What About the What About the Dads? Dads?

Recognizing Fatherhood: Connecting Dads with Their Families

With Thanks to Our With Thanks to Our SponsorSponsor

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) “Partnership for Families”

Identify the paradigm shift on involving fathers in childcare.

Understand the scope and negative effects of father absence.

Explore the benefits of father involvement in child development.

Consider opportunities to involve fathers.

Why is all the attention on mothers? Why is all the attention on mothers?

Fathers are important too.Fathers are important too.

Traditionally, child-focused

programs were designed to

provide services addressing the

needs of the mother-child dyad.

These programs were often

designed, structured, and staffed

primarily by women. We now

need to focus on providing

supports to better involve fathers

in the lives of their children.

“Responsible, engaged fathers are critical to the financial, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual well-being of children, and, therefore to the strength and health of American families and communities.”

— President Barack Obama, Speech delivered Father’s Day 2008

Engaging fathers is a dynamic, ongoing process. Effective father engagement requires consistent and long-term commitment on the part of each one of us, our organizations and our community partners.

A review of current research provides an overview of key insights and data on the unique and irreplaceable role that fathers play in the well-being of their children. This information is meant to better equip you to support fathers and reduce the ill effects of father absence in our community.

A Father In His Own WordsA Father In His Own Words

Fathers and Their Impact on Fathers and Their Impact on Children’sChildren’sWell-BeingWell-Being

Involved fathers bring positive benefits to their children that no other person is as likely to bring. Fathers have a direct impact on the well-being of their children. It is important to have a working understanding of the literature that addresses this impact. Such knowledge will help make the case for why the most effective case plans will involve fathers.

-U.S. Children’s Bureau

Impact of the Involved Father on Impact of the Involved Father on the Mother and Family:the Mother and Family:

Overall positive outcomes for children’s well-being

Additional support from father & paternal family

Increase in mother’s patience, flexibility and emotional responsiveness toward child

--U.S. Children’s Bureau

Premature infants whose fathers spent more time playing with them had better cognitive outcomes at age three.

Yogman MW, Kindlon D, & Earls FJ, (1994). Father involvement and cognitive behavioral outcomes of premature infants. Journal of the American Academy Child and Adolescent Psychology, 34: 58-66.

At six months old, children whose fathers had been actively involved from birth scored higher on a test of mental and motor development than children whose fathers were not involved during the first eight weeks. They also managed stress better during their school years.

Pfiffner LJ, McBurnett K, and Rathouz PJ, (2001). Father absence and familial antisocial characteristics. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 29(5): 357-367.