Community Corner
Montco Launches Major Fatherhood Initiative
The major regional initiative to call attention to a father's engagement being critical to a child's success.
The following was provided to Patch by The Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth:
The Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth and community organizations are launching a major regional initiative to call attention to a father’s engagement being critical to a child’s success and to support and promote the involvement of fathers in the lives of their children.
The Fathers Matter initiative will kick off with three father-child events across Montgomery County August- October 2014, including an opportunity for a father or male mentor to sign a ‘Fathers Matter’ Pledge to be an active and responsible father or father-figure in a child’s life.
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The diverse activities planned will include:
A Back-to-School Kick-off with Dads from 10 p.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, August 23, at Carson Valley Children’s Aid Society, 1314 DeKalb Street, that will feature free father/child activities, book bags and school supplies, food, music, and photos. Field Day with Fathers Family Day at Pottstown Memorial Park, Manatawny Street, Pottstown, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, September 13, to include father-child interactive games, food, father-child mini-workshops and activities, a health fair, and parent information. Friday Movie Night with Fathers in the Willow Grove area, with a classic family film being shown on a large outdoor screen at Upper Dublin Golf Course, refreshments and prizes. October Date TBD.A large I Took the Fathers Matter Pledge banner will be displayed at each event, allowing fathers or male mentors to affirm their intent to be an active and responsible father or father-figure who is considerate of the well-being of their child in all matters, will love and take the time to know what matters to the child, be available when the child needs his or her father, stay connected to, listen and help a child succeed, help nurture a healthy well-being of body, mind and spirit within a child, and leave the child with memories of a father who values his child.
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Why Fathers Matter: There is a national crisis of absent and disengaged fathers that is destroying family foundations that children crave and need in order to cope adequately with the ongoing stages and struggles of life. Although absence may be due to neglect, it also can occur as a result of a father not knowing how to connect with a child, incarceration, or rifts between parents that prevent father involvement and other situations. Fathers also can have a physical presence but be emotionally detached.
This initiative will require support from the entire community including individuals, organizations and businesses who want to help create positive impacts in the lives of families.
Individuals and organizations with interest in this initiative are encouraged to contact Fred Blankenburg at (610) 278-5906 fblanken@montcopa.org or Kathleen Sullivan at (610) 278-5873 ksulliva@montcopa.org
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