Dads

Dads, you matter! YPN is dedicated to empowering men in their role as a parent and the YPN Dads program offers a unique combination of information, skill-building, and support. We recognize that there is no one right way to parent and that not all techniques work for all parents. There are, however, more effective ways to parent, and YPN’s goal is to provide you with a range of tools and strategies to help you be the best dad that you can be.

Download our Program Brochure

What should families expect from the YPN fatherhood program?

Weekly group meetings in a supportive, judgement-free environment
An opportunity to meet and share with other dads
Transportation to and from group, if needed
On-site childcare
Meal at each group
All services at no cost to you
Access to the We Care Shop – YPN’s incentive-based program that rewards families with points for healthy behaviors that can be exchanged for diapers, wipes, clothing, books, or baby products.

YPN Home Visits

Home Visits are an option for families who aren’t able to attend Thursday evening groups but still want to learn & improve parenting skills and relationships.

Free to any Linn County expecting or parent with child age birth-5
Access to the We Care Shop – YPN’s incentive-based program that rewards families with points for healthy behaviors that can be exchanged for diapers, wipes, clothing, books, or baby products.
Parents as Teachers curriculum in home setting
Monthly visits by YPN’s Parent Educator
Home visit to support each new mom and dad as they make the transition to parenthood
All services at no cost to you

Learn more about our Home Visit program.

Fatherhood-focused programming

Father absence remains a challenging issue in our society, and restoring fatherhood is an integral part of the solution. YPN offers other organizations the opportunity to administer proven curriculum through partnership, providing skill-building resources for fathers and families. Programs include:

24/7 Dads

The “24/7” commitment that fatherhood requires can be overwhelming, and YPN has a unique program to provide the support that every dad needs. This evidence-based program focuses on enhancing fathers’ attitudes, knowledge, and skills — and is designed to equip fathers with the self-awareness, compassion, and sense of responsibility that every good parent needs.

Understanding Dad (for Moms)

In a strained co-parent relationship, a mother’s gatekeeping behavior can often prevent or reduce fathers’ access to their kids, when the father’s involvement would actually be beneficial to the children. The Understanding Dad program helps mothers better understand the importance of involving dad in their children’s lives, and how to better communicate with the father(s).