Fathers are essential partners in promoting the safety, permanency, and well-being of children and youth. However, fathers and paternal family members have been historically overlooked by the child welfare system, with fathers being less likely to be engaged in case planning compared with mothers.
There are many benefits to engaging fathers, including improved emotional and social well-being for children, fewer incidents of maltreatment, better school performance, and fewer child behavioral and psychological problems.
Many jurisdictions struggle in their efforts to engage fathers, according to data from the Child and Family Services Reviews. To improve the engagement of fathers and paternal family members, child welfare agencies can provide training for their staff on effective engagement strategies and father-identification practices. Agencies can also partner with fathers and fatherhood organizations on system improvement efforts.
Explore the resources on this page for information about the importance of father involvement in the lives of their children and best practices for engaging fathers and their families in child welfare practice. Adjust the filters below to refine your list of resources.
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National Fatherhood Initiative
Browse the National Fatherhood Initiative, which offers research on father presence and father involvement, information on fatherhood programs and resources, staff training, and father-engagement planning services.
National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse
Browse the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse, a resource for fathers, child welfare professionals, and others who are serving or are interested in supporting strong fathers and families.
Integrating Approaches that Prioritize and Enhance Father Engagement
Read an information memorandum that encourages all human service agencies, including child welfare agencies, courts, and others to create and maintain an environment that prioritizes father engagement as a critical factor in strengthening families.
Beyond Checking the Box: How Participating in a Breakthrough Series Collaborative Supported the Efforts of Five Child Welfare Agencies to Engage Fathers and Paternal Relatives
Review results from the Fathers and Continuous Learning in Child Welfare project, which developed and tested strategies to improve the engagement of fathers and paternal relatives in child welfare services.
Engaging and Supporting Native Fathers
Find a collection of resources designed in collaboration with the Navajo Nation and White Mountain Apache Tribe highlighting the importance of healthy father involvement in a child’s life and how it can improve development and outcomes.
Fathers and Continuous Learning
Learn about the Fathers and Continuous Learning project, which aims to bridge the gap between what is known about the importance of fathers and practices in the child welfare system that may contribute to low levels of father engagement.
Toolkit for Building System Capacity to Engage Fathers and Paternal Relatives in Child Welfare
Explore a toolkit of resources to help child welfare agencies or others improve organizational culture as it relates to father engagement. Tools can be used individually or in combination. A webinar provides an overview of how to use the toolkit.
Strategies for Promoting Racial Equity in Fatherhood Programs
Discover strategies fatherhood programs can use to promote racial equity when engaging with fathers and paternal family members. It is important for organizations to deliver services in ways that are racially and culturally relevant and responsive.