Columbus must debunk myths about fatherhood |Opinion

Maureen L. Stapleton is executive director of CelebrateOne, the city of Columbus’ initiative to reduce infant mortality.

Simply put, fatherhood matters. Dads can make an extraordinary impact during pregnancy, childbirth and beyond.

In fact, the benefits of paternal involvement begin well before the birth of a child. Men can – and should – offer vital support during pregnancy.

More: The alarming number of Black baby deaths here must be stopped| Opinion

Mothers involved with the fathers of their children are more likely to receive early prenatal care and less likely to deliver prematurely, while newborns raised under these conditions are less likely to succumb to infant mortality – which is defined as death before the first birthday.

According to the National Fatherhood Initiative, infant deaths within the first 28 days of life are four times higher for children with absent fathers.

CelebrateOne – created in 2014 by then-City Council President Andrew J. Ginther to reduce the city’s infant mortality rate – supports fathers, too, and recently held its first Fatherhood Summit on June 25.

More: Being dad promoted at summit

Over 100 fathers attended. Dads had a chance to connect with other dads. They learned about building bonds between fathers and their children, supporting mothers during pregnancy and addressing the trauma and challenges stemming from their own experiences.

They were joined by author and motivational speaker Jason Wilson. He spoke about his childhood and the absence of his father. Now the proud father of two, he, instead, chooses to lead by example and make his children a top priority.

More: How to submit guest opinion columns to the Columbus Dispatch

Personal testimony is always a powerful tool, but ample research also demonstrates that a loving and nurturing father vastly improves outcomes for children, families and communities.

Children with involved and loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem, exhibit empathy and avoid high-risk behaviors like drug use, truancy and criminal activity.

The stakes for these children are incredibly high, but, fortunately, CelebrateOne is not alone in guiding dads throughout their fatherhood journey.

More: Why dads matter, according to science

Columbus-based Urban Family Development Center helps to pull back the curtain on pregnancy and offers prenatal classes to keep dads from sitting on the sidelines. Since 2015, over 700 men have attended weekly Dads2B sessions and gained access to essential resources such as doctors, nurses, dietitians, lactation specialists and social workers.

The Columbus Urban League’s Father 2 Father program helps dads build strong relationships with their children despite divorce, incarceration and other barriers. Over 1,000 dads have completed this 10-week session.

The Urban League also debunks the myths of Black fatherhood by sharing data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that shows Black fathers spend more time in their children's day-to-day lives than dads from other ethnic groups – defying long-held, negative stereotypes about Black fatherhood.

Whether it's attending sporting events, being there during tough times or learning how to better contribute during pregnancy, fathers are shifting how they view their roles as parents. CelebrateOne and its partners are dedicated to supporting them in this journey.

More: Sorry, Harvard, fathers still matter — including Black fathers

Being a parent is a unique and demanding challenge no matter the circumstances, and although men don’t have to experience the same physical changes associated with pregnancy, the birth of a child will always remain a transcendent moment in their lives. When fathers are involved, it helps the entire family.

I call upon the Columbus community and our local service providers to help debunk the myths, empower all fathers to become better fathers and do what we can to uplift anyone who is committed to being an active, positive and encouraging influence in our children’s lives.

Maureen L. Stapleton is executive director of CelebrateOne, the city of Columbus’ initiative to reduce infant mortality.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Opinion: Infant mortality rates higher in children with absent fathers