On November 14, Avenue of Hope partnered with Strong Dads in an open house at their facility, located at 1815 N. Union St. At the event, those in attendance had the opportunity to speak to representatives of both Avenue of Hope and the Strong Dads program. The ability to learn and explore the programs that both organizations have available and how they can help to support community members.The Avenue of Hope Assoc. is an organization that is dedicated to serving Kay County and surrounding communities in their mission of providing support. Whether it is substance abuse, co-occurring issues, trauma, or something else, Avenue of Hope is looking to help and support individuals through challenges that may come up in their lives.They show their support in many ways including holistic recovery approaches, peer support, educational programs, and a referral network. They offer appointments both in person and virtually with specialists that can work with the individual to understand and approach their specific situations. If these opportunities interest you or you would like to learn more about The Avenue of Hope Assoc., you can visit their website at avenueofhope. com or see them in person at 1815 N. Union St.Another pillar in the community that offers support and guidance is the Strong Dads program. The program was created by dads for dads, offering different ways and support on how they can strengthen the father- child connection they have in their lives. Strong Dads offers weekly classes that give them a space to flourish and learn with no judgement.“It is a 12 week course where we go over the fundamentals of building relationships, connections, and a strong family. Dads in attendance learn about co-parenting and are given ways to deal with their health, both physical and mental, and to deal with their grief. It helps to shape them into becoming the best dads they can be,” says Strong Dads Representative, Edgar Dominguez.According to Dominguez, the program is not about being a ‘bad dad’, but instead how you can become the best dad. It allows those in attendance to grow and be better for themselves and their children. Dominguez’s class in particular has already begun, but they are still accepting intakes in the next two classes. Each class is held on Wednesday at 6pm, where they will begin the session with a light meal, engage in lively group discussions, and check in with the ...
