June marks both Men’s Health Month and Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, a timely backdrop as San Antonio families head into a summer season that can bring more strain than rest.
With kids out of school, stress, anxiety and social isolation tend to spike, especially among young families navigating pregnancy and postpartum life, according to San Antonio Metro Health Fatherhood Coordinator Abel De Santiago. That can be especially true for families who can’t afford the rising costs of daycare.
In light of these factors, Metro Health is hosting its first annual Family Pep Rally: Baby Celebration on Friday, June 13. The event will run 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Las Palmas Library’s H-E-B Community Room. Families can expect free games, educational community resources and a giveaway that includes a car seat, baby gate and baby bath.
“We are looking to encourage fathers, or fathers-to-be, to take the lead in their family dynamics, highlighting them as the MVP of ‘team family,’” De Santiago told the Current. “And we’re celebrating them in their new journey in life, with their new babies.”
The heart of the event is to help dads meet other young parents in their community, and learn how their involvement shapes family health.
“One of the ways fathers play an important role in the family is they provide emotional support to their children and their partner,” De Santiago said. “If dad is healthy, then he can provide a healthy, stable environment for the family.”
De Santiago noted that the conversation around maternal mental health is expanding, and fathers are a crucial part of that picture. Involved dads can help new mothers manage postpartum stress and support infant bonding during a vulnerable period.
“Something as simple as skin-to-skin contact, dad taking off his shirt and holding the baby against his chest, can help soothe a crying infant … and can reduce stress for the whole family,” he said.
The pep rally is a part of Metro Health’s Healthy Start Program, which serves families in the 11 Bexar County ZIP codes with the highest infant mortality rates. The program shifts its focus each grant cycle based on updated data. It targets neighborhoods with the greatest need and works to improve pregnancy outcomes and family stability.
The fatherhood pep rally is part celebration, part community huddle. The event is a chance to remind dads that their health and emotional engagement matter deeply for the rest of the family. More family-oriented resources, including free counseling services and depression screenings or referrals, are available through Healthy Start.
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