Doughnuts for Dudes, a Clare County event planned for fathers to enjoy doughnuts and games with their children, is part of a trend to prevent child abuse with programs for men.
Initiatives aimed at fathers are uncommon, said Rosalyn Kindell, the prevention education coordinator at the Northern Michigan Alliance for Children.
“A lot of programs are focused on mothers, which doesn’t allow dads to share and receive support, to be in a safe space where they could talk about some of the challenges that come with being a caregiver to a child,” she said.
The research and evidence-based initiatives for men are among 10 Michigan child abuse prevention programs recently awarded $1.8 million in grants from the Children’s Trust Fund. The grants are aimed at families that have risk factors or challenges which could affect child well-being and development.
The Calhoun Intermediate School District, Lenawee Intermediate School District, and the Sanilac Intermediate School District were three of 10 organizations receiving $200,000 each in funding from the Children’s Trust Fund for their expanded Parents as Teachers Home Visiting program.
“Being a parent is a new experience to a lot of people, and we all need support. We all don’t always have answers,” Kindell said. “So, we wanted to create a program that could help fathers learn how to manage this adventure of being a parent.”