Grantees

Dad Guild uses a multifaceted approach to engage father figures in their caregiving roles. Since 2019, the organization has developed and implemented over 750 hours of programming to a growing network of over 1000 fathers across the state of Vermont. We recently received a grant from the VT Dept. of Health that will support the expansion of our in-person parental education workshop series and also the production of a parental education podcast series. We will expand Dad Guild's onling programming by producing additional online content, purchaing more equipment, and increasing staff time to ensure the highest number of Vermont fathers can access our programming content digitally.

Dad Guild uses a multifaceted approach to engage father figures in their caregiving roles. Since 2019, the organization has developed and implemented over 600 hours of programming to a growing network of nearly 800 fathers across the state of Vermont. The Dads & Kids program is the organization’s most popular, attracting over 200 unique participants (including 90 dads) in the 2021-22 fiscal year. In this program, dads and their children meet up at playgrounds, sporting events, restaurants, nature trails, and libraries to connect with one another. Fathers participating in the playgroups strengthen and grow their own peer support network, while children who participate benefit from strengthening their relationships with their own fathers.

Sunrise is Bennington County’s Parent Child Center, and our mission is “Strengthening Families”. Sunrise works in partnership with individuals, families, and community members to provide a variety of supports and services. These services promote the growth and development of individuals and families through encouragement of strengths, expansion of opportunities, and support in times of stress. With this opportunity, we will start a monthly program, DADS (Dads Always Discovering Success). We will invite father figures and their children to join in enriching activities, in partnership with the Vermont Arts Exchange. Together with their children, they will cook, create art, learn, grow, be present, and build social capitol with other fathers.

We seek to build upon our experience and knowledge received via the current Dads Create group and put it into practice and expand upon it. We know that the more fathers who know how to play with their children in age appropriate ways and focus on the joy of being a parent, the better for our entire community. These sessions will increase fathers’ awareness of controlling, abusive, and neglectful attitudes and behaviors and understand how different fathering strategies and choices affect children. Dads Create's attendance continues to grow and we do not want to lose our momentum. We will continue to provide food for these groups because we know that sharing a meal helps maintain relationships and allows for a time for conversation among families and hope to continue our relationship with the VT Arts Exchange.

Educate and involde dads in the active parenting and nurturing of their children.

Create a group of "Dynamic Dads" with special focus on adolescent fathers.

Provide a regular opportunity for parents and caregivers to receive support and education regarding early childhood nutrition and activity. To also increase health and wellness of caregivers, parents and children as a result of engaging in healthy nutrition practices and learn way to enange in active play.

Make contact with new fathers through collaboration with agencies and hospitals to set up monthly support groups, on-on-one support, and postpartum phone followup to discuss concerns. The primary focus of the facilitator at these support groups is to provide educational materials and resources to new fathers, while discussing their role in the birth and responsibilities for care once the baby arrives