New Course Aims to Boost Father–Son Relationships
Friday, 8th October 2010: Are you a dad? Or a stepdad or grandfather? Are you and your son getting as much from your relationship as you could be? Are you someone that he can turn to in a crisis? Would you like to learn more about how you could provide support for him?
Participants from across County Dublin are being sought for ‘Raising Boys for Fathers’, an innovative course specifically designed to equip fathers with the information and confidence they need to manage and deal with their changing role in Irish society. Run by HeadsUp, Rehab’s suicide prevention programme, the course will also help fathers to improve their communication skills so that they are equipped and available to talk to their sons should they encounter any of life’s problems.
In total,14 fathers are being sought for the ‘Raising Boys for Fathers’ course, which is free to all participants and consists of two evening sessions, each lasting two hours. The course will take place on Tuesday, 19th October and Tuesday, 26th October 2010 from 7 – 9pm at RehabCare Head Office, Roslyn Park, Sandymount.
Fathers will learn about how they can have a uniquely positive impact on their children’s lives and development. It will also include looking at how boyhood has changed in the past twenty years; the role of fathers; a discussion on how fathers are perceived by their sons, and information on what is happening for boys as they grow into men. The course will include a mix of discussion, information and helpful hints from the facilitators.
The ‘Raising Boys for Fathers’ course was originally developed by the North Western Area HSE and has been successfully delivered in that region for the past six years. It will be delivered in Dublin by specially trained facilitators whom themselves are fathers.
The course focuses on fathers and sons because the unique relationship between fathers and sons and the fact that fathers do not usually seem to attend generic parenting courses.
‘The “Raising Boys for Fathers” course has been specifically designed to address the needs of Irish fathers; to help them and their sons cope with new pressures in a changing world,’ said Collette Ryan, HeadsUp Project Manager
‘It is a distressing fact that high levels of suicide are found among young Irish males. Although by no means predicting suicide, one of the many protective factors against it is the presence of a supportive, caring adult in a young person’s life. It is obvious that a good father–son relationship not only has a positive effect for individuals involved, but also for society as a whole.’
For further information and to register your place on the course, please contact Collette Ryan, on (01) 205 7326/ (086) 838 0218 or email raisingboys@headsup.ie
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Further Information Contact:
Collette Ryan, HeadsUp Project Manager, Tel: (086) 838 0218
Dara Duffy, Communications Dept., Rehab Group, Tel: (01) 205 7268