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.
Why Should Child Protection Agencies Engage and Involve All Fathers?
Find information on the benefits of establishing and maintaining inclusive practices to involve fathers in their children's safety, permanency, and well-being.
Episode 71: Engaging Fathers - Putting Lessons Into Practice, Part 1
Learn about child welfare strategies developed to engage fathers within Hartford, Connecticut. This is the first of a three-part series.
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.
Engaging Dads in Programs to Support Families Affected By Substance Use Disorders
Learn to recognize challenges to father involvement and explore strategies to enhance the involvement of fathers to improve child and family well-being.
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.
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.
Engaging Fathers and Male Caregivers
Provides resources to enhance father engagement efforts, a vital aspect of parent, family, and community engagement work.