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In 2022, while working in the government’s social services sector, Jeffrey noticed an unsettling pattern: young fathers were in desperate need of support, social services and churches had resources available for young men – but nothing specific for young dads. The vulnerable ones were falling through the cracks.
“Vulnerable young dads face many barriers to support,” he says. “They are tired from working tough dead-end jobs, are economically disadvantaged, and suffer from relational deficiencies.”
Not having had a consistent father figure in his own childhood home, Jeffrey understood the need. It’s what drew him to Greater Vancouver Youth Unlimited (GVYU) a year ago – and where he’s now breathing new life into the Young Dads program.
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For two decades, GVYU has been a transformational resource for the Fraser Valley’s vulnerable young parents. Called Young Families,
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our robust program first invested heavily in caring for young moms’ immediate and long-term needs; providing everything from groceries to child support, mentorship to trauma-informed counselling.
After a few years of supporting young moms, an interesting phenomenon was observed. Many of the children’s fathers, some of them still teens themselves, desired to be part of their kids’ lives—they just had no clue where to start.
In response, YU’s Young Dad’s program was born. It took on various forms, including mentorship, a sports league and a trades program. Post-pandemic, the program has been on hold, awaiting a visionary leader.
Jeffrey with a young dad at a Young Families BBQ.
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Jeffrey and Young Families at Family Fun Day event at Oh My Land Club.
“I would often get frustrated seeing people get stuck, and think to myself ‘if only I could tell this person about the Gospel.” He felt that this was their best chance at getting what they needed to overcome their addiction or obstacles.
And Jeffrey knew from experience. “I struggled in my teens,” he says. “I considered dropping out of high school and getting into crime. It was a dark time, but I had an encounter with God that put me on a new path of healing and restoration.”
A career counsellor soon recommended Jeffrey talk with organizations he respected. After speaking with YU, he discovered the alignment in youth work approaches, and in May 2023, he joined YU to rebuild the Young Dads program.
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Jeffrey couldn’t be more thrilled to be building relationships with young dads, creating a community of mutual support.
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“These men need a place to grow in confidence to neutralize the life pressures they face,” he says. From his experience, dads are more responsive to working together rather than being helped or told what to do.
“Often these youth don’t know that they need help,” says Jeffrey. “Many of them are in desperate |
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![](https://www.youthunlimited.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/mini-story-1.png)
need of encouragement, comradery and a community to support them. Connection barriers are huge, but, it’s always worth the effort.”
“When we help dads foster healthy relationships, it fosters healthy families and breaks cycles of generational issues. Our dads desperately need our support – for their sakes and for the next generation.”
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