Military Dads have the opportunity to better understand and relate to their children while building a bonding community with peers through a new initiative offered by the Military Family Resource Centre (MFRC), starting Feb 12.

The 10-week program will be hosted on Thursdays until May 7 from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., blending group and individual sessions, focusing on parenting skills, and family connections.

“Parenting is a unique [experience]. Dads seem to have less community support, “ Tara Unrau, community mental health facilitator for MFRC, said.

“The program was developed as a preventative and psycho-educational initiative aimed at military fathers seeking to enhance connection and communication with their children and partners while managing stress associated with military-connected families,” Unrau explained, using information from militarydads.ca.

This is the first implementation of the program nationally and at CFB Shilo after development and trials in Kingston, Trenton and St. John’s, Ryan Blackman, family liaison officer for the MFRC, said.

“There are a lot of programs that target moms, but nothing specifically for military dads. So, when parenting programs are run, we don’t often see Dads. The thought was, if we run specifically for dads, then we can create a peer group side of things,” he said.

“Dad’s have a alot of impact on how their kids flourish. Being able to invest in fathers [is significant]. The other Bases have already seen how families have become stronger by having more involved fathers who feel supported and have the tools to do the job well,” Unrau said.

Group facilitators receive training alongside the base chaplaincy to run the syllabus, blending the partnership with MFRC and Military Family Services (MFS).

The group runs during daytime work hours to promote family time in the evening, without taking away from those special moments.

“The goal is for chains of command to give permission for personnel to come and thus support the intent that when there are stronger families, there will be stronger units,” Captain Victoria Miles, Baseside chaplain, said,  adding the benefits of stronger units already being evident in the trial locations.

“When you are asking members to be away from their families in the evening for two and a half hours, you are taking away more time at home.”

The program is open to all dads with young or older children with whom they have contact. Each topic covered is a progression of the last, forming blocks to a strong foundation and providing tools to understand parenting.

“[Themes] may include child development to how you were parented, how that affects your own parenting shape, and your relationship with your partner and how they parent,” Blackman said.

“Parenting is an [individual process]. If you want to be good at it, there are some things you may not have considered. If you feel like it is a difficult challenge, it’s because it is, “ Capt. Miles said.

To register for the no-cost course, email: taraunrau@shilomfrc.ca or victoria.miles@forces.gc.ca.