Title: The Dad Influence: Engaging Fathers on a Deeper Level
Date: December 13th, 2024
Time: 10am CST/ 11am EST
Description: Recent research emphasizes the profound impact fathers have on young children's development, highlighting the timeless importance of fatherhood. In response, early childhood programs are increasingly implementing initiatives to support dads in engaging meaningfully in their children’s lives. Join us for an insightful session to hear from a variety of fathers with a wide range of lived experiences, as they share their unique perspectives and what roles they are playing in their child’s early years. We’ll also explore key considerations for building or enhancing fatherhood programs that foster strong, supportive connections between fathers and young children.
*This is a Member's Only training.
Presenter: Kristin Dunn, MS, CTRS, IECMH-E®
I'm Kristin Dunn, MS, CTRS, IECMH-E®, and I embarked on my journey with AIMHiTN’s team in May of 2019. My educational journey took me to the University of Tennessee at Martin, where I earned my bachelor’s degree in Child and Families Studies with a minor in Political Science. This was followed by acquiring a master’s degree in Recreational Therapy from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Upon graduation, I seized the opportunity to head to Washington DC and work with the Children Rights Council, advocating for children to have access to both parents. My path then led me to provide Recreational Therapy for adolescents in residential treatment in Chattanooga, TN. For a significant part of my career—10 years—I dedicated myself to Prevention and Early Intervention Services in Knoxville, TN, contributing to programs like the Healthy Families Home Visiting Program and the Regional Intervention Program. Guiding both my professional endeavors and personal life is a simple yet profound motto: "Every child (person) should know a little joy everyday".