DadLab

Welcome to DadLab at Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia

"DadLab is a great group in which you have the opportunity to express yourself. I love being able to be myself and interact with other great parents. It's a group that listens to your parenting concerns and works together to help find the best possible solutions."
- Shalea, a DadLab participant

What is DadLab?

DadLab is a group of fathers-to-be, new fathers, and their partners, up until the baby is two years old, that come together to share and learn what it means to be a new parent and how to build a strong bond with their baby. The aim of DadLab is to help participants get off to a good start in their new role as parent. The group is a peer community with participants that have life experiences in common and share their parenting questions, concerns and successes. It's a safe space where members learn from each other and support each other on their journey in parenthood. The group is led by Dr. Jay Cherney and Clarence Iszard.

What Do Participants Talk About in DadLab?

Jay Cherney and Clarence Iszard who lead the group, check in with participants on a continuous basis to find out what’s going on and how the sessions can best support them. Every session has a focus and theme based on the group’s needs.

Some of the topics include:

• Healthy ways to manage the stress of a new baby especially with added worries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• How to manage the exhaustion and emotional overload that comes with a new baby.
• How to co-parent and manage different parenting roles.
• Healthy ways to communicate and resolve differences.
• How to bond with your baby.

Who Can Join DadLab?

DadLab is for parents-to-be and parents caring for a baby under age two. This includes father figures who are caring for the baby, like uncles, stepfathers, grandfathers, etc. The group is open to everyone whether or not your baby was delivered at Einstein. We encourage you to bring your baby to the meetings because it encourages bonding in the group and everyone gets to see parenting in action. We also encourage you to bring one or more support people to the meetings which can help strengthen your support network. Support people can be a grandparent, brother, sister, aunt, cousin, godparent, friend or neighbor.

Is DadLab a Community Resource?

DadLab provides information and support to connect participants with community resources such as mental health services, healthcare services, Intimate Partner Violence services, the Fresh for All Program which is a partnership between Einstein and Philabundance to make fresh produce available each week to the community, plus job resources, and more.

Is there a cost for DadLab?

There is no cost for participating in DadLab. The group is open to the community and everyone is welcome. DadLab, and the support it offers families, is made possible by the generous support of the Vesta Fund and HRSA, Healthy Start.

When Are Meetings Held?

DadLab meets once a week online with Zoom during the pandemic. We hope to go back to in-person sessions when the pandemic is over.

How Do I Get More Information or Sign up?

To sign up for DadLab, fill out the form below! For more information or to join DadLab, call or text DadLab Director Jay Cherney at 215-690-1029 or email him at Jay.Cherney@Jefferson.edu. Or, contact co-facilitator Clarence B. Iszard at 484-471-7005 or Clarence.Iszard@jefferson.edu.

Welcome to our supportive and uplifting community of new parents. We hope to hear from you! Your baby will thank you.

Sign Up for DadLab Here

Meet Our DadLab Co-Facilitators

Jay Cherney, PhD

Jay is the father of two daughters in their early 30’s and is grandfather of two young boys. As a psychologist, Jay has decades of experience running a clinical practice focused on anxiety, stress, depression and family relationships. Throughout his career, he has worked with groups and believes that peer communities create the deepest connections and support.

All these roads led Jay to DadLab.

According to Jay, “Co-facilitating the DadLab conversations brings great satisfaction. I love hearing these stories and seeing participants work through their fears and grow as new parents.”

Clarence B. Iszard, MS

Clarence Bay Iszard is the Co-facilitator of the Einstein DadLab program.

He is a Health Educator with A Better Start, an Einstein preventive health program that identifies challenges to health and wellbeing and develops programs to address those challenges.

Clarence was born and raised in North Philadelphia and has been providing service to others for over thirty years. During his career, he has had several professional positions including as Dean of Students; Youth Program Manager; Community Engagement Specialist; and he has held different roles at Einstein Healthcare Network where he has been employed for more than 18 years. Clarence has also worked as an Urban Behavioral/Educational Consultant for the past 25 years.

He earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Education from Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. He has also served on several community advisory boards, including Men For a Positive Change and African American Men Invested In Our Youth, and is the Past President of the Cheyney University Philadelphia Alumni Association.

Clarence has earned numerous awards including the Honor Thy Leader Award from the African American Inter-Domination Ministries for his work with at-risk youth and community stakeholders. He was also actively involved with Abington – Ambler Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., and was honored as the Chapter Brother of the Year for his tireless work and commitment to the Chapter’s mission.

He describes himself as a People Helper. Recently, his focus has been working with families who are dealing with food insecurities, homelessness and behavioral health issues where he applies his philosophy “Many Hands Lighten the Work"