About the Dads Matter Initiative
Strong Start | Healthy Start is committed to improving the father, parent-child relationship through fatherhood engagement, case management, mediation, and coaching. Our Dads Matter Initiative promotes this philosophy by providing case management and mediation services, access to father-child activities, and linking fathers to resources that strengthen the role for the involvement of the father and promote healthy and responsible behaviors.
We also offer fun, educational, informative, and interactive fatherhood “Dad Talk” workshops & activities with our Fatherhood Facilitator. Come and unleash the great father that lies within you!
We provide food, refreshments, door prizes, giveaways, and transportation assistance for all of our in-person workshops. Virtual events are held via Zoom.
What's in it for Dads?
Evidence-based workshops and case management meaning that these materials and strategies have already been tested and proven effective in helping fathers become better fathers, couples become better partners, and single fathers become better partners in a future relationship. Men will also be part of a national movement designed to help increase the abilities and values of fathers in America’s families.
What Fatherhood Workshops are Available?
We currently use two evidence-based curricula for our Fatherhood Workshops- the National Fatherhood Initiative's flagship fatherhood curriculum, 24/7 Dads, and the Center for the Improvement of Child Caring’s Effective Black Parenting curriculum. 24/7 Dads is used by thousands of organizations across the country to train fathers to be involved, responsible, and committed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Effective Black Parenting is the country’s first culturally-adapted parenting skill-building program for parents of African-American children, and is endorsed by the US Department of Health and Human Services and the National Healthy Start Association.
Responsible Fatherhood Topics Include:
- Children’s Growth
- Getting Involved
- Working with Mom and Co-Parenting
- Dad’s Work
- Pyramid of Success for Black Children
- Traditional Black Discipline vs. Modern Black Discipline
- What It Means to be A Man
Healthy Relationships Topics Include:
- Showing and Handling Feelings
- Men’s Health
- Communication
- Preventing Substance Abuse
- The Thinking Parent’s Approach
- Finding Special Time for All of Our Children
- And Many More topics!
All workshops are free and open to the public.
When and Where are Fatherhood Workshops?
We are offering a variety of workshops and events throughout the community. For current scheduled workshops or more information about Dads Matter, please contact Quintin at qbaptiste@ingham.org or visit our Facebook page.