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Bon Secours to offer Boot Camp For New Dads
Boot Camp For New Dads, a FREE father-to-father, community-based workshop that inspires and equips men to become confidently engaged with their infants, support their mates and personally navigate their transformation into dads, will be offered on February 27 at Bon Secours Richmond Community Hospital in Church Hill.
From the press release:
“Often, prenatal and postnatal classes focus on women experiencing pregnancy. But in the neighborhoods served by Richmond Community Hospital, there is a direct correlation to the high rate of infant mortality and the high rate of single dads entering fatherhood for the first time,” said Nancy Bagwell, Director of Children’s Outreach Services, Bon Secours Richmond Health System, at a press conference announcing this new community resource and partnership. “Studies have shown that if a male is involved in prenatal and postnatal care of a newborn, there is a lesser risk of infant mortality. Through Boot Camp For New Dads, Bon Secours is helping to give new and expectant dads the confidence and skills they need to be good fathers.”
At the workshops, veteran dads bring their babies to class to help rookie dads learn burping, changing, and swaddling techniques. As a group, they talk about taking care of Mom after birth, juggling work and family time, and baby bonding. At the end, the rookies can ask questions and the veterans can share the lessons they’ve learned. Rookie dads leave the workshops with confidence and skills needed for parenting.
Research shows that children with involved fathers have fewer behavioral problems and fare better academically. Children without involved fathers are more likely to experience a host of delinquent patterns, including non-marital teen pregnancy, drop-out of school, commit crimes and poverty.
“We want to ensure that every new father experiences the ‘magic moment’ at the birth of their first child, enabling them to stay engaged through the birth, the early stages of their child’s life and throughout fatherhood,” said Bob Ruthazer of First Things First of Greater Richmond. “Boot Camp For New Dads will engage men in the positive experience that fatherhood can bring, so that they remain involved in their child’s life and are a helpful partner to their child’s mother.”
In addition to the Boot Camp For New Dads workshop on February 27, three additional workshops will be offered at Richmond Community Hospital in 2010: May 15, September 11, and October 30. All workshops are held on Saturdays, 9 am to 12 noon. Individuals interested in registering for these FREE workshops can call (804) 371-1677.
I am on the board of First Things First and also facilitate these Boot Camps along with a group of other dedicated volunteers who in most cases, went through the program as terrified to-be dads and liked it so much they came back. I encourage any recent dads or especially to-be dads to sign up, or the girlfriends, wives, sisters or mothers to sign them up. We’ve been very successful at MCV, Chippenham, Henrico Doctors and VCU Women’s Health at Stony Point and are looking to expand in the city. If anyone has any questions, feel free to contact me.
Just a suggestion John #1, but you might want to come back and post either/both a phone number or email address. Your name does link to a blog post, but so far as I can tell it’s not likely to attract the east end youth that you need to attract to the boot camp. Absolutely no criticism intended here, just a suggestion – along with the best of luck in the east end for this – our high teen pregnancy rates and infant mortality rates surely need this, and thanks for what you are doing.
Thanks for the suggestion CRD, I initially didn’t because all my contacts are in the CH newsletter. But I guess it doesn’t go to all of the area, heck, not even to my house on 32nd. My cell is 937-4995 and my email is tiglathpilesar@gmail.com, feel free to call or email me with questions.
Great idea!