BC Council for Families

In recent years we’ve seen increased attention on fathering in the popular media, the development of a new professional discourse about the importance of the involved father to healthy child development, nationally funded studies on fathering, and the dramatic growth of self-help websites for fathers. Nevertheless, fathers are often absent or invisible in child protection services. There are also conflicting views about how, and whether, practitioners should engage with fathers in child welfare.

Christopher Walmsley teaches in the School of Social Work and Human Service at Thompson Rivers University and explores why men and fathers are often not involved in child welfare services.  This January 22, as part of Focus on Fathering, a one-day forum for father support practitioners, Dr. Walmsley will present his research on Engaging with Fathers in Child Welfare Services. He’ll discuss strategies to encourage fathers’ involvement, and identify some of the complexities of increased father involvement in child welfare.

In Fathers and the Child Welfare System , a Research to Practice paper written for the Federation of Child and Family Services, Walmsley concludes that “Child welfare agencies that “see” fathers, and provide policy and practice guidance to their staff about engaging with fathers will, in the long term, reduce the risk of harm to children and mothers.”

Focus on Fathering delivers the latest research on fathering in a setting that connects you with your fellow colleagues. Come to share ideas, gain inspiration, and learn about the complexities and rewards of supporting fathers in this and other sessions throughout the day.