There’s no question that when it comes to healthy babies and healthy families, a mother’s role is crucial.

But what about fathers?

Many dads feel relegated to the sidelines during pregnancy and birth, and others disengage or are absent altogether. Studies show, however, that their role is just as key.

Children without an active and engaged father living at home are two times more likely to die before their first birthday. Those who survive are twice as likely to drop out of high school and four times more likely to live in poverty, according to National Fatherhood Initiative. Nationally, 1 in 3 children have no father in the home, and the ramifications can be long lasting.

4Dad, a new program with Kalamazoo County’s Health and Community Services, looks to change that narrative with a focus on fatherhood. The program, which launched in March, aims to empower fathers and promote healthy families in a myriad of ways that include one-on-one home visits, referrals to community resources, workshops and education, and community events centered on fathers.

The county is a partner in Cradle Kalamazoo, a community-wide effort to prevent infant death and promote healthy families.

“If we’re going to reduce the infant mortality rate, we have to engage both the mom and the dad,” said Derek Miller, Care Coordinator with 4Dad.

Joining a movement

The program, funded with an Innovative/Interim grant from United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region, emerged from a Kalamazoo organization called the Fatherhood Network. This is a group of men in the community who gather for events and discussions about issues facing men and fathers. Seeing a need for an evidence-based program, the men of Fatherhood Network enlisted the help of another county program — Healthy Babies, Healthy Start – to write a grant.

“4Dad definitely wouldn’t be here with the county if it wasn’t for the work of the Fatherhood Network,” said Jacob Pinney-Johnson, Community Educator with 4Dad. He added that while the program is unique in Kalamazoo, similar work is taking place across the country.

“There’s currently a movement around fatherhood around the nation. A lot of organizations and individuals doing work around healthy babies and healthy families are realizing that we really need to be more intentional about connecting with, supporting and advocating for fathers.”

The movement resonated with a group of local donors recently, as 4Dad was chosen by vote to receive a $5,000 grant at United Way’s Pop-Up Giving event. Read more about that event and 4Dad’s plans for the grant money here.

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Home visiting

Home visits are a cornerstone of the 4Dad program. As care coordinator, this is Miller’s role. Working closely with Healthy Babies, Healthy Start, Miller visits new and expectant fathers one-on-one at home to offer support, connect men to resources and educate on topics ranging from child development stages to safe sleep practices.

“A lot of fathers are taken aback,” Miller said. “’Support me? Just me?’ It’s just getting past that barrier where a father can feel like, ‘Okay, I can get help, I don’t have to just sit in the corner,’ because their input is very valuable.

“The father’s life is about to change too when this little one comes,” Miller added. “So I’ll meet with them, I’ll see what goals they have and try to see how we can support them in reaching that.”

Miller and Pinney-Johnson have packets of information ready to go.

“When we connect or make a home visit, we can give a packet strictly to Pops and say, ‘Here, this is information on childhood development, ways you can support Mom, that’s strictly geared toward you as a father,’” Pinney-Johnson said. “To me, that’s pretty cool. We are both fathers, and I definitely wish that I’d had that support. I can attest to being in waiting rooms and not even being introduced, just being in the corner.”

24/7 Dad

Another main offering is a workshop series developed by National Fatherhood Initiative that covers many different topics facing men, including family history, masculinity, dealing with emotion, men’s health, a father’s role in discipline and co-parenting.

Classes are held weekly from 5:30-7:30 p.m. each Thursday at the Kalamazoo County Health and Community Service building located at 3299 Gull Road. Classes are open to all men.

“It’s important to show what not having a positive male role model in the home can mean for child outcomes,” Pinney-Johnson said. “To look at family history and really ask that first question: what was your experience with your father and what impact did that have?”

Changing the narrative

Miller and Pinney-Johnson say that in working to determine and meet the needs of area fathers, they’ve come to realize that fatherhood looks different for each person.

“There’s not a one-kind-fits-all fatherhood,” Pinney-Johnson said. “There’s a huge spectrum of fathers and where they’re at in terms of life. A lot of our work will be working with new and expecting fathers, but also maybe helping to support estranged fathers who have been separated and are looking to reconnect. Maybe incorporating the elders, the grandfathers.”

Part of the job will be to change the narrative around fatherhood in general, Pinney-Johnson said.

“Society would have us think that all fathers do is pay the bills, drink beer and watch football, and we’re saying that’s not at all true. And while there is a big epidemic of children growing up without fathers in the home, there are plenty of men who are going above and beyond to be more than just providers and protectors – they’re nurturing, reading, doing hair.”

Those examples of positive father involvement ultimately contribute to the health and well-being of a child, he said.

“There’s a host of different outcomes that can be directly related to having a positive, engaged father or father figure in the home.”

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Get involved

• PARTNERSHIPS: 4Dad is interested in partnering with other programs and organizations that may be looking to engage fathers, Miller and Pinney-Johnson said. To connect on a community level, contact Jacob Pinney-Johnson at (269) 373-5047 or jmpinn@kalcounty.com.
• ONE-ON-ONE HOME VISITS: For more information on home visits for yourself or someone you know who is a new or expectant father, email jmpinn@kalcounty.com.
• 24/7 DAD CLASSES: Contact Jacob Pinney-Johnson at (269) 373-5236 or jmpinn@kalcounty.com, or click here to see a flyer.
• SUPPORT HEALTH FOCUS: Interested in supporting health-based initiatives and other programs like 4Dad? Visit https://www.changethestory.org/the-challenge/health/ to find out what you can do to help.
• POP-UP GIVING: Join us for our next United Way Pop-Up Giving event, set for Sept. 12. Reserve your spot here.