Fathers’ contributions to children’s well-being

Date

2007

Authors

Ball, Jessica
Moselle, Ken

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Father Involvement Initiative - Ontario Network

Abstract

Links between mothers’ health, literacy, and behaviours and their children’s well-being are well understood and widely accepted. Canada, like many other countries, has made long standing investments in a national program for maternal and child health. Are there sufficiently clear links between paternal health, literacy, and behaviours and children’s well-being to justify investments in securing father’s involvement in supporting their children’s health and development? This report brings key lines of research evidence and ecological concepts of health to bear in thinking through the connections between father’s involvement and children’s well-being. The report encourages a broadening of viewpoints beyond linear research designs and practice models that focus on direct impacts of father’s direct engagements with children: in addition to these approaches, we need to engage non-linear, systems approaches that recognize and measure impacts that fathers may have on the quality of environments for children’s growth and development. This report is intended to animate discussion about the importance of fathers to children in Canada, and to stimulate research and policy interventions that will effectively increase the visibility of fatherhood in thinking about how to promote child and youth health. The report provides a rationale for programs to encourage, prepare, support, and intervene with fathers, with the goal of optimizing the potential of fatherhood as a critical contribution to help children thrive.

Description

This document was reproduced with the permission of the authors. For additional copies of the REPRINT or to view other FII-ON REPRINTS and materials: www.cfii.ca (613) 257-2779

Keywords

Citation

Ball, Jessica and Moselle, Ken. 2007 "Fathers’ contributions to children’s well-being".Carleton Place, ON : FATHER INVOLVEMENT INITIATIVE-ONTARIO NETWORK (FII-ON)