1.
David Van der Velde
Service Manager (Fathers Plus),
Children North East
Sustaining Work With Fathers
davidv@fathersplus.org
www.fathersplus.org

2.
“Progress is
impossible without
change, and those
who cannot change
their minds cannot
change anything.”
George Bernard Shaw (1856 – 1950)
Sustaining Work With Fathers

3.
Sustaining Work With Fathers
A new approach to family services ?

4.
Sustaining Work With Fathers
What are your fears for the sustainability of
work with fathers?
What do you see as the opportunities to
include fathers in future service delivery?
What is Your Starting Point

5.
L
E
V
E
R
A
G
E
Systems & Structures
Vision
Patterns of Behaviour
Events
Mental Models
Levels of Perspective (Daniel Kim)

6.
The Impact of Mental Models on Work with Fathers
Mental Models that work
Fathers matter hugely to
their children
MM’s that do NOT work
Men represent a risk to children?
Men want what is best for
their children
Fathers are less responsive
than mothers to the needs of
their children
Men are difficult to engage
with
Early bonding with baby is
important for fathers as well
as mothers
The role of family workers is
to support mothers and
children
Failure of services to engage with male
family members puts children at risk

7.
Why Work With Fathers
Fathers matter to their children
Father involvement matters to mothers
Fathering matters to men
Fathering matters to communities and to
societies

8.
Sustaining Work With Fathers
"This government understands that fathers today want to be
more actively involved in bringing up their children and more
are doing so. A father-child relationship has a profound and
wide ranging impact on children that lasts a lifetime.
Research has shown that children with involved fathers develop
better friendships, more empathy, and higher levels of self-
esteem. They are also less likely to become involved with crime
or substance abuse."
Sarah Teather MP
Minister of State for Children and Families

9.
This is not the Future
Fathers’ involvement in their children’s education
matters for children's educational, emotional and
social development, for both girls and boys.
Mothers’ involvement is not a substitute
Rebecca Goldman, NFPI, 2004

10.
David Van der Velde
Service Manager (Fathers Plus),
Children North East
Sustaining Work With Fathers
davidv@fathersplus.org
www.fathersplus.org