Investing in Fatherhood
For Fathers of Young Children: Investing in Fatherhood
[img_assist|nid=721|title= |desc=|link=none|align=right|width=400|height=300] Click here for a short contact form CDR’s Investing in Fatherhood program provides parenting education, information, and coaching for fathers of young children in the Historic Triangle of Virginia and creates public awareness of the critical role fathers have in the lives of their children. It is well-documented that children with involved, loving fathers learn more, perform better in school, and exhibit healthier overall behavior. The objectives of the program are to promote fathers’ involvement in their children’s lives; give them knowledge of parenting, co-parenting, and life-skills; increase their confidence and self-esteem as parents; and acquaint them with local community resources.Fathers who join the program have the opportunity to receive:
Fellowship opportunities
Invitations to dad/child events
Parenting education
Connection to other dads
Referral to other community services and resources
To meet the objectives of the program, Investing in Fatherhood offers a variety of programs for fathers:
| [img_assist|nid=720|title= |desc=|link=url,node/725|align=left|width=400|height=211]Click here to learn more about One-to-One coaching, available to all fathers. | [img_assist|nid=913|title=|desc=|link=url,http://www.cdr.org/?q=node/727|align=left|width=100|height=34]Click here to learn more about Dad/365, a program offered for fathers in Williamsburg/James City County and selected York County elementary schools. |
| [img_assist|nid=716|title= |desc=|link=url,node/740|align=left|width=400|height=283]Click here to learn more about Coach Dads, a program offered for fathers in Williamsburg/James City County and York County preschools. | [img_assist|nid=717|title= |desc=|link=url,node/742|align=left|width=400|height=213]Click here to learn more about Rookie Dads, a program offered for new fathers at Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center. |
| [img_assist|nid=719|title= |desc=|link=url,node/744|align=left|width=400|height=176]Click here for links to fatherhood resources and websites. |
For information contact the Fatherhood Coordinator at 757-566-3300.
The program is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family Assistance. Services are available to all eligible persons, regardless of race, gender, age, disability, or religion.Dad/365
Dad/365 is a volunteer program that works in collaboration with elementary schools in Williamsburg/James City County and York County to involve fathers in their children’s lives. It brings fathers together for mutual support and resource sharing as they strive to be better fathers.
Dad/365 is premised on simple but powerful ideas:
- that children need and want fathers who are positively involved in their day to day lives
- that fathers’ lives are transformed by the experience of committed fatherhood
- that fathers can learn from one another how to be more effective
- that great dads can become SUPER dads
Too often our society equates "parenthood" with motherhood, ignoring the role of fathers, or presupposing their absence. Too often institutions that claim to support families - schools, workplaces, religious organizations, and health and welfare agencies - assume that fathers are not available, not involved, and not interested in giving or receiving support.
Indeed far too many children are growing up with fathers who are on the fringes of their lives, if present at all. FATHERS are the largest free, available resource to solve the problem of fatherlessness. We need to mobilize this resource. Through Dad/365 we affirm and celebrate the uniqueness of fatherhood and the power of shared parenting.
Click here for the Dad/365 calendar for your school!
Learn more about Dad/365:
Dad/365 - Role in the School
The father volunteers should:
- Follow personalized daily schedule, and stop by the office with any questions throughout the day
- Wear their official uniform T-shirt only at school while performing official Dad/365 duties.
- Be approachable – smile, talk to the students, listen to them and ENCOURAGE THEM!
- Be alert – Monitor hallways and entrances, and buildings - inside/outside. If a situation arises, please report it to a school official starting with the principal (utilize Walkie Talkie). Smile and be a hero for a day!
- Be smart – follow the school’s policy on appropriate conduct and behavior with the students and faculty
- Be available – the goal is to be of service to the school, teacher and students
- Be a positive role model
- The personalized daily schedule could include:
- Help with traffic flow of vehicles and students at arrival and dismissal times
- Assist at lunch, recess, study hall, social times
- Eat lunch with students
- Play or referee on the playground or in the gym
- Read with classes or tutor small groups of students
- Work with flash cards and/or educational games
- Actively and positively engage with their student and others
- Speak to classes about importance of education and career choices
- Be available to mentor male students
- Be chaperone on fieldtrips and away games/activities
- Assist coaches and activity sponsors
- Help students with test review
- Support fine arts classes (i.e. band, choir, art, yearbook, etc.) with your presence and/or experience
The father volunteers should NOT:
- Go into students’ (girls’ or boys’) restrooms
- Be alone or unsupervised with students
- Espouse political or religious beliefs to students
- Sell or give their official Dad/365 T-shirt to someone who isn’t an approved Dad/365 volunteer.
