News

Yvonne Roberts hopes Parents Week will live up to its name and acknowledge the father's role in the family.

Fathers Direct, whose aim is "to promote close and positive relationships between men and their children" has produced its second issue of FatherWork, giving several illustrations of how it is the simple ideas in social care that often have the most profound impact.

The magazine reports on a project in West Virginia, USA, in which a study revealed that the midwife is often the most significant player in influencing whether a teenage or unmarried man officially acknowledges that he is the father of the child. That, in turn, affects the amount of emotional and financial support he is prepared to invest in his family.

The state introduced a training programme for midwives, which increased their sensitivity to young dads. In the following four years, a startling turnaround has been achieved. The rate of men who officially acknowledge their offspring and therefore become liable for child support payments has risen from 18 per cent to more than 60 per cent among low-income unmarried couples.

A second item covers an afternoon centre in Huddersfield, called SuparDads, which tries to counter the female-oriented image of family centres, all "fluffy kittens and pastel colours". Sue Bell, project organiser from the National Children's Centre, explains that she has created a "manspace". Fathers and children play together and counselling and help with employment and parenting skills is available.

Next week is Parents Week and although held during half-term, when many parents will be too busy to notice the media coverage, it provides a good opportunity to consider why so many doors to parenting are marked "no entry" for young fathers and older dads.

Fathers Direct is setting up a network for professionals who work with fathers, offering advice, funding information and an opportunity to exchange ideas. Parenting isn't what it used to be but, so far, it is the children who appear to understand this best. In a survey of 230 children aged nine to 11, conducted last summer in Welsh schools by Children in Wales and Fathers Direct, 64 per cent said their father's most important job was looking after them; only 22 per cent said it was going out to work. Three out of four believed it was acceptable for their father to stay at home while their mother had a job.

We are in a period of potentially huge positive change in the family. What a waste it would be if, in language, imagery and focus, Parents Week again became in all but name seven days aimed at mothers.

Fathers Direct at www.fathersdirect.com    

SuparDads can be contacted on 01484 519988.