Present Pillars in Benton Harbor is launching a new initiative to help new and young fathers find the support they need to navigate the challenges they’ll face raising their kids.
The Dad Playbook is a 12-week course to be held at the Present Pillars headquarters downtown. It’ll be one session per week to help the dads build parenting skills.
Community health worker Izayah Fisher will lead The Dad Playbook. He tells us it’ll focus on “the man behind the dad.”
“When we talk about the key behaviors of the man behind the dad, moving forward we’ll be going into things like conflict resolution, physical activity, diet and nutrition, career workforce readiness, maintaining the dad, and that’s going to be financial literacy, also legal rights, and driving 101,” Fisher said.
Fisher says The Dad Playbook is aimed specifically at fathers between the ages of 16 and 24 because fatherhood can be especially challenging for those younger men.
“I myself am 25 and I can recall times where there were things that I needed assistance with, and I wasn’t exactly sure how to go about that help or where to actually focus in to get that help.”
The program starts next week and will run through July 14. It’s free and there will be a graduation ceremony upon completion. Fisher says graduates will be offered benefits including credit building services, memberships at a recreation center, and membership discounts at a credit union. He adds the program will also be a great way to find fellowship with other dads.
Space in The Dad Playbook is limited, and you can find the registration page right here.
