Click a Heading on your Left & Scroll Down for Info
Fathers and CoParents
FOR FATHER'S DAY, LET'S MAKE DADS PART OF PRENATAL CARE. IT'S GOOD FOR PARENTS AND BABIES
"The entire prenatal care landscape is crafted for moms. It’s obvious why. Pregnancy outcomes in the United States continue to rank among the worst in the developed world, with 5.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births and 17.2 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. This is why improving pregnancy outcomes is a top public health priority. But we cannot forget that men — and partners of any gender to a pregnant person — play a very important role in improving health for all."
A DAD WINS FIGHT TO INCREASE PARENTAL LEAVE FOR MEN AT JPMORGAN CHASE
Two years ago, Derek Rotondo told his employer that he wanted to take 16 weeks of paid leave granted to primary caregivers for his newborn son. He says he was told: "Men, as biological fathers, were presumptively not the primary caregiver." He was only eligible for two weeks' leave.
THE MAIN REASONS FOR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MOTHERS AND FATHERS APPEAR TO BE THE AMOUNT OF TIME THEY HAVE TO "PRACTICE"
Babies seem to attach not just to those who actively care for them, but to those they interact with regularly. So infants can be strongly attached, for example, to a father who works full-time but engages with the child enough outside of working hours.
"In my first book, "This Isn't What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression" (Bantam, 1994), we included a chapter for husbands, which turned out to be an invaluable resource for the partners of women suffering from PPD. After receiving feedback from the families I treat, I was shown that husbands needed support and information that is distinct from what their wives were seeking. 'The Postpartum Husband' offers that information with its handy reference-style format and addresses specific questions that may arise throughout the course of the illness. As the husband feels more in control of the situation and his wife feels understood and cared for, symptoms improve and recovery is augmented." -K.K.
The Center for Fathers and Families (CFF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit agency with a strong history of responding to the needs of fathers and their families by offering programs and services that lead to family growth, enrichment, and empowerment. Over the course of its history, CFF has impacted thousands of children, families, and adults in Sacramento County through one of our three main initiatives:
Starting young people on a positive path
Helping parents achieve and maintain success
Empowering families to thrive together
Advice for New Dads and Expectant Fathers, from Bruce Linton, Ph.D.
Support and advice in the early years of parenthood for dads in Berkeley and online.
The resources listed on this page provide fathers and postpartum partners informed support and connection at no charge.
-
-
First Mondays of every month — PSI hosts a free call-in forum for dads facilitated by a perinatal mood disorders expert. Call for information, support, and connection with other dads.
-
Finding a group of local dads is one of the most vital parts of having a successful, enriching, and less stressful time as an at-home dad. The community, support, and camaraderie are all incredibly helpful, and we encourage all at-home dads to reach out to find more at-home dads in their local area.
Helping fathers across the nation socialize and support one another.
Our members include:
at-home dads and working dads.
straight dads and gay dads.
married dads, divorced dads and single dads.
white dads, black dads and every-other-color-of-the-rainbow dads.
young dads and young-at-heart dads.
"It is so hard being a parent. We all need as much help as we can possibly get in my experience. Hopefully together we can help change the experience of fathering and parenting and being a child in our society. These videos are intentionally kept really short so that they can be very accessible, but as such there’s a lot that I’m leaving out. Nonetheless I hope that it inspires you to think about your situation and find the information that you need."
Fatherhood.gov is a site for:
Dads looking for tips, hints and even deals for dads and kids – find them on the DadTalk Blog and in the "For Dads" corner
Fatherhood programs looking to get started or expand – check out the "For Programs" section
Researchers and policy makers looking for the latest on responsible fatherhood – check out our Library
"The stepfather role is the most common stepparent role because almost 90% of women receive custody of dependent children at divorce. Many stepfathers have children of their own from previous marriages or relationships, but a growing number of stepfathers have never been fathers before and at marriage become 'instant fathers'."
"Being a new father of an infant is especially hard. It’s stressful. And conflicts with your partner that arise after a few sleepless nights can make things harder. But PPND is different. PPND (Paternal Postnatal Depression) is common clinical condition among men after the birth of a child. Up to 1 in 4 new dads have PPND. Depression, anxiety or other problems with mood can occur anytime during the first year of your child’s life. PPND is a very serious condition. But it’s also a very treatable condition."
-
Promoting the evaluation of fatherhood programs.
-
Expanding the number of researchers and practitioners collaborating to evaluate these programs.
-
Disseminating information that leads to effective fatherhood practice and evaluation research.
Fatherly is the leading digital media brand for dads. Our mission is to empower men to raise great kids and lead more fulfilling adult lives. From original video series and deep dive reports to podcasts and events, Fatherly offers original reporting, expert parenting advice, and hard-won insights into a challenging, but profoundly rewarding stage of life.
Come along for the wild ride as writer Jay Rooke shares the trials and tribulations of hands-on parenting. It’s going to get messy and you won’t want to miss it.