Approaches to Father Engagement and Fathers’ Experiences in Home Visiting Programs

Early childhood home visiting programs typically target pregnant women and mothers of young children, but some programs have started to include fathers, as well. A recent study from the Urban Institute aimed to understand how home visiting programs engage fathers, what fathers’ experiences are in those programs, and the perceived benefits of fathers’ participation. This report discusses approaches that home visiting programs use to engage fathers, the challenges they face, the strategies they use to overcome these challenges, and benefits of participating from the perspective of fathers and program staff.