STRONG ROOTS

Fraternity of Fathers

A Group-Based Intervention Program for Fathers of Young Children Looking for Better Connection

Fraternity of Fathers is a program specifically tailored for dads of young children that utilizes adventure therapy principals to deliver attachment theory based concepts in an interactive, fun, and supportive format. Dads in the community gather together for 10 weekly sessions to discuss fatherhood, how individual experiences impact parenting styles, and new ways to think about and understand the development and behaviors of their children. This is a closed group, meaning fathers who begin the group move through the program together without the introduction of new members allowing for meaningful connections to be made and bonds to be formed with a consistent group of men. The program includes an Individual session so fathers have the opportunity to meet with a group facilitator to explore their satisfaction and feedback about the group and also to discuss additional supports or resources they may need.

This training will provide a comprehensive overview of Strong Roots concepts and the Fraternity of Fathers program, and allow attendees opportunities to practice delivering program elements in an interactive format.

How Does Fraternity of Fathers Help?

The importance of paternal involvement in a child’s life is well documented. Fathers play an essential role in the physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioral development of their kids. Despite the established significance of fathers, there remain few resources and minimal support available for men with children.

This training will provide a comprehensive overview of Strong Roots concepts and the Fraternity of Fathers program, and allow attendees opportunities to practice delivering program elements in an interactive format.

Contact us for more information.

“The activities...are really cool and interesting and will definitely help you parent and be stronger of a parent to your kids”.

FRATERNITY OF FATHERS PARTICIPANT

Fraternity of Fathers Fast Facts:

Integrated mental health and parenting intervention
Based in adventure therapy principals, interactive and novel
Was developed with input from fathers in the community
Provides safe inclusive space just for fathers to find support and create community
Decreases parenting stress for fathers who participate
Fun weekly opportunities to practice and reflect upon skills needed in being a parent, communication, team work, emotion regulation

FRATERNITY OF FATHERS FLYER

FRATERNITY OF FATHERS

Collaborations

Brilliant Detroit

Brilliant Detroit is dedicated to building kid success families and neighborhoods where families with children 0-8 have what they need to be school ready, healthy, and stable.

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Fraternity of Fathers group in Traverse City

The FoF group up in Traverse City is run in a collaboration with the Great Starts Collaborative and Generations Ahead. There are currently 6 dads enrolled in the group.

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Starfish Family Services

Starfish Family Services and the University of Michigan, are partnering to bring the Fraternity of Fathers program to families in and around Inkster, Michigan.

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Live in the D Extra: Starfish's Fraternity of Fathers

Starfish's Fraternity of Fathers is a program designed to help fathers think about and understand kids’ behavior and development. Fatherhood Coordinator Eric Donald and participant DeShawn Loggin stop by to talk about the program and its benefits.

“It helped a lot. It showed me that there’s no right or wrong way to parent. It teaches me that, no matter how old you are, or how old your children are, it’s okay to still learn… It taught me that relationships and patience is the most important thing to being a parent. I take a lot of advice that they gave me… I also take a lot of advice from the other dads. Everything they tell me, I just try to stick it into parenting.”

DESHAWN LOGGIN, FRATERNITY OF FATHERS PARTICIPANT

Fraternity of Fathers featured in Leelanau Ticker

U of M’s Fraternity Of Fathers Brings New Parenting Perspectives To Families In The County

Leelanau County once again finds itself leading the way in early childhood development innovations (here is one recent example) and this time the spotlight is on dads of young kids in the county.