NET Health: Peer Dad Program
The Net Health Peer Dad program serves fathers and caregivers of pregnant women, infants, and toddlers in Smith and Cherokee counties. We seek to educate program participants in partner support, appropriate infant feeding, and the role of breastfeeding in child survival, growth, and development. Father involvement plays a vital role in maternal and infant mortality rates; high rates in the Smith County population are indicative of underlying socioeconomic and racial disparities. Our program aims to reduce disparities evident in breastfeeding initiation, breastfeeding duration, maternal and infant mortality and morbidity, all by encouraging fatherhood education and engagement.