The Magnolia Project is expanding services for men, aligning it with the Coalition and federal Healthy Start goals of strengthening families by increasing responsible fatherhood and male responsibility in the project’s target area

Magnolia, the Coalition’s federal Healthy Start initiative, is a community-based health clinic and case management mdoel that aims improve the health and well-being of women during their childbearing years by empowering communities to address medical, behavioral, and cultural and social service needs. While the Coalition has provided fatherhood classes and trainings throughout the region for several years, Magnolia first implemented 24/7 Dad classes through the Responsible Fatherhood initiative in 2013.

A Magnolia for Men course is now running in conjunction with the Mothers & Babies Course until November 20. The classes are an opportunity for participants to discuss topics like masculinity, understanding yourself, family roles, balancing work and family, getting involved with your children and more. The goal of the course is to actively engage the men in more of a round table discussion about fatherhood, the role of men in families & society, important health topics, etc.

The classes are Thursdays from 10am-12pm at the Karpeles Manuscript Library, 101 W. 1st St., Jacksonville.

Beginning next month, the Project will also launch a case management component for men to strengthen the coordination of health services for male partners of the women enrolled in the Magnolia Project. Through these services, male partners will receive health screenings services and other services like STD, HIV, hypertension, transportation, housing, legal, education, financial and public benefits.

For more information on Magnolia’s male services, contact Alex Tarabochia at atarabochia@nefhsc.org or 904.353.2130 x 1015.