At Howard County Dads, family comes first. We’re a nonprofit corporation on a mission to promote fatherhood involvement within families in and around Howard County, MD. Parenthood is a difficult road to navigate, but modern dads don’t have to travel it alone. By building and sustaining a network of empowered fathers, HCD aims to improve the overall quality of family life in our community. Our program encourages members to support one another through the journey of fatherhood. For new parents or those new to Howard County, having a couple of dad friends can be an indispensable resource. HCD inspires and motivates local fathers (including father figures and “honorary fathers” – i.e., mothers, guardians, grandparents, and caretakers) to be intentional about making the best of their family time. We promote fatherhood involvement by sharing advice, hosting family activities, and promoting social engagement through dad gatherings. Here’s how we make our mission a reality: Cool Dads Unite: Bringing together like-minded fathers to foster a support network and camaraderie among dads. Mom groups have enjoyed community for years, and dads have the same need. Daddy & Me Events: Creating opportunities for local fathers to spend time with and make memories with their kid(s) and family (e.g. monthly playground meetups, Dad Crafternoon, Lego Builds). Dads Night Out: Offering fathers some much-needed ‘you time’ with like-minded people. Online Resources: Providing inspiration to help dads plan their weekends or get advice in handling the toughest parts of parenthood. Daddy and Me: Fatherhood Awareness: raising public awareness of the importance of fatherhood and the importance of a father’s engagement in the life of his children and family.