Family First's Fatherhood Program Helps Men Become 'All Pro Dads'
by Mary Rettig
November 18, 2005
(AgapePress) - - A Tampa, Florida-based fatherhood initiative called All Pro Dad is using National Football League coaches and players to encourage men to be involved with their kids. But according to Bryan Davis, the program's director, a guy doesn't have to be in the NFL to be an "all pro" dad. Davis points out that there are three main components to All Pro Dad, which is a program of the nonprofit Family First organization. First, he says, are the daily "Play of the Day" e-mails that go out from the program website to nearly 20,000 subscribers. And second, he notes, are the NFL spokesmen who hold events at their respective stadiums and also during the Super Bowl. These professional players and coaches share their own fatherhood testimonies and encourage dads to get involved with their families.
Then there is the third component, which actually brings fathers and their children together, Davis says. "We actually start All Pro Dad chapters in schools," he explains. "We get dads and kids together either before or after school hours, not only to have fun together but to spend quality time and to talk about subjects maybe they normally don't talk about."
The All Pro Dad spokesman emphasizes that everything in the program is provided free of charge. "There is no cost for schools, or churches, or YMCAs, or Head Start chapters," he says. "Whoever wants to start an All Pro Dad chapter is more than welcome."
The program encourages ten ways to be an All Pro Dad, Davis notes. He says, "The first one that we jump out of the gate with is 'Love your wife.' Understand that love isn't always an emotion, but it's a decision."
And part of what that decision involves, the program director elucidates, is for dads to determine to "be gracious and to do those extra things for your wife, whether it's dishes or sending her flowers, or whatever it is -- to really romance your wife so your kids are secure and really have a good idea of what a stable relationship looks like." Other things dads can do, he adds, include being a role model, showing affection, and making sure that family members worship and pray together as a family.
Davis says there are about 150 All Pro Dad chapters with nearly 6,000 members nationwide. Also, the program's website offers fathers literature, online classes, support groups and other parenting resources as well as interactive quizzes and activities designed to help caring dads further improve their relationships with their kids.
Mary Rettig, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
