Miami Valley Partnership for Fathers

SCYM is excited to be part of a grant from the state of Ohio for the next seven months, centered on strengthening fathers in our state. Our "piece of the puzzle" is premature fatherhood prevention for middle school boys - basically helping these kids understand why it's a bad idea to get their girlfriends pregnant in high school, and how they can avoid that.

As we see it, there's not a lot of programming out there that's just for guys - and if you wait until the later high school years, this kind of thing comes too late. Middle school is really a great age to be working with at-risk youth, because they have not yet made disastrous choices that are bringing them down.

So for our MVPF programming, Chris and one or two other group facilitators are going to be leading small groups in city middle schools going through a curriculum that talks about identity, masculinity, and the risks of premature fatherhood. (In words that middle school guys relate to, of course.) Please pray for us and the other partners (Urban Light, FYI, and PowerNet of Dayton, who will all be working with dads), that the programming we're starting will really make an impact in changing the cycle of premature and absentee fathers that has shaped far too many kids' lives.

Faith Bosland
Executive Director