Lutheran Services Florida
Father engagement is a vital and integrated aspect of parent, family, and community engagement work. LSF Head Start and Early Start staff engage fathers as advocates, lifelong educators, and first teachers of their children. Male family members and father figures serve key roles in the healthy development of their children and families and have much to add to their Head Start communities.
This Father’s Day we celebrate our Rock Star fathers throughout our LSF Head Start and Early Head Start programs!
Mr. Billy
A New Beginning Child Care 2 LCC
Duval Early Head Start Childcare Partnership: A New Beginning Child Care 2 LLC spotlights “Mr. Billy Little”
“Mr. Billy” is a dedicated father who shows a high level of concern regarding his child’s education. We love having his son at A New Beginning Child Care 2 LCC! Mr. Billy looks for activities to assist his son with learning at home and does not depend solely on the teachers for his child’s education. Initially apprehensive, Mr. Billy made a 360 degree turn around with the Director of the Child Care Center as he came to trust that his child was in a safe place that offers the kind of quality care that every parent should expect. Mr. Billy can be spotted participating at the parent meetings and helping out around the center.
Mr. Billy volunteers and gets into the trenches to help keep the center clean. Mr. Billy is an inspiration to the child care team and a dependable father. He is a shining example for the other fathers.
Happy Father’s Day Mr. Billy! We appreciate you.
-Submitted by Bridgette Carter, Owner/Director for A New Beginning Child Care 2 LCC
Mr. Gregory
Superior Christian Academy
Mr. Gregory is a phenomenal dad and I want to recognize him on Father’s Day! He supports his daughter’s early learning experience at 100 percent. He loves to stick around in the classroom to see the teacher’s interactions with his daughter and the children.
On his off day, he will pick his daughter up early to spend extra quality time with her. He is always asking her about the day and if there is anything she needs. He also offers help for other children who may not be able to afford at home supplies to enrich at home learning.
This dad wants to be informed on different strategies and ways to help him work with his daughter at home. We appreciate Mr. Gregory’s honesty and his hard work to provide a safe and caring place for his daughter.
He is LSF Duval Early Head Start’s champion dad!
-Submitted by Linda Reid, Owner/Director for Superior Christian Academy
Anel Nicolas is a father of two young children and recently took on the responsibility of adopting his wife’s niece. Anel is a hard-working father who generously helps others. Anel has been involved with our Head Start program for two years. Anel started out by attending every training/parent meeting that was offered to parents. Each time we had a parent meeting he would translate to the Creole parents and made sure they had a ride to the meetings.
Anel not only help the parents at PEPPI but throughout the Glades community. He was a part of our “Bikes Give-away” and he also passes out food to homeless in the community. He stated that his goal is for everyone in PEPPI and the Glades Community to come together and make a better future for our kids.
Mr. Nicolas is one the most dependable parents we have in our program. What more can I say about Anel Nicolas besides Happy Father’s Day and we are happy to have him as part of our program!
-Submitted by Shirley Coney, Director of LSF PEPPI Head Start
A MAN EVERYBODY NEEDS (AMEN)
is a fatherhood involvement initiative program for the male staff, fathers or male figure that have a positive impact within our Head Start families.
The purpose of this initiative is to increase parent/guardian involvement in the Head Start program through center and local program activities that encourages positive child development. This initiative will also help the families by providing resources to participants and their families while helping them understand the importance of father involvement in a child’s life especially in the early development stages.
If you desire to join one of our parent engagement programs, please contact the main LSF Head Start office in your county or contact your Family and Community Engagement Specialists.
