The Power of Fathers: A Concept Paper on Fatherhood, Father Engagement and Early Childhood

The benefits of engaging fathers in very young children’s lives are generally acknowledged by leaders in the early childhood field, yet not all family-serving programs are intentionally and proactively engaging fathers. In an effort to contribute to the conversation about the importance of father engagement in very young children’s lives, the Father Engagement Committee of the Harris Professional Development Network (a group of early childhood mental health professionals) developed a concept paper that aims to provide an overview of the empirical and practical evidence that supports father engagement and offer recommendations on how to make father engagement a reality in all family-serving programs. You can access the concept paper by clicking on the link below. We see this resource as a living document, and welcome your feedback, thoughts, and reflections.

 DOWNLOAD THE CONCEPT PAPER HERE