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Questions and Discussion Points from the Every Dad Matters Conference?

Submitted by Moderator on Thu, 20/07/2006 - 12:48.

The 'Every Child Matters - Every Dad Matters'conference in Newcastle on September 11th 2006, looked at issues of policy and practice in including fathers and male carers in Children's Services.

Some of the questions and discussion points submitted have been listed below. You can use the add a comment button to join the discussion and participate.

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The Irrelevant Sex

Submitted by Colleen Speight (not verified) on Mon, 24/07/2006 - 06:47.

The Irrelevant Sex

I wonder if the visiting minister will have an opinion on this matter.

This was an interesting lead story in The Times (17.07.06) attacking the Government's declared intention to revise the Fertilisation and Embryology Act. At the moment, sperm clinics take into account the need for a father before giving treatment. However, in the future the law will only refer to the need for a family.

This change has been applauded by the gay and feminist pressure groups and have stated that the previous wording was an'anachronism', 'judgemental and insulting'. So what happens to the F (for Father) word?

When many professionals are working to provide young men who have not experienced role models of their own, with a sense of identify, so what message does this send? I work with young men who are or are about to be Dads, and they need every encouragement to take the job of being a Dad seriously and need to be reinforced in their role not undermined.

I have been asked 'Do you think a Dad is important to a family miss?' The government seems to have one answer, I have another.

Does Tony Blair feel that he is irrelevant as a father, what about Bob Geldof I could go on ....!

With all the advances in medical science related to the conception of children gaining attention, some thought should also go into their rearing and fitting into society and their possible need to trace both parents.

We need to redefine young mens' role in our families and society to make them feel valued and that they have a positive contribution to make.

I feel strongly about this for obvious reasons, thank you for giving me an opportunity to 'sound off!'

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Thanks for your comment -

Submitted by Moderator on Mon, 24/07/2006 - 06:51.

Thanks for your comment - you may also want to look at the discussion 'Are We Creating a Feminised Society.'

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Laura Coltart

Submitted by Laura Coltart (not verified) on Thu, 20/07/2006 - 13:41.

Laura Coltart
Project Midwife Teenage Pregnancy, NHS Greater Glasgow

I would like to ask how education policy ecompasses the early messages to young children around the important role of the father in an ever changing society. Young men need early, positive messages to inform then about how important the role of a father is and what the role of a father should be whether or not the father is with or estranged from their children/child.

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Colleen Pattison, Willington

Submitted by Colleen Pattison (not verified) on Thu, 20/07/2006 - 13:36.

Colleen Pattison, Willington Children's Centre:

How will Dads Work fit into the Children's Centre agenda and extended schools agenda?

How will those new Children's Centre's that have not evolved from other programmes i,e Sure Start, early excellence centre's etc such as Stanhope/Tow Law in Co.Durham,work with Dads?

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see this link to written

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 21/07/2006 - 07:43.

see this link to written answer in parliament from the DfES

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My question came from a dad

Submitted by John Mair (not verified) on Thu, 20/07/2006 - 13:23.

My question came from a dad to be. When a father to be wants to claim his paternity leave, why is there no official documentation for him to be able to show his employer. The only thing he can use is a copy of his partners confinement. In the case of this father his partner has refused him permission to photocopy her private and confidential papers

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I think this is a really

Submitted by Moderator on Thu, 20/07/2006 - 13:32.

I think this is a really interesting question as it opens up the whole debate about 'who is pregnant.' Sounds as if the dad to be you are talking about can only get paternity leave with the support of the mother - if she doesnt let him have the document there is nothing he can do.

In tackling this we would have to raise the whole issue of asking 'mums to be' to provide information about the dad and look at how that information would be used once in the system. Could create a great opportunity for services to enagage dads at an early stage. I would be interested to see what the panel has to say...

David Van der Velde

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Anonymous If you could

Submitted by Moderator on Thu, 20/07/2006 - 12:59.

Anonymous

If you could identify one key policy that this government introduced to enable men in caring roles to contribute to the well being and health of our children what would it be and what evidence is there that it has worked?

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