Empowering Fathers

YFS' Fatherhood First program helps fathers understand and embrace the vital role they play in their children's lives. Staff offer hands-on programming for fathers or father figures as well as individualized home visits to enrolled families.

Program Goals

• Encouraging fathers and positive male role models such as uncle, grandfather, step-father, etc. to fill the masculine care-giving void and provide the child with a masculine point of view

• Promoting the cultural shift that supports men being emotionally connected to their children through training, role modeling, and awareness

• Educating female staff and practitioners about the benefits of a male presence to a child

• Understanding and helping mothers with negative feelings about men and fathers

• Including mothers in some elements of fatherhood programming in order to maintain good relationships among parents

• Offering advocacy services; peer to peer mentorship; and outreach programming

Trainings

YFS Fatherhood First staff offers trainings to other professionals that work with fathers and families in order to disseminate information, provide strategies and share resources.

24/7 Dad® AM

24/7 Dad® AM is a unique course designed to equip fathers with the self-awareness, compassion, and sense of responsibility that every good parent needs. Fathers learn how to care for themselves, communicate more effectively, co-parent with their children's mom, and be actively involved in the lives of their children.
This program has helped me to take notice of my children's every move....Even when I think I'm not doing anything, they're watching and learning....

Rick, age 42, father and program participant