Dads Matter anniversary, Father’s Day celebrated
Rain moved the party inside but smiles were still bright as Dads Matter of Fayette County observed its one-year anniversary with a Father’s Day celebration Saturday. Bill Hueber, project supervisor, along with Tiffany Blaho, case manager, and Seth Caton, outreach and recruitment specialist, welcomed those attending the celebration into the Family Community Partnership Room in the North Union Head Start/Early Head Start Facility in North Union Township.
Huebner explained, “We have over 1,000 people on our mailing list and we contacted over 100 to come today.’
He said Saturday’s event was timed to be held as close to Father’s Day as possible, and included the people who attended Dads Matter programs as well as their families.
“We’re going to do some educational things and some fun things,’ he told the participants.
Dads Matter started in Fayette County in May 2007. Dads Matter is an initiative by the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette Inc. and funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance.
With no income guidelines, Dads Matter is open to anyone who is a father, expectant father, grandfather, stepfather or father figure in a child’s life. Dads Matter offers support, education and encouragement. The program targets men but welcomes women as well. Dads Matter offers parenting classes as well as Doctor Dad classes that show parents essentials such as how to comfort a crying baby, feeding and how to take care of a sick child.
Saturday’s participants included Ivan Smith of McClellandtown, who came with his family, Jennifer Northup, and their sons, Lakota, 4, and Ivan, 1. The couple also has a 14-year-old daughter. Smith said he learned about Dads Matter through Head Start and has been attending programs for about a year.
“It’s very interesting. You get ideas from other people and learn new things,’ said Smith.
“It also lets him out of the house to meet people. He’s a stay-at-home dad,’ said Northup. “I usually give him a break from the kids Monday nights because he’s with them all the time because I’m working. We’re stay-at-home people, except we’re involved with our children.’
Smith said he likes the program because “They don’t sit back and lecture. All the parents have to get involved. I think it’s helped a lot of older and younger fathers in the community in different situations. It’s all pretty interesting. I recommend it.’
Asked if Father’s Day is special to him, Smith said, “I still have a father, so I consider it ‘his’ special day.’
But Smith’s sons are looking forward to Father’s Day.
“We got him tons of presents,’ said Lakota.
“Father’s Day is special because you have a special dad?’ asked Northup.
“He is,’ smiled Lakota.
Kierra Gibson of Uniontown began coming to Doctor Dad classes in February while her boyfriend, Lewis Mills, was attending his second Dads Matter event. Gibson smiled as daughter Ivoryonna, 1, stopped playing to say hello. She also has a son, Javier Gibson, 3.
“I like it because it gives you ideas you can do with your kids,’ said Gibson.
“I think it’s a very decent program – very educational,’ said Mills. “If Plan A doesn’t work, Plan B will work. You hear what people have to say.’
Philip Zebro of Uniontown began attending Dads Matter classes in late April, coming to classes every Monday. He attended Saturday’s celebration with his son, Phil.
“It’s very helpful. They’re always willing to answer questions to the best of their ability. If they can’t answer, they’ll try to find out,’ Zebro said of the Dads Matter staff.
He said he’s glad there is an organization to give support to fathers.
“I know I did the best I could but there are things I didn’t know I was supposed to be doing,’ Zebro said. “I just want to do the best I can for him.’
He said he liked the idea of Saturday’s celebration, since it included his son, and was looking forward to Father’s Day.
“Cause I’m a dad,’ Zebro smiled. “I waited a long time, but I’m a dad.’
Meanwhile, the Father’s Day celebration schedule included a session for the men on health, facilitated by Blaho, while the children and their mothers played and listened to Barb Lewis, community health educator, and Seth McElroy, community health liaison, from Steps to a Healthier Fayette County, who provided information on nutrition and physical activities. They also did a session for the men.
Blaho asked the men to fill out a health survey with questions on stress management, personal health and safety, nutrition and physical fitness. She didn’t ask for their answers but wanted them to think.
“The whole point is, hopefully, you’ll walk out of here with more information on your health,’ said Blaho.
She asked the men if they felt they were in excellent, good, fair or poor health and then asked them to consider how they can improve their health.
She also asked them to guess and then provided answers for such statements as “Death rates for heart disease are two times higher for men than women,’ “Women are three times less likely than men to be murder victims’ and “Men are 13 times more likely to be victims of on-the-job accidents, compared to women.’
“Looking at these statistics, it looks like it’s a hazard to be a guy. Why?’ Blaho asked.
The men suggested because they take more risks, which was the correct answer.
“You will do more dangerous things in your lifetime than I will,’ said Blaho, explaining men are not only less likely to follow proper nutrition and visit a doctor but also place themselves into more serious situations. She asked them to think about this, noting, “You want to make sure you are taking better care of yourselves because your kids need you.’
The men rejoined their families for a picnic lunch and games.
For more information on Dads Matter, call 724-437-2590 or e-mail dadsmatter@privateindustrycouncil.com or visit the Web site www.privateindustrycouncil.com.
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