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PITTSBURG —
As part of its Fatherhood Program, the Kansas Children’s Service League facilitated establishment of a Crawford County Fatherhood Advisory Council.
“The council is made up of social service organizations and everyday dads,” said Travis Alexander, KCSL fatherhood coordinator for southeast Kansas. “We meet monthly and our mission is to inspire and encourage men to engage in healthy and positive fathering roles.”
In addition to Alexander, members include Lori Woods of KCSL, David Adams, a community member, Tammie Banham and Linda Broyles of SEK-CAP, Anna Mae Brown of Kansas State University Research and Extension, Traci Reed of SRS and Ben Scott and Dacia White of Parents as Teachers.
All of the men on the council are fathers. The women, while obviously not fathers, feel qualified to make a valuable contribution.
“I work with fathers and I have a father,” White said.
Council members are now planning their first major activity, a free community event from 9 a.m. to noon on April 28 at Lincoln Park.
“We’re calling it ‘F5’ for fathers, families, friends, food and fun,” Alexander said. “This will be the first of many events to come.”
Activities will include free mini-golf, free rides at Kiddie Land and a free lunch. Pittsburg State University Social Work Club will be in charge of games. Parents as Teachers will sponsor a photo booth, and United Way will have a craft. BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse) will have temporary tattoos and K-State Research and Extension will set up an obstacle course.
Cherokee Baptist Church will provide a bounce house, and Trinity Baptist Church will have snow cones. CMHCCC and Smart Start will have Duplo Blocks. Pittsburg Police Department DARE car will be on the scene, as will Pittsburg Fire Department trucks.
“We’re also going to have fishing,” Alexander said.
He added that the April 28 event isn’t just for Pittsburg residents, but is open to other area residents.
“If somebody wants to come from Fort Scott, they can,” Alexander said.
While the focus is on fathers and their children, the entire family is welcome to attend the festivities, and that includes moms. Also, the “dads” don’t necessarily have to be the child’s biological father.
“Stepfathers are welcome, and so are grandfathers and uncles who are like a dad,” Alexander said. “We see a dad as the male role model in a child’s life.”
The event is designed to give fathers and children an opportunity to do activities to foster bonding experiences, and Alexander said that many fathers desperately need this.
As part of its Fatherhood Program, the Kansas Children’s Service League facilitated establishment of a Crawford County Fatherhood Advisory Council.
“The council is made up of social service organizations and everyday dads,” said Travis Alexander, KCSL fatherhood coordinator for southeast Kansas. “We meet monthly and our mission is to inspire and encourage men to engage in healthy and positive fathering roles.”
In addition to Alexander, members include Lori Woods of KCSL, David Adams, a community member, Tammie Banham and Linda Broyles of SEK-CAP, Anna Mae Brown of Kansas State University Research and Extension, Traci Reed of SRS and Ben Scott and Dacia White of Parents as Teachers.
All of the men on the council are fathers. The women, while obviously not fathers, feel qualified to make a valuable contribution.
“I work with fathers and I have a father,” White said.
Council members are now planning their first major activity, a free community event from 9 a.m. to noon on April 28 at Lincoln Park.
“We’re calling it ‘F5’ for fathers, families, friends, food and fun,” Alexander said. “This will be the first of many events to come.”
Activities will include free mini-golf, free rides at Kiddie Land and a free lunch. Pittsburg State University Social Work Club will be in charge of games. Parents as Teachers will sponsor a photo booth, and United Way will have a craft. BACA (Bikers Against Child Abuse) will have temporary tattoos and K-State Research and Extension will set up an obstacle course.
Cherokee Baptist Church will provide a bounce house, and Trinity Baptist Church will have snow cones. CMHCCC and Smart Start will have Duplo Blocks. Pittsburg Police Department DARE car will be on the scene, as will Pittsburg Fire Department trucks.
“We’re also going to have fishing,” Alexander said.
He added that the April 28 event isn’t just for Pittsburg residents, but is open to other area residents.
“If somebody wants to come from Fort Scott, they can,” Alexander said.
While the focus is on fathers and their children, the entire family is welcome to attend the festivities, and that includes moms. Also, the “dads” don’t necessarily have to be the child’s biological father.
“Stepfathers are welcome, and so are grandfathers and uncles who are like a dad,” Alexander said. “We see a dad as the male role model in a child’s life.”
The event is designed to give fathers and children an opportunity to do activities to foster bonding experiences, and Alexander said that many fathers desperately need this.
“According to some statistics, the average dad spends just 17 minutes a day with his child, while the average child watches three to six hours of TV per day,” he said.
On the bright side, Alexander said that 91 percent of fathers agree that being a dad is a very important part of who they are, and 90 percent would still have children if they could do it over again.
Other fatherhood programs are also being planned, including a “Daddy and Me” play group and some workshops on children’s health.
“Everything we do is for dads, not bad dads or good dads but all dads,” Alexander said. “We can all grow in our role as dads.”
“Or you can be the dad that helps and encourages other dads,” White said.
The Crawford County Fatherhood Advisory Council is new, but Alexander sees it as being a beneficial influence for many years to come.
“This is a self-standing, sustainable group,” he said. “We’re here for the long run.”
Anyone needing additional information may call 620-232-1031 or 1-877-530-5275.
