Community Outreach

Father’s Program

Southside Community Health Services has developed a program for fathers between the ages of 17-37 who are actively involved in the lives of their children to receive a free medical and dental exam. The fathers need to attend 3 or 4 sessions with a health educator and after “graduating” from the program the men are able to go to Southside Medical and Southside Dental clinics and receive a free medical physical and dental exam. The men are also encouraged to meet with Southside staff to apply for medical assistance or prescription assistance programs.
Class sizes range from 1 participant to 8.

Topics covered at these sessions include (but are not limited to):
STDs/STIs and HIV/AIDS
Birth control methods
Car seat safety
Depression
Nutrition
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Domestic and child abuse
Addictions
Child development
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS)
Anatomy – both male and female
Violence reeducation and prevention

All sessions have communication and relationship components woven into them so each participant can learn how to address these issues with their partner in a healthy manner, for themselves and their children. Participants are encouraged to interact with the educators and each other, as well as ask questions and present “real world” situations in which this information will be useful. Participant post-session surveys have been very favorable and indicate participants have been pleased with these sessions.

For further information, please contact Clarence Jones, Outreach Director, at 612/821-2812.