By Andrew Montejo, First 5 Orange County
As a Latino father of two boys, I began to think about the importance of community — especially with other dads — during the pandemic. My family and I were isolated, the four of us at parks in our own micro-world. It was bittersweet. I had the chance to spend time with my young boys, but the experience shed light on the importance of belonging.
That got me thinking about creating a place where father figures could learn from one another and have that one-on-one connection. In 2022, First 5 OC led the establishment of the Orange County Fatherhood Coalition as a way to boost fatherhood engagement within underserved populations, enhancing outcomes for children and families, increasing dad participation in family support programs, and positively impacting future generations.
At First 5 Orange County, we are working to create a community in which dads engage in their children’s early years and find their own community with other fathers.
Using data, our Fatherhood Engagement Initiative found serious gaps in fatherhood involvement locally. One in five children in Orange County grow up living only with their mother, and in under-resourced communities, over one-third of children grow up without an actively engaged father in the home.
The data doesn’t lie, and we have found that the impact of a father’s involvement in his child’s life can be seen socially, mentally, educationally, physically, and emotionally — especially in the earliest years when a child’s brain forms 1 million neural connections per second. Research shows children with an involved father have decreased behavioral problems in school, increased resilient behavior, higher self-esteem, improved stress management in school, and better grades overall.
The Orange County Fatherhood Coalition is spearheading fatherhood engagement efforts locally, working to shift both perception and practice, offering father-friendly trainings, creating spaces where dads feel welcome, and launching pilot programs that connect fathers with resources and each other. In addition to First 5 Orange County, the coalition includes numerous organizations, including the Orange County Department of Education, Family Support Network, Fristers, Head Start, Child Support Services, and Hoag Hospital.
As we celebrate fathers this month, we wanted to share a few ways that dads can get more involved, create community with other engaged fathers, and help each other grow.
One such event is Bootcamp for New Dads, a three-hour workshop where expectant fathers learn from peers who are in the thick of new parenthood or have made it through the first year. The boot camp offers real talk on changing diapers, postpartum depression, and surviving sleepless nights.
Additionally, the Latino Dad Connection’s mission is to inspire dads to create meaningful connections with their families. The Latino Dad Connection provides an 8-week program, monthly compadres call, workshops, monthly get-togethers, and individual coaching for parents.
As we grow and reach more fathers, one thing is clear: dads crave connection. Whether it’s Daddy & Me, a spontaneous park playdate, or a weekly dads group with Fristers.
I love seeing how things are changing for dads — particularly for Latino dads. They can be more invested, they can participate and change the image of fatherhood.
Our message is the same: fathers want friendship, support, and a place to belong. I hope you’ll join First 5 Orange County in creating a world in which fathers are on the frontlines of love, play, and parenting.
To learn about upcoming events, visit:
https://www.latinodadconnection.com/
https://first5oc.org/priorities/community-engagement/oc-fatherhood-coalition/
About Andrew Montejo:
Andrew Montejo serves as Program Officer for First 5 Orange County and his responsibilities include technical assistance and database administration for the CalWORKs Home Visitation Program, and our fatherhood inclusion and engagement initiatives. Andrew worked as a Data and Evaluation Manager for the Los Angeles LGBT Center before joining First 5 Orange County in 2020. There, he created internal database systems and worked on the creation of programs for homeless adolescents. He graduated from California State University Northridge with a bachelor’s degree in Chicano/a Studies.