Denver City Wire

Funding from the Colorado Department of Early Childhood’s Colorado Fatherhood Program has expanded support services for fathers and father figures in Denver

DENVER – Denver Human Services (DHS) Fatherhood and Parenthood programs have been supporting parents in the Denver area for many years. Thanks to a grant awarded in 2021 from the Colorado Fatherhood Program, a five-year initiative of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, Denver Human Services has continued to expand support services for fathers and father figures in Denver. 

“I am passionate about working with dads because as a single father, I know that it makes a big difference to have a little bit of extra support,” shared DHS Fatherhood Program Coordinator Matthew Mitchell. “I want to be that person for a father who doesn’t have the support he needs.” 

Denver Human Services provides a variety of resources to parents in our community to assist them in gaining the skills and supports they need.  The department has found that positive parenting is predictive of positive outcomes and fosters resilience in children and parents alike.   

The fatherhood program specializes in working with fathers over the age of 18, but provides services to fathers and father figures of all ages. It features a free 10-session cohort of 8-15 participants who meet in person or virtually. In addition to giving fathers a space to connect with one another, participants learn nurturing parenting, financial literacy and co-parenting skills, as well as how to be an active, positive presence in their children’s lives. They also receive one-on-one coaching and connections to community resources like job training, affordable housing and mental health services. 

According to the National Fatherhood Initiative, children who grow up with involved fathers do better in school and are at lower risk for teen pregnancy, committing a crime, poor school performance, neglect, abuse and suicide. 

Denver Human Services was one of seven community sites selected by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood in 2021 to provide services to fathers. Funding for the Colorado Fatherhood Program comes from a $7.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration for Children and Families. The other sites include:  

• Catholic Charities of Southern Colorado – Pueblo County 
• Empowering Communities Globally – Boulder County  
• Hilltop Community Resources – Delta County, Mesa County and Montrose County  
• La Plata Family Centers Coalition – La Plata County 
• Prowers County Department of Human Services – Prowers County 
• The Pinon Project – Montezuma County  

“The seven Colorado Fatherhood Program grantee sites support fathers in the vital role they play for children and families,” said Patrick Potyondy, manager of the Colorado Fatherhood Program. “Their holistic programming empowers fathers with important skills, so their children thrive.”  

Another valuable parental resource is Denver Parent Advocates Lending Support (DPALS). DPALS supports families who have interactions with the Denver Human Services Child Welfare Division. Families connect with parent partners to provide navigation and encouragement to help families successfully move through the child welfare system processes. 

For more information about the Denver Fatherhood Program, please call 720-944-1323 or email dhsfatherhood@denvergov.org.

Original source can be found here