Project Description
Compiled by Megan Carriveau
Date: Summer 2012
Understanding the role that fathers play within the child welfare system, how to engage fathers in services and the resources available to fathers is crucial for those providing services within the child welfare community. The links in this resource page lead to organizations that provide services and support to fathers, data on Minnesota’s efforts to engage fathers, publications on best practices with fathers, and national resources.
The Minnesota Fathers and Families Network is a Minnesota nonprofit focused on education, promotion of initiatives that inform public policy, and the development of the field of fatherhood practitioners. They maintain a comprehensive list of resources for fathers that includes agencies that assist with child welfare-related services such as domestic violence counseling, parenting education, and family court education. As this is a comprehensive list, not all of the resources are child welfare-related.
Minnesota Department of Health: Father’s Adoption Registry—Contact Helen Bassett – 651-201-5991/ 888-345-1726 or far@state.mn.us; Office of the State Registrar, 85 E 7th Place PO Box 64882, St. Paul MN 55164.
- Provides fathers (those generally regarded as father or believed to be father) with a way to protect their interests in preserving a parent-child relationship when the child is or may be placed for adoption
- Allows fathers not wed to the birth mother to register any time before their child’s birth or within 30 days of birth
- Child Welfare Sector Analysis – a publication by The Minnesota Fathers and Families Network
- Working with Fathers: A Program Improvement Resource – published by the Minnesota Department of Human Services
- Minnesota Department of Human Services Program Improvement Plan – The plan for addressing areas of concern noted in the Federal Child and Family Services Review of 2007; one of the areas of concern is father engagement.
- PIP TIPS: Involving Fathers – Published by the Department of Human Services
- Olmstead County’s Fathers/Non-Resident Parent Policy
- Otter Tail County’s Fathers/Non-Resident Parent Policy
- Scott County’s Fathers/Non-Resident Parent Policy
- Washington County’s Fathers/Non-Resident Parent Policy
- Washington County’s Fathers are Important Brochure
- Washington County’s Parents are Important Brochure
- What About the Dads? Child Welfare Agencies’ Efforts to Identify, Locate, and Involve Nonresident Fathers – published by The Urban Institute
- The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children – written by the US Children’s Bureau and located on the Child Welfare Information Gateway
- National Quality Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers and the Child Welfare System Discretionary Grant – contains data about the grant sites
- Protecting Children – Bringing Back the Dads: Changing Practices in Child Welfare Systems – Volume 26 (2), 2001; American Humane Association’s publication
- Fatherhood Trainings – offered by the American Humane Association
- Bringing Back the Dad’s Fact Sheet – published by the American Humane Association
- The Voices of Our Mothers – A Tool for Reducing Barriers to Finding Fathers through Mothers
- Legal Strategies to Address Child Support Obligations for Nonresident Fathers in the Child Welfare System – Published in Child Law Practice by the American Bar Association
- Non-Resident Fathers, Paternal Kin And The Child Welfare System – A literature review published by the American Humane Association, the American Bar Association on Children and the Law, and the National Fatherhood Initiative
- The Source: Fostering Father Involvement – Published by the National Abandoned Infants Assistance Resource Center
- What Dads Can Do With Their Kids – a list of activities that fathers can do with their children at different ages
- Engaging & Involving Fathers and Paternal Family Members – published on the Child Welfare Information Gateway and includes the following publications’ and organizations’ links:
- Engaging Nonresident Fathers in Child Welfare Cases: A Guide for Court Appointed Special Advocates
- Father involvement: Meeting CFSR Standards
- Father Involvement in Child Welfare
- Finding Your Way: Guides for Fathers in Child Protection Cases
- Getting Noncustodial Dads Involved in the Lives of Foster Children
- National Fatherhood Initiative
- Study of Fathers’ Involvement in Permanency Planning and Child Welfare Casework
- National Quality Improvement Center on Non-Resident Fathers and the Child Welfare System
- The Importance of Fathers in the Healthy Development of Children – a publication of the US Children’s Bureau
- National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse – A national government resource for fathers, practitioners, programs/Federal grantees, states, and the public who are interested in supporting strong fathers and families
- National Center for Fathering – A non-profit scientific and education organization focused on practical research-based training, fathering programs, fathering research, and providing resources.
