Daddy's little girl. It's definitely more than just an old saying.

Youth & Family Services believes that there are plenty of kids out there who need their daddies, and to get that message across, it developed Fatherhood First. Through the program, YFS encourages fathers to develop positive relationships with their children and helps them to understand the importance of their presence in the lives of their children.

In conjunction with Fatherhood First, YFS held its first annual Hearts and Wishes Ball in May. The ball was a dinner dance for fathers and daughters to celebrate their special relationships. This year, the event was open only to girls involved in YFS programs (primarily Girls Inc.), but Fatherhood First spokesman John Gordon said it may be open to the public next year.

"We were overjoyed with the amount of positive responses we received from fathers and girls who participated and we are already looking forward to next year's event as well as the possibility of expanding it to include more families," he said.

Fatherhood First was made possible through funding from the Head Start office of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The program offers father/child activities (both in group and individual settings), one-on-one case management classes for new and expectant fathers and male involvement meetings to families within the community.

FatherhoodFirst.org makes these same resources and activities available to Head Start programs nationwide through more than 300 downloadable files that can be used during staff trainings or offered to fathers as a take-home activity to do with their children.

According to Gordon, YFS Fatherhood First's overall goal is to continue to enrich and build the relationship with all children and their fathers and/or father figures.

"We encourage all fathers in our local and outlying communities who are in need of any services to enrich their relationship and environment with their kids to please contact us," he said.

Wade Asbjeld attended the ball with his 7-year-old daughter, Kaylyn, and said he hopes it won't be their last.

"I'd definitely go again," he said. "It was a lot of fun. I met a couple of other fathers and their little daughters, too, which was nice," he said.

Asbjeld said the prom-like atmosphere made for a special evening with Kaylyn.

"We do a lot of things together," he said, "but mostly fishing and camping. This was something different. I know there were more than a couple little girls crying because their dads couldn't make it. It's pretty important to them."

Asbjeld said Kaylyn has been going to Girls Inc. for about a year now, and he can't say enough about the program. "It's the best part of her day," he said.

Bill Seidel escorted his 8-year-old daughter, Sammy Jo, to the ball. "It was really special," he said. "It was just like a prom; they had a grand march and introduced all the fathers and daughters. Sammy Jo loved it."

Although some people dressed in formal attire for the event, the Asbjelds and the Seidels opted for jeans.

"Sammy and I were pretty casual, but that's just us," said Seidel. "Everybody there had a lot of fun, no matter how they were dressed."

Bill Seidel's Father's Day plans will include attending an older child's college graduation, and possibly a cookout. Asbjeld said he plans to do the same thing he's done for the past 11 years.

"We'll be watching NASCAR," he said. While his favorite driver is Jeff Gordon, he said Kaylyn will be rooting for Dale Earnhardt Jr.

"We have a friendly rivalry," he said. "She's my little sidekick."

For more information

Youth & Family Services sponsors seven programs that offer education, meals and snacks, health advocacy and support to more than 11,000 children and their families in 24 western South Dakota counties annually. For more information, call 342-4195.