DANBURY — The psychological notion that men are from Mars may well be inaccurate, argues Joel Levitt.
As the fatherhood engagement professional at Family members Community of Western CT, a kid advocacy nonprofit primarily based in Danbury, he believes adult males — especially fathers — come from Pluto due to the fact they tend to be tougher to get to when it comes to parent education.
“The complete emphasis for us is on the wellbeing and basic safety of young children, and we market that in portion by dad or mum instruction,” Levitt explained. “Our moms’ teams are invariably larger … (but) we perform with local community organizations, social products and services, the Department of Kids and People, the courts and the college programs to enable them know we have programming for dads specially.”
The business is bridging this hole applying grant income from the point out Business office of Early Childhood. A part was employed to underwrite a section-time place for Levitt, who was a volunteer with Households Community for seven many years before the pandemic hit.
The funding will also aim on partaking additional youthful and expectant fathers to take part in the organization’s programming, which include “Nurturing Fathers.” The totally free 13-7 days collection invitations fathers, stepfathers, grandfathers and father figures to establish the skills to create closer bonds with their small children and partners. It fulfills in Danbury from 6-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday evenings starting March 29.
“Men are not joiners by mother nature. They tend not to want to talk about their thoughts (or) parenting issues — it’s not some thing that dads do,” Levitt defined. “There are just about no fathers’ groups in the region or everywhere for that subject, (but we want to) crack down individuals partitions.”
Families Network hosts a “relatively modest” team of Danbury-space dads on a weekly basis, Levitt claimed. Whilst working with facilitator Bill Donaldson, fathers of all ages and scenarios can fulfill and master from a single one more in a risk-free, non-judgmental natural environment.
“In my own classes I’ve experienced fathers at age 17 and fathers who were being in their 40s and 50s. … The exciting factor to me is how effectively everybody will work with each other, whatever their backgrounds are,” Levitt mentioned. “The goal is often the same: to make a happier, much healthier surroundings for their small children.”
The dynamics of day by day lifestyle have shifted “dramatically” as a consequence of the pandemic, Levitt reported, and families are no exception. With small children adjusting to different types of understanding to moms and dads working from house or, in some cases, getting rid of their work, “it’s a new globe.”
“We want to refocus people’s relationships on their children so they can co-mother or father additional efficiently and treat every single other with regard regardless of any differences,” he included. “That positive aspects a youngster.”
People Network serves the communities of Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Redding, Ridgefield and Sherman. Its headquarters is at 5 Library Place in Danbury.
For extra info about “Nurturing Fathers” or other packages, phone 203-791-8773 or check out fnwc.org.