Support for Dads

Dads Inc - Prevent Child Abuse Indiana Program

It is critical to provide support and education for fathers in order to help them develop healthy relationships and positive engagement in the lives of their children. That’s why Dads Inc. is so important.

Dads Inc. offers programs and events that are activity-based and constantly changing, each with an education component that provides creative, fun, and unique opportunities for dads and kids to spend quality time together. By creating opportunities for our dads to create memories that last a lifetime, we hope to help strengthen the father-child bond and encourage positive relationships.

Most of our programming is fee-based, but thanks to the generous support of foundations and donors, we are able to offer scholarships to those dads who need financial assistance. We don’t want personal financial hardships to be a barrier for dads who want to spend quality time with their kids—we don’t want anything to get in the way of being a great dad.

 

The Core Values of Dads Inc.
Dads Inc. operates according to a few core values which help to guide our work:

  1.   A dad is critical to his child’s positive emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical development.
  2.   Mom and Dad are equally important in the lives of their children, and both should be equally responsible for their well-being.
  3.   All children, regardless of tax bracket or zip code, are at-risk for negative life situations without an engaged father.
  4.   Traditionally, society has not given dads the skillsets, training, or expectations needed to be actively engaged with their children.
  5.   Men learn how to be a dad from watching their dad. Positive fathering is generational.
  6.   Dad needs to be engaged with his children without regard to marital status.
  7.   Getting Dad actively engaged early in his child’s life will prevent him from ever becoming disengaged.

 

There’s no instruction manual for becoming a dad. That’s why it’s so important to provide them with support and education around developing positive, healthy relationships with their children.

Dads Inc. uses activity-based programs and events that combine education, creativity, and fun to create unique opportunities for dads and kids to spend quality time together. Not only does this quality time help strengthen bonds, it also creates warm, lasting memories and encourages positive relationships for life. Our mission is to build generations of involved fathers and thriving children.

And thanks to the support of our foundations and donors, dads who need financial assistance to participate can still take part with their kids. We don’t want anything to get in the way of helping people be great dads.

Dads Inc. Contact  — Brian Carter, LSW, Dads Inc. Program Director & PCAIN Educational Specialist

Brian Carter at bcarter@villages.org

 

Dads Inc. Programs

Nurturing Fathers
This nationally recognized, evidence-based course for fathers, grandfathers, caretakers, and mentors promotes intentional fatherhood and enhancing parenting skills.  Brian leads a Community Nurturing Fathers group on a regular basis.  If you are interested in attending, or hosting a group, please contact Brian Carter.

 

 

All Pro Dad
This program, inspired by coach Tony Dungy, encourages fathers to get involved in their children’s educations and be present in the schools. Most events are breakfast or after school gatherings which include a meal/snack, prize giveaways, father shout-outs of child’s accomplishments, a motivational speaker, and a value-based “Huddle Up” lesson.

Dads Inc. All Pro Dads also supports the school’s existing events and encourages dad-focused events such as daddy/daughter dances, clean-up projects, and school gardens.

Dads Inc. has recently expanded All Pro Dads-themed events into the communities (outside of school walls/on weekdays) in effort to reach dads in the community.

Partnership Presentations

In conjunction with Prevent Child Abuse Indiana, Dads Inc. provides the following presentations that empower Dads and their families:

Safe Tots for Dads
Education on the need for safety of infants to toddlers in the areas of the Safe Haven Law, Gun Safety, Water Safety, Safe Sleep practices, and Shaken Baby/Child Syndrome prevention. Learn more.

S.O.B.Y. (I Never Meant)
Presentation/discussion on how unresolved stress can lead to family violence. Learn more.

Stewards of Children
Raising awareness of child abuse/reporting child abuse. Learn more.

Bullying Prevention
Education on the harms of bullying (school/community/workplace). Learn more.

What Would I Do/Healthy Relationships Series
Two-part presentation for teenagers and young adults empowering them to be aware of the signals of unhealthy relationships and the traps set by human traffickers. Contact Brian Carter to learn more.