Why We Need Family Law Professionals To Commit To A Father-Inclusive Approach
I was really pleased to be approached by Bob and Rebecca of Only Mums and Dads earlier this year inviting me to deliver some new training for family law professionals called ‘Engaging with Men’. I have long been researching the benefits for family and societal welfare when fathers are supported to fulfil their family roles and engagements.
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There is so much evidence to confirm that when dads are positively involved in family life, this benefits child development and life course outcomes and when men and women are able to parent effectively, either together or across households, that this can lead to progress in gender equality as well.
A major finding of my own programme of research is that the configuration of welfare and family policy systems means that societies are ill-equipped at both seeing and engaging with men as-fathers and caregivers. This is a systemic issue. Professionals across a wide range of family support sectors including universal health, social services, criminal justice and family law and so on, express concerns that they do not engage men as well as they could even where there are requirements to offer whole family approaches.
There are numerous barriers that are an inherent feature of existing systems that contribute to sustaining this issue over time, meaning that vital opportunities to support both mums and dads, are lost. What we do know is that where men receive tailored and authentic support and engagements with professionals that are gender sensitive and compassionate, that they feel more supported with their own challenges, whether that be to secure resources or receive support for their mental ill-health. They are also more able to sustain relationships with their children and partner/co-parent.
The Engaging with Men training has been designed with family law professionals in mind. Drawing on extensive research and evidence, family law professionals will be supported to explore:
Why is it crucial to support men more effectively in the family law system?
How can we help men stay involved in their children's lives after separation?
What are the benefits for men, women, and children when cooperative co-parenting is fostered?
What barriers do fathers face in feeling included in legal proceedings and family interventions?
It is my hope that in attending the training you will feel more equipped with the tools to make a meaningful impact in your everyday practice, enhancing your ability to support fathers and to contribute to more inclusive and positive outcomes for families.
Register today and be part of the movement toward a more progressive, father-inclusive family law system. Let's work together to create stronger, healthier outcomes for post-separation families.
About The Author
Anna Tarrant is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Lincoln with expertise in applied fatherhood research and father-inclusion. She is Director of the Centre for Innovation in Fatherhood and Family Research and a UKRI Future Leaders research programme called Following Young Fathers Further.
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