Podcast: Support for Fathers Leads to Healthy Birth Outcomes
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Podcast: Support for Fathers Leads to Healthy Birth Outcomes

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Earnest Goggins (left) and Keith Parris

October 31, 2017

Produced by Katie Kuhn, United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County

Listen Now (00:30:02)

 

While many healthy and successful people grow up with only mom in the house, research shows that having dad involved throughout pregnancy and the first year of life contributes to greater health and better outcomes for baby. That is why the Milwaukee Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families Collaborative (LIHF) has enlisted local fatherhood experts in their goal of making sure every baby makes it to their first birthday.  

Today we talk with Keith Parris, co-chair for Strengthening African American Families and Fatherhood and Male Engagement Committee for (LIHF).  Keith is also the Outreach and Education Coordinator for Pathways for Fathers and Families through Milwaukee County Child Support with a focus on fatherhood development. This effort is made possible by a grant from the Department of Health & Human Services.

Also joining us is Earnest Goggins, Fatherhood Program Manager at The Parenting Network and a member of the Strengthening African American Families/Fatherhood Male Engagement Committee. 

Recently, Keith and Earnest hosted Fatherhood Barbershop sessions during the 12th annual Milwaukee Fatherhood Summit, presented by Mayor Tom Barret and The Milwaukee Fatherhood Initiative. This event brought together men of all ages to talk about the challenges of fatherhood and to support one another.

We spoke with Ernest and Keith about everything from the role of perceived gender difference as it relates to fatherhood, whether it is important for mom and dad to be together in order to be good parents, and the role of the father in ensuring baby is healthy enough to make it to their first birthday and beyond. 

Milwaukee Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families is funded by Wisconsin Partnership Program (WPP) at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and convened by convened by United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County.

Learn more about the work of Milwaukee Lifecourse Initiative for Healthy Families (LIHF) Collaborative.

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