Transcript The Child Health Promotion Programme Update (June 2008)

The Child Health Promotion
Programme Update
(June 2008)
http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/
uploads/publications/399.pdf
The Child Health Promotion Programme
(Update, June 2008)
The CHPP Update is probably the most father-aware policy
document ever published by government. Fathers are mentioned
throughout. For example, the CHPP’s “new and major emphasis
on parenting support” includes:
• Supporting mothers and fathers to provide sensitive and attuned
parenting, in particular during the first months and years of life.
• Supporting strong couple relationships and stable positive
relationships within families
• Ensuring that contact with the family routinely involves and supports
fathers, including non-resident fathers.
• Supporting the transition to parenthood, especially for first-time
mothers and fathers.
The Child Health Promotion Programme Update (June, 2008) –
cont.
The CHPP is to be “moved from . . .”
“A focus mainly on mothers and children. . .”
to
“Working routinely with both mothers and fathers
(whether they are living together or not)”
There is to be increased focus on vulnerable children and families,
including:
“Families with a young mother or father”
“Families where the parents are not co-resident”. [14-15]
The Child Health Promotion Programme Update (June, 2008) – cont.
An awareness of fathers’ influence permeates the document - e.g.
• fathers’ smoking “has both a direct and an indirect impact on
children, and is the most powerful influence on the mother’s
smoking habit”
• fathers, like mothers, have a “specific impact” on their children
which must be “recognised” – and parents also have an important
“combined influence”
“Core features of successful parenting programmes” are defined as
including:
• Involving fathers, ensuring that they are well informed and
making them feel welcome
• Monitoring the effectiveness of local services at engaging with
and supporting fathers, including those in socially excluded groups
• Recognising and addressing mental health problems in either
parent
The Child Health Promotion Programme Update (June, 2008) –
cont.
Specific strategies for good practice with fathers are clearly set out as
part of mainstream engagement - e.g.
•
From the beginning, promote the father’s role as being important
to his child’s outcomes.
• Make it explicit that the CHPP is there for the whole family –
including the father - and demonstrate this by providing suitable
seating for him as well as for the mother, addressing him directly and
encouraging him to speak and making it clear that you are listening.
• Arrange meetings, services, groups and reviews to maximise the
possibility of fathers attending. Stress the importance of their presence
to both them and the mother.
The Child Health Promotion Programme Update (June, 2008) –
cont.
•
Include positive images of fathers from different ethnic
groups and of different ages in the literature that you
produce and display.
• Record fathers’ details – including those of non-resident
fathers.
• Include an assessment of the father’s needs as well as
the mother’s
•
Include an assessment of the father’s health behaviours
•
Signpost fathers to all of the relevant services.
The Child Health Promotion Programme Update (June, 2008) –
cont.
• Make sure that fathers (as well as mothers) are in
possession of information about, for example, the benefits
of stopping smoking and strategies for doing so.
• Where possible, provide fathers with this information
directly (rather than second-hand, via the mother) and
ensure that it also incorporates information on their role in
relation to their child.
• Offer antenatal preparation to fathers, including at times
that will be convenient for working fathers (e.g. evenings).