Fatherhood Fundraiser Supports Black Babies

By Dianne Anderson
It’s never too late for dads to learn how to be better dads, even if they never had one in the house when they were growing up.
In the 1960s, and long before that when Black men couldn’t find work due to discrimination, welfare rules banned fathers from living at home, or risk losing welfare payments for their family.
That disconnect still reverberates and impacts the family structure today.
“One of the biggest things we have are the systems in place that continue to systemically dissociate fathers,” said Ryan Berryman, founder and CEO of the San Bernardino Fatherhood.
Berryman, a social worker for two decades with the county, started his nonprofit in 2016, seeing how few services were available in the community to help underserved and underrepresented dads.
Today, he tries to get them back into the fold to support Black expectant moms, and most of all learn how to keep their children alive past that first critical year of life.
This month, Berryman’s organization is in fundraising mode, calling on the community to support their fundraising goal of $25,000 for fatherhood intervention in addressing Black infant death. Proceeds will support several of their other dad-based programs, including 24/7 Dad Fathering and their Boot Camp for new dads, and classes on understanding moms-to-be.
On Saturday, June 24, the community is invited out for a jazz concert, “A Tribute to Fathers” featuring nationally acclaimed R&B composer and saxophonist Walter Beasley. The Fatherhood Awareness Month event will be held at San Bernardino Valley College. On Wednesday, June 28th, they are hosting “Dads, Kids and Family” at San Bernardino Raceway.
In the months ahead, Berryman is also calling out medical professionals to speak with their dads, including OB/GYN doctors that want to come and explain the pregnancy process, and what dads can expect as the mom goes through her journey.
“It really is a crisis, it’s unfortunate. Sometimes I think we just need to say that Black babies are dying in San Bernardino County more than other counties,” he said.
Berryman said the State’s 2019 public health data is disturbing, with Black infant death in San Bernardino County at 13.1%, compared to the statewide mortality rate at 9.8%. To address the gap in Black Infant Health programming, he said the State recommended fatherhood services as one of the BIH health interventions.
His program contracts with the county public health department through the Perinatal Equity Initiative to address Black infant mortality by outreaching fatherhood services to dads in a partnership or parenting with Black moms, who are expecting a child, or have a child under one year old.
Recently, he was excited that at his program’s recommendation, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors announced a proclamation that June is recognized as Fatherhood Awareness Month.
“There’s a lot of research out there that when fathers are involved even before pregnancy, they tend to stay involved. Everyone benefits, moms, children and community [and] it becomes generational,” he said.
Getting dads the help they need is a challenge, often because services like his own are poorly funded. Many in leadership positions say they want to help, he said, but are not willing to contribute funding for restorative family programs.
Another aspect is that dads are not encouraged to learn about pregnancy, or how stress impacts the mother of their unborn children. Many are not aware that Black babies die at over twice the rate of white babies before their first birthday.
“That’s our challenge, dads don’t know. We live in a culture that doesn’t encourage dads to know, that’s the reason why San Bernardino County has one of the highest Black infant health mortality,” he said.
But too often, the dads come into the programs in crisis. For them, he offers 24/7 dad classes located at some of their substance abuse facilities. Some are coming out of the justice system and want to turn their lives around. He also offers services for dads that have difficulty getting visits with their children.
Berryman said the program gives dads a sense of identity as they learn the value of what they bring to their families. They have renewed purpose and hope.
All events have an educational aspect, even fun ones like the daddy-daughter dance, a program he is implementing and involved with the city school district.
“Parenting class and boot camp for new dads is more about curriculum,” he said. “They’re not just dancing and eating food, we offer a message of how important that role is and we do a ceremony. Last year we had close to 300 individuals attending that [with] 80 dads.”
At boot camp, most of their fathers are ages 25 to 35, are looking for a better life, or want to give back. Dads come out to volunteer and tell their stories, give advice, and help share the meaning of fatherhood.
Clearing the social hurdle is a long process, he said, but he is seeing progress.
“It’s slow, but there is momentum going forward, somebody said a snail’s pace is better than no pace at all, I totally agree with that.”
For more information on events and times, see http://www.sbfatherhood.com/
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