Registration is open for the National Fatherhood Initiative’s® 24/7 Dad® Key Behaviors Workshop hosted by Kettering Health. The series of free classes uses evidence-based curriculum to help participants build behaviors that are crucial to a father’s success, such as taking care of his physical and mental health, modeling healthy masculinity for his children, disciplining his children in healthy ways, and building and maintaining a healthy relationship with the mother of his children.
“Research shows that when the father is involved in the child’s life in a healthy way, it leads to reduced infant and maternal mortality rates, regardless of the father’s relationship with the child’s mother,” said Michelle Beebe, manager of perinatal outreach and childbirth education at Kettering Health. “By equipping fathers with a skill set that will allow them to remain consistently and positively involved in their child’s care, we’re improving health outcomes not just for that specific family unit, but for generations to come.”
The program is funded by the Ohio Governor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and targets West Dayton due to the area’s high infant and maternal mortality rates and large concentration of one-parent families. Eligible fathers are those who are below 200% of the federal poverty line, are at least 18 years of age, are expecting a child, or have a child one years old or younger. Participants do not need to be married to and/or actively involved with the child’s mother to participate. All classes are facilitated by Steve Makofka, a certified family life coach and educator with over 20 years of experience in supporting and educating local families.
Classes are offered on Monday and Thursday nights. Monday classes take place from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Dayton Metro Library, West Branch, 300 Abbey Ave. Thursday classes are from 7 to 9 p.m. at Cassano Health Center, 165 S. Edwin C. Moses Blvd., Dayton, OH 45402. Classes run through June 20. Those interested in registering can do so here or by calling (937) 395-8600.