Fathering skills class begins Sept. 5 in St. Michaels

The St. Michaels Community Center is helping dads and men learn or brush up on their fathering skills with a program beginning on Tuesday, Sept. 5 from 6 to 7:00 p.m. The course consists of 12 weekly sessions ending on Dec. 19 and taking place at SMCC’s location during renovations at 207 N. Talbot Street in St. Michaels, Md. 

The free program includes dinner for participants, with limited participation and pre-registration recommended. The program is facilitated by the Responsible Fathers Initiative and follows the National Fatherhood Initiative’s evidence-based 24/7 Dad® curriculum to help build stronger family connections for dads.

“The dads who have come through our program say they really value the skills and insight the course provided, but more importantly they’re appreciative of the friendships they’ve made with other fathers by participating in the course,” said St. Michaels Community Center Executive Director Patrick Rofe. “Now they have a community of dads as their own sort of support group, which further helps them with the parenting, relationship, and communication skills needed to be more involved, responsible, and committed fathers.”

Developed by fathering and parenting experts, the community-based program helps men develop the attitudes, knowledge, and skills they need to get—and stay—involved with their children. The program focuses on key fathering characteristics—like fathering styles, discipline, and work/family balance—and helps men evaluate their own parenting skills, as well as their fathering role models.

“The commitments of a nurturing and responsible father strengthen the entire family,” said Responsible Fathers Initiative Lead Facilitator Corey W. Pack. “I am excited to work with the St. Michaels Community Center once again in reaching fathers in St. Michaels and throughout the Bay Hundred area.”

Pack founded the Responsible Fathers Initiative in 2021 after a career working with the State of Maryland and while serving as Talbot County Councilman. The Initiative provides communication and engagement skills and provides fathers with an understanding of the importance of their roles in the family while providing the skills and tools needed to empower fathers to be the best they can be. More is at www.responsiblefathersintiative.org.
 
For more information or to enroll in the program, contact SMCC Executive Director Patrick Rofe at 410-745-6073 or at [email protected].
 
Donations to the St. Michaels Community Center’s annual fund and proceeds from its Treasure Cove Thrift Shop, located on Railroad Ave. in St. Michaels, help provide essential human services, programs, and community events for people in St. Michaels and from throughout Maryland’s Bay Hundred area. The nonprofit is currently undergoing an adaptive redesign of its building, with architectural renderings, new programming information, and more at www.stmichaelscc.org/future.