The impact of a father figure on a child—whether present or absent, helpful, or harmful—lasts a lifetime.
Research suggests that positive father involvement contributes to a child’s emotional and social development, cognitive and language development, success in school, protection from risky behaviours and situations, positive outcomes in adolescence and adulthood, and creates gender-equitable men and empowered women.
However, the nature of the relationship between fathers and children—as well as between father figures and those under their care or influence—continues to be understudied and underfunded in health, education, and community settings.
Blueprint is establishing an interdisciplinary Fatherhood Research Initiative to build and mobilize new models that strengthen the role of fathers and father figures in children’s lives. Outcomes from our research will inform the development of a program aimed at supporting the nurturing roles of fathers, fathers-to-be, and father figures, including mentors, coaches, and parasocial fathers.
The purpose of this program is to improve health and well-being for program participants, their children, their families and their communities. Our Blueprint for Fatherhood program is expected to be offered as a standalone program in early 2025.