Abstract
This chapter, written from a personal and research perspective, reviews considerations and practices for engaging fathers in children’s services. Importantly, the perspective is positive, showing aspects of the father’s role that can be shared among different caregivers and indicating that familial and cultural contexts influence the father’s role and development of the father-child relationship. Fathers are more engaged in their children’s lives in today’s world. Yet, eliminating barriers and improving engagement remains a goal, and this is related to improved child social and emotional development, more fulfilling relationships with others, and a positive trajectory in adulthood. The author presents and explains a model showing the interrelations between child, father, and service providers/therapists. This author also presents best practices and ideas for engaging fathers in their children’s lives.
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Hornstein, J. (2023). Developing Fatherhood: A Cultural Perspective on Engaging Men in the Lives of Children. In: Nabors, L., Bartlett, J.D. (eds) Family Engagement in Mental Health Interventions for Young Children. Springer Series on Child and Family Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-47917-5_7
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