By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
A new resource for men is launching in St. Joseph beginning today.
Good Dads offers support, encouragement, and training to help men up their game in the area of fathering.
Organizer Tim Doyle says the program helps provide the confidence to men heading into fatherhood, that it's something they can do
"Many of us did not have a great example growing up, we weren't mentored well, maybe our fathers were present, but they weren't engaged emotionally," Doyle explains to KFEQ Hotline host Barry Birr. "So, Good Dads comes along with just some very masculine, couched language and approach, it's guys getting together and just as the Proverb says iron sharpens iron, and that's what Good Dads is all about."
Good Dads is the only organization in Missouri solely focused on increasing engagement between fathers and their children.
Doyle says as he's spoken with agencies in St. Joseph who work with at-risk families
"I'm finding that there are very few, sometimes no resources for the men," Doyle says. "We do a lot for the women, we do a lot for single moms, we do a lot for children, we do a lot for at risk teens, but there are so few programs for men."
Doyle says while there are agencies like Community Action Partnership that do work with families, this program is really exclusive to the guys
"And it's so rare to see a program that can come along, get men together not approaching it from a there's something wrong with you, we're not shaming men, we're saying no we can coach each other up in this important effort," Doyle explains.
Doyle says the program covers a vast array of information through the 16-week program
"Including how to express love to your children, how to discipline in a healthy way, how to handle conflict, we cover from toddlers to teens, so all those scenarios between," Doyle says. "And it's not just lecture, it is hands on in class processing, small groups, interactive group discussion, role-playing, I mean we hit it all."
The program begins today at 7pm at the Restoration Natatorium at 2nd and Francis. Registration is required and you can contact 816 558 0508 to register.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.