1. Children’s Centres and fathers Annual Conference 20 April 2005

3. Working with fathers Statutory obligations x 3 Where we are now How? The six steps The Fatherhood Quality Mark

4. CC core offer Family support and parental outreach: “increasing the involvement of fathers”. Parental involvement: “specific strategies to include fathers”

5. NSF for children Good parenting by fathers is good for children –Better mental health –Higher quality of later relationships –Less criminality –Better school attendance and behaviour –Better examination results

6. Gender equality duty Requirements of all public bodies: –Gender impact analysis of all public services and policies –Publish results –Demonstrate how findings taken into account EOC = statutory body EOC redefining caring roles as key issue in gender equality

7. Where we are now Excellence exists …..but in islands Over reliance on specialist workers: not mainstreamed Risk to marginal activities in transition from Sure Start to Children’s Centres

9. How? The six steps 1.PURPOSE: Why involve fathers? What are fathers for? –Sharing/communicating with children –Time, money & skills in the household –Support to mother –Their networks – family, friends, work –Cornerstone of child’s identity –Modelling male role –Loving their children madly and staying loyal

10. The six steps 2.FACTS about local fathers –Overcome pre-conceptions – e.g. uninterested in children, lack empathy with children, risk NOT resource with children, insignificant in children’s lives, cannot multi-task, unwilling/unable to change –Who are they, where are they, what services do they use? –What do they want and need? –Specific methods for non-res / partially resident fathers, young dads, stepfathers, grandfathers…

12. The six steps 3.Putting your house in order –Workforce knowledge, skills + confidence All workers – not just a dad’s worker Male or female workers Ability to build rapport with fathers Capacity for operating in female and male worlds Strength-based practice – never try to shame into action Capacity to work with issues of conflict and power within families Workforce knowledge, skills + confidence –Father-friendly settings Physical space + timing Male presence (workers, volunteers, dads)

13. The six steps 4.Finding fathers – not the first step! –Starter events + follow-up Activities or days out Child and/or male focussed Photography, sport etc Timing + setting Persistence –Outreach and referrals Go to them Use community leaders/spaces that men identify with Agency referrals: think men not just dads Father-friendly leaflets and posters –Internal procedures Whole family approach

14. The six steps 5.Keeping fathers –Mainstream and specialist services –Work in partnership with fathers in planning services –Flexible mix of services: Group, family and individual Parenting + relationships info and training Learning opportunities Practical and personal support/advocacy Family and father-child activities Understanding the Children Centre system Recreational/social activities for men

15. The six steps 6.Keeping your head above water –Staff training and supervision –Support for key workers –Opportunities for staff to express thoughts and feelings –Recruitment of male workers

17. Resources Training On-line library, www.fathersdirect.com FatherWork magazine

18. Fatherhood Quality Mark Evidence-based Meeting statutory obligations Workforce development Effective/sustainable services – mainstreamed Demonstrate service quality Achieved through partnerships