It may take a village to raise a child, but it takes a whole lot of education to make a father.

Even before birth and through life's changes and rough stretches, a father has a lot to learn.

Fortunately, there are teachers in Butler County who can help fathers become better parents.

Butler Memorial Hospital offers childbirth and family education programs to help fathers ease into the parenting world.

“We teach one called preparing for labor and birth that expectant couples come to,” said Ronee Haller, a registered nurse at the hospital.

“It's sort of like traditional Lamaze classes. We teach parenting classes. We teach one about newborn care. It is everything about caring for a newborn from feeding to diapering to why they keep crying,” Haller said.

“We do an infant safety class. We even have some grandparents come to that to brush up on how to keep a baby safe,” she added.

Haller said, “And then we have a 'It's a Guy Thing' class.”

It's for fathers and father substitutes of 9- to 12-year-old boys, and they talk about communication, puberty and all the changes they are going through emotionally and physically. And the fathers, too, probably,” she said.

“Boys have questions that moms can't answer,” she said.

“It is usually offered three or four times a year,” said Haller. “Fathers and sons take it together, and in all honesty usually the mother signs them both up.”

Rick McCandless, a physical therapist at the hospital has been teaching the “guy” class for the last three years.

“'It's a Guy Thing' is for adolescent boys, and they bring their significant male figure: father, stepdad, uncle, grandfather,” said McCandless.

“We cover the maturation process of a boy and how they can change. I don't believe this is taught in the school system anymore,” he said.

McCandless said the class also stresses the importance of communication between fathers and sons.

“Between their school work and dad's workweek, dads and sons spend very little time talking, and that is kind of an eye opener,” he said. Especially after puberty arrives with all its physical and emotional changes, he added.

It's made more difficult by the number of hand-held distractions available today.

“Communication is one of the pillars, of course,” said McCandless. “We're trying to increase one-on-one communication with boys and the significant male in his life, and as soon as kids come into the classroom, they've got something in their hands, and they are doing something, not talking with their dads.”

“I think these classes just promote good health,” said Haller. “We should be promoting positive health habits first. If you keep yourself healthy it's going to save a lot in health care costs.”

“We encourage fathers to participate, even in the breast-feeding classes.” Haller said.

“I think they are pretty involved,” said Haller of the fathers. “They're very happy that they came to class, surprised about how much they have learned. They will say it was her idea, but they are more than happy to be there.”

Family Pathways in Butler also offers a parent support and education program called “Shared Beginnings” that contains a section designed with the needs of soon-to-be fathers in mind, said Elan Walter Lewis, executive director.

It also offers classes for fathers whose families are affected by loss, separation or abuse, called Transitions.

Fathers are referred by the Child Welfare or Domestic Relations offices, Lewis said.The idea, she said, is to give fathers the skills so they can “do what they need to do to be the best father or mother they can be”“When safety is not an issue, it takes two parents to raise a child. This idea that 'I'm going to do it all alone,' research has proved it is better for the child if there are two parents involved,” said Lewis.Lewis said most of the fathers fall in the 20 to 35 range and the mid-40s to mid-50s range.“Most of them are new dads, and a lot of them have had problems with either financial or legal issues. Many are involved with the criminal justice system. We work with them coming in or going out of jail,” she said.“We've seen more fathers having custody and bringing children in to see mom (in jail) so dads are stepping up to the plate,” Lewis said.“Many of our families are fragmenting, sometimes we are introducing fathers to the child,” said Lewis. “They have been absent due to time in jail or because the child is result of a short-term relationship.”Lewis said, “a positive relationship between father and child is the best gift I can give a child.”“I really see a lot of dads trying. I seem them recognizing the importance of being involved in their child's life,” Lewis said.That involvement should survive a relationship's end, said Autumn Timmons, director of family services at Lifesteps.“We have a “Families Forever” seminar that takes families through divorce or separation.“Basically, one of our guiding principles is to strengthen families and individuals,” said Timmons.“This is designed to improve the psychological well-being and quality of life of children and adults who are experiencing change in their lives due to separation or divorce,” Timmons said. “We take the premise that families don't end, marriages do.”“This program helps parents communicate with children,” said Timmons, to negate the long-term negative effects of caregivers not being emotionally available with children.“It gives parents a better understanding of what children are experiencing in separation or divorce.Timmons said, “There is so much going on, parents are emotionally struggling themselves.”She said the four-hour seminar helps parents “take a step back” to see how the change is affecting those around them.“We've had over 3,000 parents attend since we began offering it in October 1999,” Timmons said.

For more information about fatherhood and parenting classes:<b>Butler Memorial Hospital:</b>Visit the “Classes and Events” section under the “In the Community” tab at www.butlerhealthsystems.org or call 724-284-4843<b>Family Pathways:</b>Visit www.familypathways.net or call 724-284-9440<b>Lifesteps:</b>Visit www.lifesteps.net or call 724-283-1010