CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio — If there's one thing Aldonis Grimes understands, it's that being a new dad can be really tough. But a program he runs through Cuyahoga County's Fatherhood Initiative is making it a bit easier.
"A lot of fathers that go to our Bootcamp for New Dads have never held a child, never known what their schedule is like once they have a new child. So we cover all of those subjects in the bootcamp for new dads," Grimes said.
The program is for all dads. It's a safe space.
"Whether you're a rich dad, a struggling father, a white father, a green father, any dad in Cuyahoga County that wants a more effective relationship with their children are welcome to our programs," Grimes said.
It also encourages both parents to remain present in a child's life.
"When fathers are involved, children are less likely to go to jail, less likely to do drugs, less likely to drop out of school. All the research says that when both parents are involved, the children live a more positive and productive life," Grimes said,
In Bootcamp for Dads, new fathers will also learn about Post-Partum depression, safe sleep for babies, CPR and lifesaving methods.
Have a story idea for Heartstrings? Email to: Heartstrings@wkyc.com
Cleveland Heights attorney Nick Weiss signed up a few years ago before his daughter was born.
"I was terrified by all the things I did not know," Weiss said.
He says being with a group of men who understood his concerns made him feel less alone.
"I felt better. I felt a little more capable," Weiss said.
It also made him more prepared for emergencies he never expected to face.
"This was almost a month ago," Weiss said. "Nora loves peaches, which is fine. She still had one peach in her hand, but she was red and not breathing and turning blue."
He was terrified, but then he remembered what he learned at bootcamp.
"When you have a toddler like that, you start with a strong strike to the back," Weiss explained. "I gave her three or four hard hits and it worked and it came out."
Nora was OK. Now, her dad is forever cloaked in gratitude.
"I think that had I not taken the course, I think my daughter would've died," Weiss said. "And I truly am grateful."
"It almost brings you to tears because you know that what you're doing is having a direct impact on saving lives," Grimes said.
For more information on Cuyahoga County's Bootcamp for New Dads, click HERE.