In so many ways, the members of the NYC Dads Group are very privileged. Some of us our in a position to stay home full-time with our kids. Many of us have part-time or flexible work that allow us time with our kids during the weekday. Some of us work full-time outside of the home, but still find ways to be very active in our children’s upbringing.
With these privileges in mind, we have decided to launch NYC Dads Care, a new initiative to help other dads find their way to full and enriching fatherhood experiences for themselves, for their partners, and for their children.
Our First NYC Dads Care Initiative: The Bronx Fatherhood Program
One of our esteemed members, Gilbert Ramos, has agreed to lead our first NYC Dads Care project, a partnership with our good friends at Baby Buggy to support the graduates of the Bronx Fatherhood Program. Here’s a message from Gil that describes the program and how you can help:
Do you feel privileged to be a father?
Do you feel the pride of this blessing in your life?
Do you feel empowered by fatherhood?
Join us as we lend a hand to the Bronx Fatherhood Program (BFP), a highly impactful and innovative fathering initiative serving non-custodial fathers ages 14-21. This program engages these fathers in their children’ s lives by helping them understand the importance of their role as a father and feel empowered to embrace fatherhood and the responsibilities that accompany it.
BFP offers a comprehensive 16-week course that addresses everything from newborn care and child development to parent-child relationship development and partner conflict resolution.These programs also offer career development, legal services, and financial education.
The program aims to help each father to improve his parenting competency, to increase his engagement in his child’s life, to improve communication with his co-parent, to implement positive parenting skills, and to contribute consistently to his child’s well-being– emotionally, financially, and materially.
How Can You Help?
Every father wants to be able to provide for his children, so we’ve set up a registry at Amazon.com that looks much like a registry any new parent sets up when their children are born. You’ll find everything from diapers and wipes to cribs, strollers, and even laptops for a few of the dads that will start college in the Fall. Everything you purchase will be sent to Baby Buggy and we will create a package to give to each dad upon his graduation from the program in June.
Every little bit helps! Please consider buying something off the registry even if it’s just a box of diapers or a set of bottles. Your gift will help these fathers contribute to their families in a meaningful way, which often helps repair the relationship with their child’s mother. Your gift also helps these dads feel better about their role as a father, which helps them focus their education and career. All donations are tax deductible.
Additionally, if you, or someone you know works for a store or company that would like to donate toys, clothes, or other necessities, please e-mail us at nycdadscare@gmail.com.
Who are we helping?
Here are profiles for two of the dads that will receive your generous gifts:
Jean
Jean is a father of a sweet 3 ½ year old daughter named Jeaniya. Jean was raised by his grandmother from the age of 8 following his mother’s untimely death and he never had the opportunity to meet his dad. Jean is only able to see Jeaniya during weekly supervised visits.
He enrolled in the Bronx Fatherhood Program (BFP) so that he can eventually have these visitation restrictions lifted. Jean misses the most simple, routine things he used to experience with his daughter like meal time, bath time, and reading bedtime stories.
Jean is highly motivated, responsible and dedicated – often one of the most vocal participants in the father’s group. He is always trying to do better and never allows things to stay stagnant. He often volunteers to help with the BFP behind the scenes and would like to become a mentor to help get young fathers more involved in the program.
Jean is currently enrolled in college and is working towards his ultimate goal of becoming a lawyer. He was one of the participants in the Young Adult Internship Program, recently completed this internship and is in the interview process for the Year Up Program.*
Brandon
Brandon is a father of two daughters, ages 1 and 2 ½. He is married to the mother of his children, but because of their financial situation, he is living with his mother, and his wife and their children are living with her mother. His father has not been involved in his life and as a result he has not had a positive male figure in his life. He is determined to work towards becoming a model father.
Since his enrollment, he has been one of the most consistent, responsible and influential participants in the Bronx Fatherhood Program. He is a great example to his peers in the program and gives them helpful advice during support groups.
Brandon is enrolled in a paid internship program called Year Up* that gives interns the opportunity to work for Fortune 500 companies while earning college credits.
Brandon loves listening to music with his daughters and has frequent tea parties with them. He is committed to providing them with as much education as possible and often reads to them and helps them with learning their numbers and alphabet.
*Year Up is a one-year, intensive training program that provides urban young adults 18-24, with a unique combination of technical and professional skills, college credits, an educational stipend and corporate internship.
We hope you’ll join us in supporting these fathers who want to be the best they can be.
I am looking for a program where I can get help to better mylife for my children
hello,
I am looking for housing program for single fathers or leads to where I can or visit to find affordable apartment for me and my son. Thanks