NEW YORK, NY — The New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance today announced it has updated an important resource guide for new and expectant fathers in time for Father’s Day. The “Driver’s Manual for New Dads” has been distributed to hospitals to offer first-time fathers helpful tips and information on what to expect during pregnancy and once their child is born. A variety of topics are covered in the manual, everything from establishing legal paternity to changing diapers to helping the child’s mother throughout the pregnancy and beyond. “Becoming a new parent can bring tremendous joy, but it can also be incredibly stressful,” said Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Samuel D. Roberts. “Our ‘Driver’s Manual for New Dads’ provides new fathers with information on how they can best support and care for their partner and child. We know that children who receive support from both parents have a greater chance at success as they grow older.”Many men may not have felt ready to be a father – or knew how to be one – before it happened. The “Driver’s Manual for New Dads” relies on the experiences of new fathers and what they learned, and wished they had known, before having a baby. The manual seeks to give new and expectant fathers the tools they need to be prepared for parenting and make a positive difference in their children’s lives.The booklet emphasizes the importance of fathers being involved in their children’s lives and being a good partner to the child’s mother. Fathers are encouraged to co-parent, helping with everything from feedings, to getting up with the baby during the night, to watching the baby while Mom takes a break or runs errands. Research shows that children whose fathers are involved in their lives are more likely to be healthy, do better in school and stay in school, and less likely to engage in violent, anti-social or dangerous behavior.More than 40,000 of the brochures are being distributed to birthing hospitals across New York State. The manual was developed to fill a void left by a lack of resources focused on new fathers.To download the “Driver’s Manual for New Dads” or find out how to order copies, visit http://otda.ny.gov/programs/publications.
