Child abuse prevention programs have begun to focus on strengthening families to prevent abuse, as opposed to only targeting risk factors. Father involvement with children is one of these protective factors and is associated with improved child well-being. This brief from the Child & Family Research Partnership discusses the relationship between involved fathers and protective factors against abuse in families, including knowledge of parenting and connection to social supports.

In this three-part podcast series, the Child Welfare Information Gateway presents information about the importance of father involvement in the lives of children, as well as suggestions for engaging fathers and working with fatherhood organizations. In Parts 1 and 2, leaders from fatherhood organizations share some benefits of father involvement, tips for locating local noncustodial fathers, and insights into the perspective of fathers. In Part 3, a partnership between a child welfare agency and fatherhood program in South Carolina is discussed.

Mathematica Policy Research, as part of an evaluation of the Parents and Children Together study, conducted a qualitative study of fathers who voluntarily participated in Responsible Fatherhood programs. Many of these fathers struggled with unstable employment and low wages, which complicated their ability to financially support their children, despite a desire to do so. The findings show some of the challenges fathers experience when dealing with child support systems, and the report makes suggestions for service providers about how to help fathers address them.

This post from the Annie E. Casey Foundation presents data at the state and national level regarding the well-being and economic status of families. The author notes that to achieve financial stability, all available parents will likely need to work. In addition, the post discusses the need for access to affordable child care and paid leave.

This post from the Urban Institute examines a year’s worth of research on instability affecting children. The findings include: instability is widespread; stability depends on a complex system of supports; and instability is a costly problem for public institutions and employers, which may motivate them to act.

The Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study suggests that fathers are more likely to struggle with depression when they do not have full-time employment, live apart from their children, have children with two or more women, or have been incarcerated. This tip sheet from the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse helps fatherhood programs best serve fathers who may be dealing with depression.

This paper from Two Dollars a Day examines the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) and other sources of data, including Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) records, school reports of homeless children, and utilization of charitable emergency food programs. These data sources have been consistently showing a decline in conditions for America’s poorest families.

This tool from the Annie E. Casey Foundation provides an assessment and planning resources to help nonprofits evaluate their parent engagement efforts and create stronger partnerships with parents and caregivers.

Reading is linked to children’s cognitive development, academic skills, and future employment opportunities. Research suggests that fathers are particularly influential for children’s language and literacy development. This brief from the National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse provides programs with ideas to inspire fathers to read with their children.

This video from the Annie E. Casey Foundation highlights Rural Integration Models for Parents and Children to Thrive (Rural IMPACT). Launched in 2015, this public-private partnership aims to combat poverty in ten rural and tribal communities around the country. The initiative provides technical assistance and a peer learning network to help these sites adopt a two-generation approach to address the needs of parents and children together.