1. research and practice with men who care for children
Father figures
research and practice with men who care for children
Seminar
Friday 3rd June 2016
#fatherfigures2016

2. Introduction
Clare Deane Impact Officer, Cardiff University School of Social Sciences (formerly Senior Researcher, Family Matters Institute) Martin Robb Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Health & Social Care, The Open University

3. Overview Research at The Open University Martin
About FMI and Dad.info Clare
Why social fathers? Martin
Aims of the seminar Martin
Results of an initial survey Clare
Some key questions Martin

4. Research at The Open University
Research and the OU’s mission
Our research priorities
Research in health and social care
Research with children, young people and families
Partnership with Family Matters Institute and DAD.info

5. About the Family Matters Institute
Vision: A society that supports families and children to thrive
Mission: Enhance the value society places on the family by influencing policy and embedding best practice
Three main activities:
1. Training
2. Digital
3. Research

6. About DAD.info Europe’s largest advice and support website for fathers
1 million users per year
Advice and guidance across a whole range of topics (915,658 visits to these pages last year)
Moderated peer support forum (1258 users last year)

7. Why FMI and DAD.info are involved in this project
Importance of father’s involvement in family/a child’s life on improving across a whole range of outcomes
Gaps in research regarding experiences of father figures
Experience of engaging fathers

8. Why social fathers?
Lack of information about diversity of men who ‘do’ fathering
Social fatherhood an under-researched area
Policy debates about impact of ‘absent’ fathers and need for children to have male role models
Social fatherhood a useful lens to explore men’s role in care and support of children

9. Defining our terms
A social father is any man who performs (or sees himself as performing) a fathering role on a regular basis with children who are not his biological offspring, and when the biological father is non-resident.
Social fathers might include (not an exhaustive list):
Stepfathers
Partners of women with children by another partner
Grandfathers, uncles or other male relatives of children whose father is non-resident
Male friends of the children’s mother
Foster and adoptive fathers
Gay fathers
Donor fathers

10. Aims of the seminar
To share current research and practice about social fatherhood
To stimulate thinking about gaps in research
To stimulate thinking about gaps in service provision
To develop ideas for a possible research project on social fatherhood
To identify possible partners and networks for future research development

11. Results from an initial survey
Polling and surveying of fathers on DAD.info
27% of fathers on the site are a non-biological father to one or more children

12. Results from an initial survey 2
Relationship to the mother; 47% partner, but parents, friends and siblings also represented Relationship to the child; 53% step-father, 21% friend of the family, 15% sibling, 5% grandparent/uncle 63% self-define as a carer and 74% self-define as having responsibility for the child

13. Some key questions (1) Who are the social / ‘non-biological’ fathers?
What kinds of care and support do social fathers offer to children?
How do social fathers describe their relationships with the children they care for?
How (if at all) does the care offered by social fathers differ from that of biological fathers / mothers?
What motivates a man to care / not care for children who aren’t his biological offspring?
How does the care provided by social fathers vary depending on age / gender of child(ren)?

14. Some key questions (2)
What are the main issues and challenges faced by social / non-biological fathers?
How are social fathers represented in the media and public discourse?
What kinds of support do social fathers receive from services, and what attitudes do they encounter from professionals?
How could services be improved to support social fathers?

15. #fatherfigures2016
@clarrrrre
@MartinRobbOU
@FamilyMattersUK
@ou_hsc

16. Next steps

17. What happens next? Write up key points from discussion groups
Share key points online (blog / Twitter)
Keep in touch via mailing list / network
Looking for partners / collaborators
Developing research proposal and funding bid on social fathers

18. fatherfiguresresearch.wordpress.com

19. …and finally Don’t forget to give us your feedback.
Thank you for coming – and for taking part.