Public Health

Meeting the Needs of Fathers

in Prenatal Classes

The Prenatal Fathering The Prenatal Fathering ProjectProject

Public Health

AgendaAgenda

1. Research – What we know2. Fathering Revelations3. Prenatal Classes 4. Fathering Project 5. Fathering Successes6. New Directions

Public Health

What We Know About Family What We Know About Family Life:Life: • Family transitions involve stress

• Couple satisfaction decreases after childbirth

• Incidence of family violence estimated to be 4 - 8% during pregnancy

• Highest rates of separation/divorce occur from one to five years after marriage

Public Health

What We Know About What We Know About Parents:Parents: • Parents know that the first years after

birth are very important

• New parents lack knowledge of basic child development

• Parents lack confidence in their parenting skills

• More than 1 in 3 parents have “ineffective or punitive” parenting styles

Public Health

What We Know About What We Know About Women:Women:

Women seek greater support from their partners and report:

• increased dissatisfaction with husband’s contribution to the parenting role

• increased stress around not having enough time to themselves

• higher levels of depressive symptoms than men.

(Invest in Kids)

Public Health

Determinants of Healthy Determinants of Healthy Child DevelopmentChild Development

• Parenting skills

• Cohesiveness of family unit

• Mental health of mother

• Extent to which parents engage with their children

Fathers have a major influence on all of these factors!

(National Longitudinal Study of Children and Youth, Canada, 2002)

Public Health

The Reality of FatheringThe Reality of Fathering

Men highly motivated to support families and be excellent parents

But men are…

Less prepared for parenthood than womenAND

Less likely to seek help

Public Health

Fathering RevelationsFathering Revelations

• The prenatal period is when expectant fathers are most receptive to learning

• If fathers do not get basic parent information before the baby is born, they are less likely to do so later

Public Health

Peel Public Health Prenatal Peel Public Health Prenatal ClassesClasses• Largest provider of free prenatal classes

in Region• Over 1000 pregnant women participating

in classes

• Almost all accompanied by the father

• Approximately 6-8 weeks in duration

• Content: pregnancy to parenting

Public Health

However, in Prenatal However, in Prenatal Classes…Classes…Very little content addressing unique needs of fathers:

• Classes are led by a Public Health Nurse who is often a woman

• Primary emphasis - women as mothers to be

• Often focused on labor and delivery

• Family adjustment issues covered briefly

Public Health

Fathers Participation in Fathers Participation in Prenatal Class Prenatal Class

Fathers do not tend to speak up in prenatal classes

They may believe that:

1.Their role is one of emotional support

2.Having children is a “woman’s job”

Public Health

Fathering Project PartnershipsFathering Project Partnerships

• Family Services of Peel

• Peel Public Health

• Clarica

• Government of Ontario: Ministry of Community and Social Services, Challenge Fund

Public Health

Fathering ProjectFathering Project

Intended Audience New Fathers

ExistingPrenatal Program

NewFathering Component

Public Health

Goals of Fathering ProjectGoals of Fathering Project

• To engage men as primary nurturers of their babies

• To normalize and validate men’s commitment to fathering

Public Health

Objectives of Fathering Objectives of Fathering ProjectProject

• To strengthen attachment between father and baby

• To help fathers recognize and respond to expectant mother’s needs

• To reduce anxiety and increase communication within the couple

• To assist mothers to facilitate father involvement

• To reduce family violence and destructive forms of conflict

Public Health

The ProcessThe Process

• Fathering Content

– Developed by John MacMillan (Project Manager for Family Services of Peel)

• Male facilitators recruited and trained by John

• Fathering class added to existing prenatal program

Public Health

Content of Fathering Content of Fathering ComponentComponent • The importance of fathers in a child’s

development

• How a father can assist infant development

• Fathering roles

• How to get started

• Caring for yourself and your family

Public Health

Project FindingsProject Findings

Participant fathers felt: – Anxious/scared

– Excited

– Increased responsibility

– Unprepared for what to expect

– Unsure about their parental role

(i.e. what they could do)

Public Health

Project FindingsProject Findings

Participant fathers concluded that:

– They wanted to know what to expect as a new father

– They required more information and resources about their new role and increased responsibility

Public Health

Project RevelationsProject Revelations

• Men more actively shared with other expectant dads when partners were not present

• Men felt engaged as primary nurturers to their babies

Public Health

The Continuing Project The Continuing Project • Early Years Challenge Fund Grant (2003)

• Fathering sessions facilitated by recruited and trained fathers

• 20 fathering sessions in year one• 30 fathering sessions in year two • 40 fathering sessions in year three

Public Health

Fathering SuccessesFathering Successes

1. First Year’s Target Achieved – 21 Fathering Classes completed– 236 participants

2. Training of Fathering Facilitators – 6 trained facilitators as of 2005– Addition of Teen Fathering class

Public Health

Fathering Successes Cont’dFathering Successes Cont’d

3. Positive Evaluations– 90% rated sessions as very good to

excellent– Fathers want to be very involved – Fathers wish for longer/more sessions

Public Health

Fathering Successes Cont’d Fathering Successes Cont’d

Benefits of Fathering Component• Increased awareness of importance of

fathering role– “How important my experience will be on the

development of my child. Very good idea to have the male perspective of fatherhood.”

• Increased communication between parents– “There is no right/wrong way, we must

communicate to each other on how we would like to raise our child.”

Public Health

Fathering Successes Cont’d Fathering Successes Cont’d

Benefits of Fathering Component • Increased awareness by fathers of need for

emotional support of mother in baby’s interest – “We learned to respect each other. Hold your

baby a lot and spend quality time. Share tasks with mother. Afterwards offer mom’s a lot of affection.”

• Anticipated greater participation by dads in postnatal community activities and earlier access to help should problems arise

Public Health

Fathering Successes Cont’dFathering Successes Cont’d

4. Development of Fathering Resource– 24 Hour Cribside Assistance: The New Baby Manual

for Dads

Public Health

New DirectionsNew Directions

• Development of postpartum information for fathers including materials focused on: – Coping with family changes after the baby arrives– Expectations vs. realities of fathering

• Postpartum reunion class• Continue to expand core program

Public Health

QUESTIONS or COMMENTS?QUESTIONS or COMMENTS?