Building communities, one new dad at a time

Emplify Health by Gundersen's staff chaplain, Brian Petry, spends most days caring for staff, patients and families in Pediatrics, the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and the departments of Obstetrics, Labor & Delivery, Pediatric Specialties and Pediatric Oncology.

In these spaces, Brian provides support to those dealing with difficult medical circumstances, including loss. His steady presence helps others feel less alone and provides reassurance during moments of uncertainty.

But on the second Saturday of each month, Brian can be found at the Healthy Living Center in the Dahl Family YMCA in La Crosse. Although the setting is different, he offers the same steady guidance, this time to a group of dads-to-be participating in a class called Boot Camp for New Dads (BCND).

BCND is a father-to-father, community-based workshop that prepares men of all ages, backgrounds, cultures and income levels to confidently engage with their infants, support their partners and navigate the transition into fatherhood. Research shows that when fathers are actively and positively involved from the start, children experience enhanced social-emotional development, families become more resilient and cohesive, and these strengthened family foundations contribute to healthier, safer and more stable communities. So, getting dads off to a confident start is important.

This unique program is one of a few offered in Wisconsin - and it is possible thanks to support from Gundersen Medical Foundation.

An inclusive approach to family wellness

BCND is a national organization offering research-based programming. According to the organization's website, more than 500,000 men in 45 states and U.S. military bases have graduated from the program since its inception in 1990.

One of those graduates is Brian Petry, who took the course 10 years ago in Denver, Colo. "Of all the things I did to prepare for fatherhood," remembers Brian, "attending BCND was the most beneficial. We were taught techniques to understand why a baby cries and how to address the baby's needs, and we were also taught how to support our partners."

For Brian, a helpful feature was the presence of "veteran dads," (fathers who had previously taken the course) along with their new babies. Brian and the other "rookie dads" were able to learn practical skills such as holding a baby, changing diapers and being hands-on in baby care.

The course was so impactful that Brian later returned to the workshop as a veteran dad, bringing his new son along to assist other new dads in their journey. "Preparation like this isn't just helpful," says Brian. "It's empowering. The class gives new dads the confidence to engage as early as in the delivery room."

An investment in families

With the goal of bringing the BCND program to La Crosse, Brian submitted a grant proposal to Gundersen Medical Foundation in 2024. His grant application was approved, and the Foundation supplied funding so Brian could become a certified master coach. The grant also paid for the annual license fee, educational materials for attendees and scholarships so the class fee would not be a barrier.
The first class in La Crosse was offered in June 2025, and since then, more than 50 students have attended the workshop. One of those dads, Jason Jones, credits the course with helping him feel more prepared and confident for the arrival of his first daughter.

"I was petrified of being a first-time dad because I did not know what to expect, and the thought of being responsible for a little human was daunting," remembers Jason. "I had never even changed a diaper before I went to that class. However, Brian was able to give us real-life examples and tools that I still use today."

Chuck Serauskas is also a BCND graduate. "Personally, I enjoyed hearing the experiences and advice from Brian and a veteran dad, as well as the opportunity to ask them questions directly. The handbook provided through the class was also filled with beneficial information," he says.

In addition to conversations with Brian and the guest dads, as well as hands-on activities, the course offers a highly practical curriculum. Attendees explore the challenges new fathers often face, learn why babies cry and get guidance about what their baby might need. Safety topics, including a focus on shaken baby syndrome, are covered as well. Finally, the course explains postpartum and how dads can best support moms after birth.

As new fathers, both Jason and Chuck have decided to pay it forward by returning to BCND as veteran dads. "The class was beneficial for me, so I wanted to help other dads feel as prepared as possible for their new bundle of joy," says Chuck. "I have loved the experience of becoming a father, and I want to help others see it not as terrifying or daunting but as the blessing it truly is."

A community resource

While the Foundation helped get the BCND program started, the class is now self-supporting. The cost of the class is $25, which includes a workbook participants can use as a resource even after the program is finished. Each participant also receives a free one-month family membership to the YMCA.

Thanks to Brian's leadership - and participants like Jason and Chuck who've returned to help - BCND is a resource that helps new fathers and reinforces the wellbeing of families. The program also serves as an example of how the Foundation extends care beyond hospital walls, helping our community thrive.

You can help Gundersen Medical Foundation support a variety of community events like Boot Camp for New Dads with a gift to the Community Health Outreach Fund.