a practice and research intervention
The family paradigm that is most prevalent in social services typically focuses on the family as "a mother and her children." This emphasis relegates fathers to a significantly diminished role and marginalizes their importance. We invite you to learn more about The Supporting Father Involvement Project, a clinical and research intervention by the team of Dr. Philip A. Cowan, Dr. Carolyn Pape Cowan, Dr. Marsha Kline Pruett, and Kyle D. Pruett, MD. A statewide dissemination effort of SFI is underway in California with the support of Strategies.
A growing body of research has concluded that fathers are important to their child's development, and yet the vast majority of programs that serve families with young children, especially low-income families, tend to focus almost exclusively on mothers.
The first five years are a critical time to develop healthy patterns and family interactions, but, historically, family resource centers and programs have had a blind spot when it comes to involving fathers. From home visits to parenting classes, the vast majority of programs cater exclusively to mothers, due to a mistaken belief that mothers are the only key to child development and well-being.
This research and intervention represents the first randomized, controlled clinical trial focused on father involvement in low-and middle-income families. The study compared father-only and father-mother interventions with each other, against a control group, and evaluated the impacts on families and children. Five family life domains were addressed: individual, couple, parenting, families of origin, and outside stresses and social supports (e.g., employment).
The research confirms that when fathers become more involved in parenting - and in working with mothers as co-parents and partners - you get healthier families and healthier children. Parents experience reduced stress and anxiety, are more satisfied with the relationship, and children are less hyperactive and aggressive. Moreover, SFI teaches that agencies that serve families also can become more father friendly, creating organizational/institutional as well as familial change.
| Journal
of Marriage and the Family Article Published August 1, 2009 Press Release: NEW STUDY MEASURES BENEFITS OF MORE INVOLVED FATHERS Children face greater risk when agencies focus only on moms, overlook dads Family service agencies are missing huge opportunities to help children by focusing only on mothers and ignoring fathers, according to a groundbreaking study by some of the nation’s top family and child development researchers... (Click below to read the complete press release). ...To read the complete press release and download the full article click here. |