June’s #PKFMissionMonday program spotlight is focused on father engagement in honor of all of the daddies this Father’s Day month. Fatherhood can be a scary and overwhelming time. Pasco Kids First’s Healthy Families Pasco-Hernando program strongly believes in supporting fathers and fatherhood engagement.
Bonding and attachment is so important in the first few months of life. Healthy Families works closely with dads using an evidence-based curriculum specifically for fathers as well as address any concerns and answer any questions they may have. We offer our fathers depressions screenings and assistance with locating needed resources such as employment, housing, transportation, etc. Our knowledgeable team of home visitors complete Ages and Stages developmental screenings at prescribed intervals to ensure children enrolled in the program are developing as expected. Children showing delays are immediately offered with the necessary resources to address all concerns.
Healthy Families also offers parenting support groups providing education, fun family activities, and prizes.
In 2020, Healthy Families completed 264 visits with fathers in the program, worked with 431 families and 658 children teaching the skills to be the best parents they can be and assisting self-sufficiency.
In 2020, 86% of Healthy Families parents improved their self-sufficiency through education, employment, stable housing, literacy classes or obtaining a driver’s license.
To enroll in the Healthy Families program, you must be pregnant or have a child 3 months of age or younger.
Families facing substance use/misuse challenges may be eligible to enroll in the program until the child is 1 year of age.
For great parenting tips, education, and community events, please follow us on Facebook at @HealthyFamiliesPascoHernando and on Instagram @healthyfamilies.pascohernando.
For more information or to enroll in this free program, please contact Jennifer Beldotti at 727.243.7737 or jbeldotti@pascokidsfirst.org.
To reach the Program Manager, please contact Dana Selfridge at 727.247.8335 or dselfridge@pascokidsfirst.org.
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