The overarching goal of the Dads Count program is to improve the long-term health and success of children within Kent County by equipping, empowering and educating fathers to become integrally connected in the lives of their children.
Dads Count will accomplish this by:
- Committing to reach out to both biological and surrogate fathers where they are at in their current situation in life.
- Providing educational and support resources regardless of the father’s ethnic or cultural background, or language
- Developing a community wide network of agencies that will provide direct and indirect services to fathers to help them overcome the barriers that inhibit them from becoming the best dad that they can be
- Meeting one to one with fathers in an environment of their choosing within which they feel most comfortable
- Providing group support meetings and networks that will help fathers interact with other fathers for mutual support and encouragement
- Building awareness in the community of the importance of fathers and overcoming the stereotypes that dads are confronted with
- Celebrating the unique role of fatherhood through community events
- Promoting the importance of fathers through a local media campaign
- Acting as a resource for community agencies (through training, consultation, and referral)
- Collaborating with local, state and national fatherhood initiatives to advocate for fatherhood and fatherhood programs
The Dads Count program is a community collaboration of the following agencies:
Kent County Health Department
Spectrum Health, Parent to Parent Program
Michigan Family Resources
Strong Beginnings
Child and Family Resource Council
Native American Community Services
For more information contact
Chad Fessenden, MSW
(616)391 – 6136
75 Sheldon Blvd.
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
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