Enhancing Father Engagement in Parenting Programs: Translating Research into Practice Recommendations

Abstract

Objective

Given the increasing research and practice interest in father engagement, this article aimed to develop a clinical narrative integrating the extant research literature to distil key practice recommendations for enhancing father engagement in parenting interventions for child wellbeing.

Method

A narrative review of research on father engagement in interventions for child wellbeing was conducted, to identify and distil evidence‐based policies and practices to enhance father engagement for practitioners and organisations.

Results

Six broad policy and practice recommendations are provided that pertain to: engaging the parenting team, avoiding a father deficit model, increasing father awareness of parenting interventions, ensuring father‐inclusive program content and delivery, increasing organisational support for father‐inclusive practice, and increasing professional father engagement training.

Conclusion

This review provides practitioners with guidelines for enhancing father engagement based on the available research. It also provides recommendations for further research regarding the effectiveness of strategies to enhance father engagement.

Key words:

• child mental health
• father involvement
• parental engagement
• parenting
• parenting program

The authors are part of the Like Father Like Son research team, headed by Chief Investigator Professor Mark Dadds. Meryn Lechowicz, Project Manager/Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Sydney Child Behaviour Research Clinic, is the lead author in conducting the literature review and writing the manuscript.

The authors are part of the Like Father Like Son research team, headed by Chief Investigator Professor Mark Dadds. Meryn Lechowicz, Project Manager/Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Sydney Child Behaviour Research Clinic, is the lead author in conducting the literature review and writing the manuscript.

Acknowledgement

We would like to express our gratitude to the staff of the Sydney Child Behaviour Research Clinic for sharing their clinical insights, and the entire Like Father Like Son project team who supported the development of this article. This publication is an outcome of the Like Father Like Son project which is funded by the Movember Foundation Australian Mental Health Initiative.

Notes

The authors are part of the Like Father Like Son research team, headed by Chief Investigator Professor Mark Dadds. Meryn Lechowicz, Project Manager/Senior Clinical Psychologist at the Sydney Child Behaviour Research Clinic, is the lead author in conducting the literature review and writing the manuscript.

1. The term “father” is used to refer to biological and social fathers, and father‐figures, who undertake parenting responsibilities. Likewise, where the term “mother” is used, it is intended to refer to biological and social mothers and mother‐figures. Where the term “parent” is used, it is intended to refer to those in a primary caregiving relationship with a child.

Additional information

Funding

Movember Foundation