Public Health Meeting the Needs of Fathers in Prenatal Classes The Prenatal Fathering Project

Public Health Agenda 1.Research – What we know 2.Fathering Revelations 3.Prenatal Classes 4.Fathering Project 5.Fathering Successes 6.New Directions

Public Health What We Know About Family 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 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 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 Child 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 Fathering Men highly motivated to support families and be excellent parents But men are… Less prepared for parenthood than women AND Less likely to seek help

Public Health Fathering 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 Classes 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 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 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 Partnerships Family Services of Peel Peel Public Health Clarica Government of Ontario: Ministry of Community and Social Services, Challenge Fund

Public Health Fathering Project Intended Audience New Fathers Existing Prenatal Program New Fathering Component

Public Health Goals 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 Project 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 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 Component 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 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 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 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 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 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’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 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 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’d 4.Development of Fathering Resource – 24 Hour Cribside Assistance: The New Baby Manual for Dads

Public Health New 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?