment, mental health services, and other resources that stabilize your life and strengthen your custody position.
Parental alienation occurs when one parent systematically undermines a child's relationship with the other parent — through manipulation, false narratives, interference with visitation, and emotional coercion. The child, caught in the middle, is turned against a parent who loves them.
ANCHOR takes this issue seriously — and takes it honestly. We recognize that alienating behavior causes profound harm to children and targeted parents. We also recognize that alienation claims can be complex, that legitimate concerns about a child's safety must always be heard, and that the best interests of the child must remain the guiding principle in every case.
Our approach: support fathers in strengthening the relationship with their child, document what is happening clearly and factually, and pursue remedy through the courts when warranted — always with the child's wellbeing at the center, never as a weapon against the other parent.
Read our full guide to understanding parental alienation →I walked into court terrified. I'd been told for months I didn't matter, that I'd lose. ANCHOR helped me prepare, helped me breathe, and helped me show up as the father I am. I have my kids every weekend now.
Brooklyn — Custody mediation, 2024
The group sessions changed me. I realized I wasn't crazy — what was happening had a name. Other brothers were going through the exact same thing. That alone gave me the strength to keep fighting.
Bronx — Encounter group participant
My daughter wouldn't talk to me for eight months. ANCHOR helped me understand what was happening and gave me a plan. It took time, but she's back in my life. I owe that to this organization.
Queens — Parental alienation support
They didn't just help with the legal stuff. They helped me become a better father. The parenting classes, the anger management — I needed all of it. And the court saw the change.
Manhattan — Full program participant
The law recognizes your importance in your child's life. Understanding your rights is the first step to protecting them.
New York law does not presume that mothers are better custodial parents. Both parents start on equal legal footing in custody proceedings.
You have the right to petition for custody or visitation at any time — even if you were never married to the child's other parent.
Custody and visitation orders can be modified when circumstances change. An existing order is not permanent if it no longer serves the child's best interests.
You have the right to present evidence, call witnesses, and testify in your own custody proceeding. You have the right to legal representation.
If the other parent violates a court order — including denying visitation — you have the right to file a violation petition. Courts take this seriously.
Courts are increasingly recognizing parental alienation as a factor in custody decisions. Documenting alienating behaviors is essential and admissible.
Whether you're a father, a family member, a legal professional, or someone who believes in justice — there's a place for you at ANCHOR.
Mentors, legal professionals, counselors, and community organizers — we need your skills and your time.
Get in touch →Your contribution funds legal assistance, group programming, and advocacy work for fathers who can't afford to fight alone.
Support ANCHOR →Join our campaign for thoughtful legislative reform — supporting children's safety, fair treatment of fathers, and court systems that serve families, not just process cases.
Learn about the issues →Fill out this form and a member of our team will contact you within 24 hours. Everything you share is confidential.
We understand that reaching out takes courage. Many of the fathers we serve were hesitant at first. Whatever stage you're at — whether you just got served papers or you haven't seen your child in years — we are here.
Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (by appointment)
Emergency support available after hours
ANCHOR is open to all fathers in New York City navigating custody, visitation, or family court challenges. We also support grandfathers, stepfathers, and other father figures in caregiving roles.