The Kane County Health Department will be continuing its Parent Cafes in 2026, and is focusing this year on encouraging fathers and male caregivers to participate.
The events — free, facilitated conversations meant to provide a space for parents and caregivers to share their experiences and build connections — have traditionally been attended primarily by mothers and female caregivers, the Kane County Health Department said.
So, to help fathers and other male caregivers feel more comfortable sharing their experiences, some Parent Cafes this year will be facilitated by male hosts, a recent news release from the health department said.
“Strong families are built when all caregivers are supported and heard,” the health department’s executive director Michael Isaacson said in the news release. “By increasing opportunities for fathers and male caregivers to participate—and by including male facilitators—we are creating more inclusive spaces that better reflect the families and communities we serve.”
The Parent Cafe program is offered in partnership with Enriching Partnerships for Early Learning, Birth to Five Illinois and School District U-46, the news release said. Parent Cafes are offered in both English and Spanish and have both virtual and in-person options — with groups in Aurora, Elgin and other locations throughout Kane County.
Dates, times, locations and additional information for the 2026 Parent Cafes are available on the health department’s website at: https://www.kanehealth.com/Pages/Parent-Cafe.aspx.