{"id":841108,"date":"2026-06-03T08:55:31","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T08:55:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/841108\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T08:55:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T08:55:31","slug":"san-antonio-metro-health-offers-event-for-young-dads-as-families-prep-for-stresses-of-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/841108\/","title":{"rendered":"San Antonio Metro Health offers event for young dads as families prep for stresses of summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"YoungYoung parents meet with San Antonio Metro Health staff at an event. Credit: Courtesy Photo \/ Metro Health<\/p>\n

June marks both Men\u2019s Health Month and Men\u2019s Mental Health Awareness Month, a timely backdrop as San Antonio families head into a summer season that can bring more strain than rest.<\/p>\n

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\u2019t afford the rising costs<\/a> of daycare.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are looking to encourage fathers, or fathers-to-be, to take the lead in their family dynamics, highlighting them as the MVP of \u2018team family,\u2019\u201d De Santiago told the Current. \u201cAnd we\u2019re celebrating them in their new journey in life, with their new babies.\u201d<\/p>\n

The heart of the event is to help dads meet other young parents in their community, and learn how their involvement shapes family health.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the ways fathers play an important role in the family is they provide emotional support to their children and their partner,\u201d De Santiago said. \u201cIf dad is healthy, then he can provide a healthy, stable environment for the family.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cSomething 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 \u2026 and can reduce stress for the whole family,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The pep rally is a part of Metro Health\u2019s Healthy Start Program<\/a>, 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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