This document discusses research on the positive involvement of fathers in child rearing. It examines how involvement is measured and the benefits it provides to children, families, and fathers. Research methods included interviews and focus groups. Involvement is a multidimensional concept including communication, teaching, and various care activities. Key factors that influence involvement include a father's own upbringing, co-parenting relationship, work-life balance, and external support. Positive involvement is associated with children's cognitive, emotional, and social development as well as decreased negative outcomes. It also benefits families through improved communication and commitment, and benefits fathers through increased self-confidence and effectiveness as a parent.
3. Our research
The Positive Involvement of Fathers
Research Question
Where vulnerable families receive external support what
helps ensure that fathers are positively involved in the
upbringing of children?
Methods
- Interviews with fathers
- Fathers focus groups
- Practitioner survey
4. How is involvement measured
Uni-dimensional approaches
- time spent together
- quality of father child relationship
- investment in parenting role
5. A multi dimensional conceptualisation
- 15 ‘Categories of paternal involvement’ –
communication, teaching, monitoring, cognitive processes, Errands, Caregiving, Shared
interests, Availability, Planning, Shared activities, Providing, Affection, Protection and
Supporting emotionality
- Linked to stage and development of children
- Impact of ethnicity, culture, class, family
structure
- Employment conditions
6. - cognitive development
- emotional development and wellbeing
- social development
- decrease in negative development outcomes
The benefits of positive
involvement for children
7. - better communication between fathers and family
members;
- a greater sense of commitment to the family;
- less troubling conflict with teenage children.
The benefits of positive
involvement for the family
8. - self confidence and effectiveness as parent
- better understanding and accepting of children
- engaged in the community
- better personal relationships
- enjoy a secure attachment relationship with their children.
- cope well with stressful situations and everyday hassles.
- feel as if they can depend on others more.
- feel more comfortable in their occupation and feel that they can
do their job well.
- feel confident they have a lot to offer others in terms of their job
skills, parenting skills, and social relationships.
The benefits of positive
involvement for the father
9. What has most effect on the involvement
of fathers
- own experience of being parented
- personal characteristics and perspectives
- co-parental relationship
- work/life balance
- external support
10. What do you think are the
important aspects of positive
involvement of fathers?
11. Our work with fathers
Previous research
- ‘Dad’s the word’
- ‘Listening to fathers’
Current models of working
- Fathers worker
- Fathers groups
Fatherproofing?
- Link with ‘Fathers Network’
- ‘Where’s Dad?’
12. A Fathers’ Workers Role
Day to Day
- GroupWork
- Individual Family Support
What does a father’s worker in
Greater Pilton look like?
- Stepping out to meet dads’
where they are.
- Gender?
- An exclusive role?
What holds dads back and how
can we welcome Fathers?
13. References
Goldman, R (2005). Fathers’ Involvement in their Children’s Education. London: National Family and Parenting Institute
Department of Children and Families (2008) The Impact of Parental Involvement on Children’s Education. http://www.nationalcollege.org.uk/impact-of-parental-
involvement-2.pdf
Joseph Rowntree Foundation (2007). Parenting and the different ways it can affect children’s lives: research evidence. http://www.jrf.org.uk/system/files/2132-parenting-
literature-reviews.pdf
Nord, C., & West, J. (2001). Fathers' and mothers' involvement in their children's schools by family type and resident status [On-line].
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2001032
Office on Child Abuse and Neglect, U.S. Children's Bureau Rosenberg, Jeffrey., Wilcox, W. Bradford. (2006). The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy
Development of Children
Yeung, W. J., Duncan, G. J., & Hill, M. S. (2000). Putting fathers back in the picture: Parental activities and children's adult outcomes. In H. E. Peters, G. W.
Peterson, S. K. Steinmetz, & R. D. Day (Eds.), Fatherhood: Research, interventions and policies (pp. 97-113). New York, NY: Hayworth Press
Maxwell, N., Scourfield, J., Featherstone, B., Holland, S. and Tolman, R. (2012) Engaging fathers in child welfare services: A narrative review of recent
research evidence. Child and Family Social Work, 17 (2): 160-169. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2206.2012.00827.x/abstract
Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). (2009). The Father Toolkit http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/dca-dea/prog-ini/funding-financement/npf-
fpn/father-papa/pdf/nfp_toolkit_eng.pdf
Garret D. Evans|Kate Fogarty. University of Florida (2011) The hidden benefits of being an involved father.
