Man holding a smiling child with fireworks in the background.

Our Mission: Building mental wealth, one child at a time

Our mission is to empower new dads with knowledge, tools, and wisdom to prepare their children (0-3) for lifelong mental wellness and success.

We are founded on the principle that the first three years of a child’s life are decisive in developing the thinking, feeling, and people skills that contribute to success at school, at work, and in relationships, and that dads play a critical and distinct role in building this foundation.

Through educational programs, research, advocacy, and media products, Early Engagement provides mental and psychological preparation to men as they navigate fatherhood, building mental wealth one child at a time.

Man holding and playing with a laughing baby on a beach.

Redefining Fatherhood

“Study after study shows enormous benefits to pre-natal fatherhood education on kids’ long-term mental wellness and life outcomes— and yet there remains a lack of resources for dads. Early Engagement was founded to change that.”

—Ben Swett, Founder and Executive Director of Early Engagement

Person holding a child on shoulders, facing snowy mountain landscape.

Our Vision: Democratizing Fatherhood Education

Our vision is to be a leader in the education and preparation of new dads, that they might build greater mental wealth for their children and in so doing, a better world.

We work towards this vision through our groundbreaking course offerings and StrongStart community meet-ups for dads, and through advocacy to make the presence of dads in early childhood development the norm.

A smiling adult and child embracing with joy, the child wearing a pink headband.

Ben Swett

Founder & Executive Director of Early Engagement

After years in the corporate world, Ben’s life changed when he studied the respect based parenting approach under legendary RIE Practitioner Liz Memel before the birth of his daughter. What he learned changed his life.

The question that emerged: “why isn’t it the norm for every new dad to learn this stuff?”

Over the past two decades he has dedicated his career to helping dads raise healthier and more resilient kids. He has also been a leading voice for the role male caregivers play

Two people sitting on a padded floor with a baby, near a wooden play structure. A quote below reads: "When you can see the world through a baby’s eyes, it’s a magical, meditative, in-the-moment way of seeing the world. Liz Memel showed it to me, and I’ve been trying to show it to others ever since." Attributed to Ben Swett, Founder and Executive Director of Early Engagement.

The way Liz taught me to be open to a baby’s experience was profound, and taught me a new way to interact with and be open with everyone around me.

When people get it they get it. She showed it to me, and I’ve been trying to show it to others ever since. When you can see the world through a baby’s eyes, it’s a magical, meditative, and in the moment way of seeing the world”

Being trained by my mentor Liz Memel was one of the great honors of my life.

Donate

Our research and community programs rely entirely on donations and partner grants.

Please consider donating to support our work!

Adult hand gently holding a baby's hand, black and white photo.