WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE, Ohio — Fayette County Public Health used this year’s Community Health Fair and Family Fun Day to launch a new program aimed squarely at dads, drawing 29 fathers to a session on responsible parenting during the county’s largest annual outreach event.
The health district added the fatherhood engagement component to the 34th annual fair, held June 6 at Grace Community Church in Washington Court House, in recognition of June as Responsible Fatherhood Month in Ohio. The health district said the new component focused on supporting fathers and father figures raising children age 21 and under.
Eric Tattersall spoke to the group on responsible fatherhood, and an Ohio Department of Natural Resources officer, John Coffman, shared information on no-cost outdoor activities families can do together, according to the health district. Fathers who attended earned “Dad Bucks,” which the health district said could be redeemed to share a meal and spend time with their families.
Responsible Fatherhood Month is observed each June under a proclamation from Republican Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, part of an ongoing state effort administered by the Ohio Commission on Fatherhood, a division of the Ohio Department of Children and Youth. The commission’s stated mission is to help fathers become better parents, partners and providers, and the state has steadily expanded funding for fatherhood programs in recent budgets.
The Community Health Fair and Family Fun Day is Fayette County Public Health’s signature annual outreach event, bringing free and reduced-cost health screenings, blood pressure and blood sugar checks, vision exams, and family activities to Grace Community Church each June. This year marked the 34th consecutive year the health district has held the fair.
Fayette County Public Health thanked those who participated in and supported the new program in a social media post announcing the results.
The information contained in this story was obtained from Fayette County Public Health.
