Background

Dads Direct aims to promote the value of actively engaged fathers in their children’s lives. The aim of this briefing paper is to bring to the attention of policy makers, service providers and practitioners how involved fathers can positively influence their children’s outcomes. This is demonstrated through research evidence and reference to effective models of practice. However, there is also a need for further research into the important role of fathers.

Dads Direct was formed in July 2014. It is comprised of representatives from Child Contact Centres, Family Mediation NI, Home-Start, Men’s Health Forum in Ireland, Parenting NI, Relate NI, and Sure Starts. The group seeks to build upon the highly successful work undertaken by the Big Lottery funded Man Matters project between 2009 and 2014.

The overall aims of Dads Direct are to promote the important role of fathers in children’s lives, and to advocate for a society which is free from any gender bias about parenting roles and responsibilities. In practical terms, the main goal is to ensure that fathers are included in family support and parenting policies, and that these policies translate into father-friendly practices.

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) states, in Article 18, that both parents have responsibility for their children. However, stereotypical views of mothers and fathers often pervade all levels of society. Consequently, children sometimes lose out on the benefits of actively engaged fathers – particularly in cases of parental separation…. Read more