Including fathers in work with vulnerable families

This chapter will enable you to: 1. Recognise the potential of child and family practitioners in health and education settings to engage fathers (and father figures) of vulnerable children in ways that will enhance their ability to nurture and protect their children 2. Understand how community and staff perceptions, social policy and institutional practices may act as barriers to fathers' participation in child and family settings 3. Become familiar with recent research evidence pointing to fathers' positive influence on children's well-being and consider the implications of this 4. Recognise the complexity of changing service procedures and practice to include fathers fully in a way that enhances family well-being 5. Reflect on the professional and personal challenges that may be faced when attempting to include fathers in services targeting vulnerable children and their families.