Prince William County Department of Social Services Fatherhood Initiative to Hold Pool Party for Dads and Children

There’s going to be a pool party at Waterworks at Andrew Leitch Park with music, fun, snacks and fellowship from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 15. The Prince William County Fatherhood Initiative will host Dad’s Pool Day to recognize and celebrate the importance of being a father.

Click here to register for the free event at 5301 Dale Blvd. in Dale City.

The aim of the Fatherhood Initiative is to educate fathers on how to serve in the “best interest of their children through healthy environments and strong relationships.” The initiative teaches fathers how to support and communicate with their children’s mothers, how to coparent, how to play and spend time with their children, and how to have good relationships with their children.  

“Fathers are a big component,” said Prince William County Department of Social Services Deputy Director Phyllis Jennings. “They have special relationships with their daughters. They have special relationships with their sons. It’s so important to help build and strengthen that father relationship. We try to hold support groups and activities to support that effort.”

When fathers are involved in their children’s lives, the risk of suicide goes down, and the risk of drug abuse decreases along with the risk of early pregnancy, Jennings said.  

The Fatherhood Initiative, which is funded through grants from the Virginia Department of Social Services, has been around since 2013, but like many other programs, the initiative suffered a COVID-19 induced hiatus.

“This is really the first event to putting some life back into the Fatherhood Initiative,” Jennings said.

The county’s Department of Social Services is working to revitalize the Fatherhood Initiative Steering Committee. People who are interested in becoming part the Fatherhood Initiative through the committee can email Jennings at [email protected] or call 703-792-7592.