- Wear their official Dad/365 Uniform T-shirt anywhere except at school.
- Engage in any conduct that brings disrespect to himself or his student(s), the school and/or the Dad/365 Program and other volunteering fathers.
Note: This list is not exhaustive.
How Dad/365 Works
Dad/365 a K-5 program, invites fathers, grandfathers, uncles, or other father figures to volunteer at least one day all day at their child’s school during the school year. Individuals sign up at a kick-off event such as a “Dads and Kids Pizza Night” or in the office at any time throughout the school year. The program is overseen by a “Top Dog” volunteer who partners with the school administrator to coordinate scheduling and identify opportunities for Dad/365 to provide assistance at the school. Dad/365 volunteers perform a variety of tasks during their volunteer day including monitoring the school entrance, assisting with unloading and loading of buses and cars, monitoring the lunch room, or helping in the classroom with a teacher's guidance by working with small groups of students on homework, flashcards, or spelling. Fathers can also sign up for monthly Dad-to-Dad groups.
Schools and Schedules
Click on your school below for the corresponding calendar!
Don't see your school's picture? Check the list below the pictures for your school.
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Bethel Manor Elementary School
Clara Byrd Baker
D.J. Montague Elementary School
Dare Elementary School
Grafton Bethel Elementary
James River Elementary School
Matoaka Elementary School
Matthew Whaley Elementary School
Mt. Vernon Elementary School
Norge Elementary School
Rawls Byrd Elementary School
Seaford Elementary School
Stonehouse Elementary School
Tabb Elementary School
Waller Mill Elementary School
Yorktown Elementary
One-to-One
Some fathers may desire to meet individually with an experienced, skilled member of the Investing in Fatherhood team. One-to-One support is designed to meet each father's individual needs, goals, and life situation. It helps fathers build the confidence and skills they need in their parenting role to be GREAT dads. Referrals and connections to community resources are offered and provided when needed.
For more information, contact Fatherhood Coordinator, at 566-3300.
Coach Dads
Coach Dads is an interactive father/child program designed to get fathers "off the bench" and involved in preparing their children for success. Created for fathers and father figures of pre-school children.
Coach Dads helps turn father involvement into a fun game that can be enjoyed by both father and child. Coach Dads was developed by the National Center for Fathering to be integrated into the parental involvement and child development programming of local pre-school agencies.
Coach Dads is a voluntary, non-competitive father involvement program that attracts, prepares and involves fathers and father figures at the pre-school site and at home to coach their child towards physical, social, emotional and cognitive development.
Coach Dads is built around six components that include:
The Coach Draft: a kick-off recruiting event for dads and father figures
The Play Book: a book of "plays" that dads can use with their child to develop cognitive and motor skills
The Game Day: a dad’s weekly visit to the educational site
The Coach Clinic: a scheduled father training program attended by all "coaches"
The Champion Day: a non-competitive showcase and celebration event for dads and kids
Game Stats: a set of child development measures
For more information, please contact Larry Nesselrodt, Fatherhood Consultant at larryn@cdr.org or 757-566-2877, or Jeffery Trimble, Fatherhood Coordinator at jefft@cdr.org or 757-566-2857.
Rookie Dads
Rookie Dads Training Camps are a great way for expectant first time dads to learn tricks, tips, ideas, and expectations from "Veteran Dads" with tons of experience. All new dads want to bond with their babies and this program will show them how.
The first time most men hold a baby is at the birth of their own child. Rookie Dads Training Camps are a chance for guys to get together with other new and expecting dads to talk about what to expect, what their concerns are, and how to face the challenges of being a new dad – in a safe, supportive arena. "Veteran Dads" will demonstrate tricks, tips, and things to watch for, with assistance from a Registered Nurse as a trainer/educator. Childbirth classes are often geared to the mom and her labor partner – Rookie Dads Training Camps are for dads. We recommend Rookie Dads Training Camps to all first-time dads.
Dads should probably attend the first training camp class during the last trimester of the pregnancy. This pre-birth training class entails feeding, changing diapers, cuddling, bathing, and sleeping techniques. The second training class is post-birth and covers communicating with your baby, bonding, watching your baby grow, loving, and much, much more.
Each class is two hours long and is offered at NO cost.
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center and Investing in Fatherhood have partnered to provide this service. For more information about the next class, please contact Rita M. Cooper, Clinical Nurse Manager, Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center at 259-4233 or Child Development Resources (CDR), Fatherhood Coordinator at 757-566-3300.
Resources
The following are links to websites that might be beneficial to fathers:
National Center for Fathering
National Fatherhood Initiative
Family First
All Pro Dads