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Father figures

Father figures. r esearch and practice with men who care for children Seminar Friday 3 rd June 2016 #fatherfigures2016. Introduction. Clare Deane Impact Officer, Cardiff University School of Social Sciences (formerly Senior Researcher, Family Matters Institute) Martin Robb

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Father figures

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  1. 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.

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