The class is limited to six participants. Courtesy | Facebook
The Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center began a seven-week course on April 4 for fathers in the Hillsdale community as part of its “Very Important Parents Program.”
Bryce Asberg, executive director of Helping Hands, said during the program participants share a home cooked meal, read a devotion, and watch and discuss a lesson about fatherhood.
The course is limited to six fathers per class, but Helping Hands hopes to begin holding the class year round, Asberg said.
“Any dad who wants a little help and encouragement in these areas can join our program. I am a new dad myself, and as I designed this class, I wanted to build the kind of class that I would benefit from,” Asberg said. “Already I can tell you that the welcoming atmosphere, the insights of our mentors, the solid curriculum, and yes, the food, make for a class that is truly excellent.”
According to Asberg, the center wants to help end the social problems that result from fatherless households.
“An attentive, serious, and loving dad is a stabilizing force and provides a steady foundation for a child’s development and maturity,” Asberg said. “An absent, disengaged, or abusive father is the opposite. It is long past the time to kill the trope of the disengaged, dimwitted father and call men to rise to the occasion and be the fathers God calls them to be.”
Helping Hands Office Coordinator Emelie Randell said the fatherhood classes will make a positive impact in the community because many of the dads want to be good fathers, but need a little guidance.
“We’ve only had one meeting so far, but it was a big success,” Randell said. “We had a lot of engagement from all of the dads. They were all really engaged in the conversation and really asked good questions about the lesson.”
Asberg said the primary goal of the course is to provide fathers with a mentor in a group setting and teach them to be both authoritative and responsive towards their children. Fathers will also learn the importance of creating high standards and goals for children.
“Lessons will also cover topics such as discipline, respect for moms, and being a leader and role model,” Asberg said. “Along the way, our devotionals will introduce the Christian faith, share what it means to be a spiritual leader and role model in your family, and teach about the character of God the Father.”
Jared White, assistant professor of Spanish at Hillsdale College, said he thinks fatherhood classes are a great way to help fathers better understand how to support their children, especially since every child is different.
“I am the father to five children: four boys and, as of 11 months ago, a little girl,” White said. “As a father, it has been both a challenging and rewarding experience to learn about who my kids are, what they like to do, and things that we have in common.”
Asberg said Helping Hands’ support for parents is nothing new but requires volunteers and donations to be successful.
“We have served fathers through our parenting mentor program for over a decade, but we always knew that there was more of a need than what we were meeting through that program,” Asberg said. “As we worked with some partner agencies, particularly the Hillsdale County Drug Court, I thought, what if we tried a group class?”
White said the classes will help show fathers both the fundamentals and joys of being a parent.
“Being a father is the journey of a lifetime,” White said. “I am deeply grateful to have the opportunity to play such a vital role in the lives of my children.”
