This document is an integration paper analyzing the effects of father involvement on child development. It reviews literature on types of father involvement (e.g. absentee, non-residential), reasons for deficient fathering (e.g. incarceration, divorce), and how involvement impacts children (e.g. academics, relationships). Research shows father involvement is complex, with quality of involvement more important than quantity. Both positive and negative paternal influences can be passed intergenerationally. Overall, the level and type of a father's involvement significantly shapes a child's development across multiple domains.