An Appraisal of Fathers' Perspectives on Fatherhood and Barriers to Their Child Welfare Involvement

Abstract

The present study provides insight into the extent and rationale of fathers' involvement with their children and the child welfare system. This qualitative study explored 12 child welfare–involved fathers' perceptions of fatherhood and factors that facilitate and inhibit case planning involvement. The findings indicate that most fathers strongly desired to stay involved with their children but felt they needed to overcome social workers' negativity, unfair agency policies and practices, and economic difficulties in order to complete their case plan goals and remain in their children's lives. Recommendations are provided for child welfare policy, practice, and research.

Keywords:

• Fathers
• fatherhood
• permanency plan
• father involvement
• foster care

Notes

This study was funded by Casey—Center for the Study of Social Policy, Alliance for Racial Equity. The author thanks Marsha Rose Wickliffe, Robert Williams, Pamela Watkins, Mary Dowdell, Tyronda Ricks, Angelina Meeks, Ron Johnson, and Shakira Kennedy and social services supervisors, social workers, and fathers for their assistance with the completion of this project.