Support Fathers. Strengthen Families.
Becoming Dad is a ready-to-run fatherhood program for hospitals, health systems, and community organizations — helping expecting and new dads prepare emotionally, mentally, and relationally for parenthood.
Fathers Are the Missing Half of Perinatal Support
About 1 in 10 fathers experience depression during pregnancy or after birth, and paternal and maternal depression tend to rise together. Yet most prenatal and postpartum programs are built for mothers. When fathers are supported, mothers and babies benefit too.
What Becoming Dad Includes
A complete, facilitated fatherhood program your team doesn't have to build. We bring the curriculum, facilitators, and materials. You bring the families.
Six-week facilitated cohorts
Small groups of 8–12 expecting and new fathers, led by trained facilitators.
Virtual, hybrid, or on-site
Run live online, in a hybrid format, or hosted at your location.
Stress and nervous system tools
Practical regulation skills dads can use during sleepless nights and high-pressure moments.
Partner communication
Skills for postpartum relationship changes, conflict, and repair.
Workbook and digital resources
Take-home tools and learning materials that reinforce each session.
Referral pathways
Clear routes to clinical care when a father needs more than education and peer support.
Flexible Models for Your Organization
Start small with a few sponsored seats or bring Becoming Dad to every location in your system.
Sponsored Seats
Sponsor fathers from your community into our open virtual cohorts. The simplest way to start.
Dedicated Cohorts
Private groups for your own patients, clients, members, or employees, scheduled around your calendar.
Becoming Dad: Foundations Workshops
Two-hour trainings, such as "Staying Connected Under Pressure" and "Newborn Basics for Dad," that fit into existing prenatal classes.
Multi-Site Agreements
Annual agreements for health systems offering father support across multiple hospitals or clinics.
- Hospitals & health systems
- Public health departments
- Home-visiting programs
- Community organizations
- Employers
- Veterans organizations
From First Call to First Cohort
A clear, low-lift process for your staff, with reporting built in from the start.
Discovery call
We learn your population, goals, and funding.
Program fit
We tailor format, schedule, and referral pathways.
Onboarding
Staff orientation, referral materials, and enrollment support.
Cohorts run
Live facilitated sessions with workbook and digital resources.
Outcomes reporting
Attendance, participant feedback, and agreed measures shared with your team.
Evidence-Informed, Clearly Scoped
Becoming Dad is an educational and peer-support program grounded in research on perinatal mental health, nervous system regulation, and family systems. It is not a clinical treatment.
Medical, infant-safety, and clinical referral content is coordinated with each partner's clinical team, so the program complements the care you already provide.
Statistic source: Paulson & Bazemore, "Prenatal and Postpartum Depression in Fathers and Its Association With Maternal Depression," JAMA, 2010.
- Educational and peer-support model, not therapy
- Led by a licensed clinician (LCSWA) as Program Director
- Clinical and infant-safety content reviewed with your team
- Referral pathways to your behavioral health and community resources
- Outcome measures and reporting agreed with your team up front
Meet the Team Behind Becoming Dad
Professional experience in mental health, education, and community building, combined with the real-world wisdom of navigating fatherhood ourselves.
Dan Kline, LCSWA
Program Director
Licensed therapist and men's wellbeing educator in North Carolina, supporting men through major life transitions, including fatherhood.
Casey Holgan, CSCS, MES
Curriculum & Wellness Lead
Educator and program developer with more than a decade of experience designing and scaling science-based training programs.
Phillip Gaynor
Program Strategy & Partnerships
Entrepreneur and community builder leading the partnerships that bring Becoming Dad to more fathers and families.
Questions From Partners
What is Becoming Dad?
Becoming Dad is a six-week, facilitated group program for expecting and new fathers. Groups of 8–12 dads build skills in stress regulation, emotional adjustment, partner communication, and caregiving confidence, with peer connection throughout.
Which organizations is it designed for?
Hospitals and health systems, public health departments, home-visiting programs, community organizations, employers, and veterans organizations that serve expecting and new families.
Is Becoming Dad a therapy program?
No. It is an educational and peer-support program that complements clinical care. Fathers who need more support are connected to clinical resources through referral pathways agreed with your team.
Can sessions be virtual or held on-site?
Yes. Cohorts can run live online, in a hybrid format, or at a partner's location.
How is the program funded?
Partners fund Becoming Dad through sponsored seats, dedicated cohorts, or annual multi-site agreements, which can be supported by community benefit, grant, or philanthropic dollars. After a discovery call we send a proposal scoped to your format and number of families.
What reporting do partners receive?
Attendance, participant feedback, and the outcome measures we agree on together, shared with your team after each cohort.
Let’s Talk About Your Families
Tell us about the fathers and families you serve. We’ll reply within 2 business days to set up a partnership call and walk you through which model fits your organization.
Prefer email? Write to dan@authentcmen.com.