We are proud to play a part in a father’s journey of learning how to connect (and re-connect) with their children and families.  It is inspiring to see the progress our dedicated fathers are making every day.

Daddy and Me

Once a month at Brighter Beginning’s Family Center in Antioch, fathers are invited to participate in the “Daddy and Me” program. There, fathers have an opportunity to share a meal and play with their children in a supportive environment, as well as come together with other fathers to reinforce and support their efforts to become nurturing and positive parents.

Jorge, who has two sons, ages 5 and 2, began coming to the Center over a year ago and has been one of our most dedicated dads. He says he participates for several reasons: he grew up without a father; he needs support for himself; and also because he wants to be an example to other fathers in the group. Jorge says, “Being able to play with my children in a positive and supportive environment — among a community of fathers – has given me such a better perspective on how I can be a good father to my sons.”

Non-custodial Fathers

Richard, who has a 14-year-old son, is involved in the Brighter Beginning’s PAPAS group which is held at a residential substance-abuse treatment site. During his battle with drug addiction and the legal system, Richard lost custody of his son and had not had contact with him in over a decade. Dealing with the loss of his child—and the subsequent death of his father—created an unbearable situation for Richard that caused him to travel down a self-destructive path.

Richard shared his story of personal pain during a number of PAPAS group sessions, and other men in the group began to share similar stories. Richard began to find clarity around some of the root causes that attributed to his drug addiction. In his recovery, he began to resolve his feelings surrounding the loss of his father and the guilt about his son.

As a result, he is learning to deal with his feelings in a constructive way…and he has begun to reach out to his son. For Richard, this is a new beginning for the father-son relationship he hopes to achieve.

Teen Dads

Christian is a hardworking 17-year-old, who juggles attending high school with working, and the half-time custody of his 1-year-old son, Aaron. Although Christian and Aaron’s mother are no longer a couple, they stay in communication because they realize the importance of having both parents raise Aaron.

Christian uses public transportation to and from school and work, and is very focused on achieving his goals of being a good and responsible dad. One day, during a visit with his Family Advocate, he expressed how appreciative he was to have his Family Advocate help him with emergency diapers, as they are extremely expensive for a teen dad who is only able to work part-time. Christian knows he has many struggles ahead of him, but is very determined to succeed with the support of his Family Advocate and Brighter Beginnings.

Learn more about our Fatherhood programs.