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Connecting Fathers with their Children On a bulletin board outside Nate Rauschendorfer’s office a sticker reads, “Men who change diapers change the world.”
As program manager for Catholic Charities’ Parenting Services, Rauschendorfer runs a parenting program for men called Dad’s Connection.
“We started this program in 1994 because we had services for moms and babies, and we realized we were missing one-third of the family,” Rauschendorfer says.
Learning How to Be a Father
Julian, 22, has participated in the program since he was 15. He still attends group meetings as often as he can because he likes sharing parenting advice with other fathers. He now has three daughters.
“I recommend this program to everyone I know who has kids,” says Julian, who recently referred his brother-in-law to Dad’s Connection. “You always learn new things.”
Dad’s Connection serves about 150 young fathers a year, one-third of whom are still in their teens. The program provides them with counseling and supportive services such as parenting classes, peer groups, mentoring and home visits. “The young men learn the things they want to do but don’t know how to do,” Rauschendorfer says, “which can be anything from changing diapers to signing up for college classes.”
“If they haven’t seen it before, we can show them how to be a father.”
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