Missouri Mentoring Partnership holds events

Missouri Mentoring Partnership will hold free, interactive events for young fathers from Saturday to May 17 for parenting fathers who meet age and residency requirements. The wrap up for Father's Day on June 15 will include a barbecue and family prize pack awards earned by attendance.

The program, MMP's Passport to Fatherhood, is part of MMP's Young Parent Program, that aims to strengthen parenting skills and develop and achieve parental, personal, educational and employment goals.

Planned events range from fishing and bowling to nature hikes and attending gym class with children. Networking with other dads and mentors called "life coaches," who are trained by MMP to mentor to young parents enables participating dads the chance to learn skills that will help them become fathers for life.

Young fathers who are Missouri residents may join MMP's Young Parent Program from the time they learn they will become a dad until the child turns two, as long as he is younger than 21. The dad may then remain in the program until he turns 22 or the child turns 3.

Older dads may qualify for associate membership if the mom meets the age requirements.

The Young Parent Program has been addressing the needs of young parents in Cape Girardeau and Bollinger counties since 1999. In 2007 the MMP was awarded a Children's Trust Fund child abuse prevention grant which has provided the Young Parent Program additional resources to reach out to young dads and help them learn to become responsible, nurturing parents.

For more information, call MMP at 332-0066 or e-mail info@missourimentoring.com. Visit their Web site at www.missourimentoring.com.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133