Skagit Dads Connect, a new program of United General District 304, is ready to open its doors at Heartwood House to the first group of dads! Run by dads, designed for dads, this program is for fathers or father figures interested in building camaraderie, sharing about their experiences, and gaining practical skills for parenting
The FREE 12-week program offers a workshop series that meets once a week for 2.5 hours. Dads get together to talk about their lives, parenting, family relationships, and taking care of themselves. “Learning to take care of ourselves as dads is usually last on our long to-do list”, says facilitator John Solano. “Being a parent can feel non-stop, but it’s important to take stock of how we are doing. It’s like the age-old airlines refrain, ‘put your own air mask on before helping others.’”
Skagit Dads Connect will provide free dinner and babysitting, so dads can participate more easily. The program also provides the support of a dad coach. Whether a dad wants to check in about the topics from the last session, ask questions about a particular parenting technique or work through some personal goals, Dad Coach, Jarrod Blecha is there to lend a listening ear or help with some resources.
The first session of Skagit Dads Connect will start on October 7 and run through December 30. Five groups will be offered in 2027, so dads can find the best fit for themselves and their family. Find more program information here.
To launch Skagit Dads Connect, the team is hosting a series of free backyard BBQs to help dads get to know each other and find out more about the program. The first BBQ on August 26 brought over 20 attendees, including toddlers and teens, for a casual gathering and dinner.
There are still two more opportunities to join a Skagit Dads Connect BBQ! Staff John Solano, Jarrod Blecha and Genaro Sanchez will be manning the grill and sharing their plans to connect Skagit County dads to each other and this new opportunity.
- Thursday, September 10 from 5:00-7:00 at Heartwood House, 2031 Hospital Drive, Sedro-Woolley
- Wednesday, September 23 from 5:00-6:30 pm at Silo Park, Concrete
Skagit Dads Connect is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children & Families through a Family, Opportunity, Resilience, Grit, Engagement – FORGE Fatherhood grant. The program recognizes the critical role fathers play in their child(ren)’s development and offers evidence-informed, skills-based, and community-centered programming.
Explore other information and resources about fatherhood:
Fatherhood.gov – A national resource for fathers, practitioners, programs/Federal grantees, states, and the public at-large who are serving or interested in supporting strong fathers and families.
Washington Fatherhood Council -A collaborative group focused on reducing poverty and inequality through increased fatherhood access and belonging.