This set of 9 fact sheets for programs that serve families makes the case and provides implementation tips for fully and effectively engaging fathers. The fact sheets describe the importance of involved fathers for improving maternal and child health outcomes, supporting children’s early learning and reducing family and community violence. They also provide best practice do’s and don’ts, tips for attracting fathers to programs, and father-inclusive evaluation strategies.
Benchmark: Father/Partner Prenatal Involvement
Increase the proportion of HS grantees that demonstrate father and/or partner involvement (e.g., attend appointments, classes, infant/child care) during pregnancy to 90%
Paternal involvement has an impact on both pregnancy and infant outcomes. The father or partner can, for example, participate in childbirth classes, prenatal and pediatric medical appointments, and infant care. Paternal involvement during pregnancy has been shown to reduce negative maternal health behaviors, risk of preterm birth, fetal growth restriction, and low birth weight.
A Performance Measure Resource Sheet is available summarizing recommended strategies and a selection of resources and evidence-based practices related to this benchmark to aid Healthy Start grantee organizations, partners and their staff in supporting the women and families they serve.
Featured Resource: Evidence-Based Practice
Doctor Dad
DoctorDad® Workshops are for new and expectant dads, and helps increase fathers’ health literacy by providing men with the knowledge and skills they need to successfully care for their young children right from the start. DoctorDad® Workshops cover a wide range of important child health and safety skills. Mix and match topics in four separate workshops.
Changing Systems & Practice to Improve Outcomes for Young Fathers, Their Children & Their Families
This policy report highlights the need to support young fathers by providing recommendations for child welfare system policy and practice change. Research shows that the relationship between fathers and their children is essential to the well-being of families and the healthy development of children, however little attention is paid to the importance of engaging young fathers under age 26, particularly young fathers who are involved with child welfare systems. This report provides recommendations on how systems can better focus on father involvement to increase positive outcomes for fathers, their children and families.
Case Management/Care Coordination Intimate Partner Violence Parenting Education Participant Recruitment and Retention Partner Involvement
Family Spirit
Family Spirit is an evidence-based early childhood home-visiting program designed for and by American Indian communities. Family Spirit combines the use of paraprofessionals from the community as home visitors and a culturally focused, strengths-based curriculum as a core strategy to support young families. From pregnancy through the child’s 3rd birthday, parents gain knowledge and skills to promote healthy development and positive lifestyles for themselves and their children. Family Spirit addresses intergenerational behavioral health problems, optimizes local cultural assets, and overcomes deficits in the professional health care workforce in low resource communities. Evidence from three randomized controlled trials has documented important results including: increased parenting knowledge and involvement; decreased maternal depression; increased home safety; decreased emotional and behavioral problems of mothers; and decreased emotional and behavioral problems of children. The Family Spirit curriculum modules cover: Prenatal Care, Infant Care, Your Growing Child, Toddler Care, My Family and Me, and Healthy Living.
Alcohol/Drug Services Breastfeeding Depression Home Visiting Parenting Education Partner Involvement Prenatal Care and Education Reproductive Life Planning/Family Planning Socio-emotional Development for Children
Strong Families/Healthy Relationships Resources
This section of the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse provides resources on healthy relationships for programs that serve families. Healthy marriages and healthy relationships can serve an important role in promoting responsible fatherhood initiatives. Whether the fathers and families in your programs are currently married or not, integrating healthy relationship skills into your programs can better support fathers’ relationships with their partners and improve their co-parenting situations, leading to healthier models and environments for their children.
Healthy Start Regional Meeting (MA, CT, NY)
Meeting Materials:
- Meeting Agenda
- Collective Impact Skills Building: Shared Measurement | Tools for Steering Committees Handout
- Listening Session with Title V Directors | NY Slides | CT Slides | MCH Title V Block Grant Handout
- Networking Lunch | Handout
- Updates from the Division of Health Start and Perinatal Services | DHSPS’ Slides | HS EPIC Center Slides | EPIC Center Services Handout | Convention Save the Date | Convention Agenda
- CoIIN Update | Slides
Father/Partner Involvement Program evaluation Shared Measurement
Healthy Start Regional Meeting (NC, SC, TN, VA, WV)
Meeting Materials:
- Meeting Agenda
- Updates from the Division of Healthy Start and Perinatal Services | HS EPIC Center Slides | Healthy Start Convention Save the Date
- Listening Sessions with Title V Director | MCH Title V Block Grant Handout
- Applying Continuous Quality Improvement Techniques to a Healthy Start Program | Slides
- Electronic Data Collection Best Practices for Home Visiting | Slides | MIECHV Issue Brief on Centralized Intake Systems
- Improving Healthy Start Participant Recruitment | Slides
- Collective Impacts and Your Community Action Network | Slides | Tools for Steering Committees Handout | Phases of Collective Impact Handout
Father/Partner Involvement Participant Recruitment and Retention Quality Improvement
Healthy Start Regional Meeting (PA)
Meeting Materials:
- Meeting_Agenda
- Updates from the Division of Healthy Start and Perinatal Services | DHSPS Slides | MCH Title V Block Grant Handout | EPIC Slides | EPIC Center Services Handout
- Collective Impact and Your Community Action Network: Developing a Common Agenda | Slides | Slides | Phases of Collective Impact Handout | Tools for Steering Committees Handout
- ACES Screening in Home Visiting Program | Slides
Common Agenda Father/Partner Involvement Participant Recruitment and Retention Socio-emotional Development for Children
Baby Basics
Baby Basics is a set of materials (book, planner, posters) and programs designed specifically to provide lower-income and lower-literacy populations with crucial prenatal health information and support. The materials are designed to be beautiful and easy to read, serving as a catalyst for learning and family literacy. Both materials and programs strive to engage and educate underserved parents to become effective users of the healthcare system and advocate for themselves and their families.
Wise Guys
WISE GUYS: THE NEXT LEVEL is a flexible 5 to 12 week program that specifically targets men age 18 and older. Special topics that are addressed include stress and anger management; cohabitation and marriage; alcohol and other drugs; and an expanded fatherhood curriculum that provides information and resources for fathers from RAD (the Responsible and Active Dads program). The great information from the original Wise Guys program is also included in such a way as to suit its older audience.
Alcohol/Drug Services Parenting Education Partner Involvement Reproductive Life Planning/Family Planning STDs including HIV
Responsible Fatherhood
The health of men is an important factor in determining the well being and stability of a community. From a social determinant point of view, fathers/men with unhealthy lifestyles have an adverse impact on families and do little to promote positive youth development. Additionally, men of all races and socio-economic status are less likely to practice good health, visit health care providers, and take care of themselves. If we are to attempt to improve community health, we must direct more focus on men’s health and responsible/positive fathering.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the impact of positive male parenting to build strong communities
- Identify challenges and opportunities for men/fathers to contribute to the well-being of communities
- Describe the model and best practices in the responsible fathering community
Community Engagement Cultural Competence EBP Implementation Father/Partner Involvement Social Determinants of Health