The Piñon Project’s Fatherhood Program, part of a federally funded Colorado initiative, is equipping fathers with essential parenting and life skills in an effort to strengthen families across Montezuma County.
The free program, which is open to men 18 and older, uses the Nurturing Dads and Partners curriculum. The 12-week course culminates with a certificate of completion at a graduation after the course comes to a close.
“The Piñon Project Fatherhood Program is open to men who are interested in learning about themselves, understanding and implementing self-care, building healthy relationships including parent-child relationships, how to communicate, build social connections and strengthen families,” Grant Armstrong, Piñon Project’s fatherhood advocate, told The Journal.
Sessions occur every Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., with dinner and child care provided from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. The program also offers one-on-one sessions for those preferring privacy. The services extend services to incarcerated men at Montezuma County Detention Center on Mondays and Tuesdays.
“The Fatherhood Program offers tools to be a great dad including, but not limited to, learning knowledge to be more active in their child’s life, learning how to communicate both with their child and others for healthy relationships, understanding systems and how to work through those systems for positive support, the principals and importance of self-care, relating to other’s feelings, identifying their own feelings and the power to meet their own needs,” Grant said. “The skills and connections that are made through the Fatherhood Program last a lifetime and can change a father’s whole life trajectory.”
One participant, who was initially hesitant, joined to improve communication with his ex-wife and 7-year-old son. After completing the program, he reenrolled four more times, focusing on personal growth, building friendships and enhancing his relationships.
“His life was changing for the better and his outlook on life was becoming more positive due to the skills he was learning through our program. He had a great job, he's happy and his life turned around,” Grant said. “This man decided to attend for the fifth time because he had met new friends and enjoyed the Fatherhood Program so much. He used the tools he needed at the time throughout his multiple enrollments to improve his life one session at a time, gain support, gain friendships and improve his relationships.”
The Fatherhood Program, one of seven in the Colorado Department of Early Childhood’s Colorado Fatherhood Program, serves 10 counties, helping dads achieve financial stability and strengthen family bonds. Engaged fathers contribute to children’s growth, stability, and development, reducing poverty risks and increasing high school graduation rates.
“Fathers play an important role in children’s lives as nurturers, providers and protectors. Fathers must be present in their child’s life for their children to experience these benefits. Having a father with family creates growth, development and stability. A nurturing father at home teaches values and skills to become positive adults and parents,” Grant said. “Fathers who are present and engaged with their children create positive memories and more stability as they move into adulthood. Children who grow up with involved fathers are less likely to live in poverty and more likely to graduate high school.”
Interested participants can contact the Piñon Project at (970) 564-1195.
