Training Camp paves the way for more Good Dads services in NWMO and beyond

Facilitators smile for a group photo at the Harrisonville Chamber of Commerce in January 2025.

Training Camp paves the way for more Good Dads services in NWMO and beyond

More than two dozen father-focused individuals representing several Missouri communities joined Good Dads in Harrisonville, MO, to be trained to facilitate the nonprofit’s flagship fatherhood skills course, Good Dads 2.0.

The cohort gathered January 7, 8 and 9, braving blistering cold and snowy road conditions in the name of encouraging engaged fatherhood. The energy in the room was palpable, says Dr. Jennifer Baker, Good Dads Founder and Director. She said all the newest facilitators were eager to learn, motivated by their fellow participants and couldn’t wait to get started.

Rhonda Andersen, Good Dads Director of Training & Education, echoed Dr. Baker’s statement.

“The energy in the room was like no other training I’d ever been a part of!” she said, calling the event “amazing.”

The event’s leaders said the cohort was a highly engaged group who asked great questions and participated in lots of important conversations about how to best lead Good Dads classes. After the first day of training, soon-to-be facilitators were so excited about the things they had learned so far.

“A few participants told me that they’d done trainings before and facilitated classes before—but that it was never quite like this,” Andersen said.

We are sure to see more classes in the Kansas City region start very soon, including two new classes hosted by Sheriff’s deputies at the Cass County jail.

Missouri Represented Communities

  • Chillicothe
  • Harrisonville and Cass County area
  • Kansas City
  • Independence
  • St. Joseph

Our Gratitude to…

  • Bing Schimmelpfenning and Harrisonville’s Chamber of Commerce for generously offering classroom space to host the training event. Thank you!
  • Regional Directors Lee Bramlett and D’Markus Thomas-Brown, who helped us lead training sessions. Thank you!
  • Everyone who, despite the winter weather, joined us for three days of learning, networking and inspiration. Thank you!

Good Dads Facilitators

Good Dads hosts multiple training events throughout the year in Missouri. These rigorous and fast-paced events supply you with the most powerful strategies to effectively lead a Good Dads class in your community.

Our facilitators lead classes in their respective communities, but more than that, they serve as friends and mentors for dads enrolled in the program. They foster a network of valuable companions as fathers work toward their goals. We like to say that our facilitators are “the secret sauce” for Good Dads success! We truly could not achieve all that we have without our skilled facilitators.

Anyone passionate about encouraging fatherhood engagement has the makings of stellar facilitator.

Feeling FOMO?

Download our facilitator brochure to learn more.

Stay updated ahead of our next training camp, taking place late April, by following Good Dads on social media and subscribing to our weekly e-newsletter (scroll to the bottom of the webpage to find quick links in the footer!).

Photos by Gage Rudick

Facilitators smile for a group photo at the Harrisonville Chamber of Commerce in January 2025.
Dr. Jennifer L. Baker stands at the front of the room while facilitators sit at group tables to listen to her speak.
A man attending the Good Dads training camp event sits at a table with his facilitator booklet and holds a pen.
Two attendees at Good Dads' facilitator training speak to each other, asking Yes or No questions to guess the name of the person taped to their back. One person has the name Dwayne Johnson on their back.
The snowy exterior of a building in Harrisonville MO
Dr. Jennifer L. Baker of Good Dads smiles at the front of the room as she leads a discussion at the training camp event in January.
A group of people sit at table and face the front of the room while D'Markus Thomas-Brown leads the discussion during Good Dads training camp in January in Harrisonville, MO.
Two training camp attendees sit next to each other and look at their facilitator booklets.
Rhonda Andersen listens to a group of training camp attendees during a group discussion.
A man stands at his table and reads from his participant manual during training camp.
Two people stand at the front of the room during Good Dads' facilitator training and read aloud from their manuals.
Four people sitting at a table converse over the course material during Good Dads facilitator training in January 2025 in Harrisonville, MO.
A group of people sitting at tables listen to Lee Bramlett as he leads the discussion during Good Dads facilitator training.
Three men stand around a table and discuss the course material at Good Dads Training Camp in January 2025 in Harrisonville, MO.

About the Author

Diana Dudenhoeffer is the director of communications at Good Dads. She works to maintain Good Dads’ online and print presence. Diana is a graduate of Missouri State University; she studied journalism, sustainability and documentary storytelling.

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