Hear from two dedicated dads who share their unique experiences, challenges, and triumphs in embracing fatherhood. In this episode, we explore what the experience of being a new parent is like, the role that fathers can play in their baby’s healthy development and social-emotional well-being, and where they can go to find community and support.

Meet Perry, a new dad to his nine-month-old son and family engagement liaison for the Oakland Unified School District, striving to boost enrollment in deep East Oakland.

Jorge is the dad of two daughters and leads the Project Fatherhood program at Pacific Clinics in Pasadena, California, where he facilitates weekly discussions on child development and fatherhood engagement. With four years under his belt in this role, and many more in this field, Jorge brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to fathers aiming to deepen their involvement in their children’s lives.

Highlights:

8:30- Discover the ways fathers can foster their children's healthy development

13:30- Learn about “the power of play” with young children

19:00- A call for the medical system to better support father involvement

28:51- Navigating mental health as a new dad

37:27- Perry’s advice for fellow first-time fathers

39:00- Resources for dads

Interested in sharing your fatherhood story or suggesting a topic? Reach out to us at health@youthlaw.org. We'd love to hear from you.

This episode is brought to you by the National Center for Youth Law, with support from the Resilience Effect initiative by Genentech, a Roche Group member, dedicated to fostering a supportive community for fathers everywhere.