Male Involvement/Fatherhood program encourages dads to take an active role

The Alta Head Start Male Involvement/Fatherhood program was established for the purpose of encouraging fathers and significant male figures to become actively involved in the social and educational development of their children, and to be positive role models for them.

The mission of  the Male Involvement/Fatherhood program is to provide opportunities for fathers and significant males to enhance their relationship with their children and families through interaction in Head Start activities, both within the center and off-site; to assist in the development of reading and literacy skills for kindergarten preparedness; and to serve as liaison in referring them to outside resources to assist them in achieving their personal and/or professional goals.

Alta Head Start endeavors to accomplish this mission through:

• Training and educating fathers, significant males, other family members, and agency staff in methods and techniques for interacting with children and improving parenting skills through community resource awareness, agency-sponsored workshops, etc.
• Designing creative and effective incentive and reward systems to encourage hesitant fathers/males to become more involved in classroom activities and program governance (participating in decision-making committees).
• Conducting regularly scheduled Male Involvement meetings to solicit ideas and  suggestions from program fathers/males to better enhance the Male Involvement/Fatherhood program; share pertinent information regarding agency policies and procedures; and schedule future activities and events.
• Develop and maintain strategic alliances and partnerships with other community agencies and Fatherhood-related programs to assist in providing services to Alta HS children and families.

For more information about Alta Head Start’s Male Involvement/Fatherhood program, call (330) 736-0071.