Themes from the 2016 World Cafe

Participants at the World Cafe discussed questions regarding the Future of Fatherhood in Rochester. Questions that were asked included: How is Fatherhood supported in our community? What is going well? How and when are fathers being engaged in Rochester? Why do children need fathers? Suppose fatherhood was going really well in our community, how would we know? Knowing where our community is now, what do we need to reach our goal of supporting fatherhood? What are the barriers to supporting fatherhood in our community? What inequalities are present in our community that directly affect fathers?

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From these discussions the following themes were realized:

 

Barriers & Inequality Themes:

• System Barriers (laws, services,etc.)

• Family Friendly or only mothers

• Social Norms

• Lack of Strength Based Model

• Lack of Coordination & communication between those doing the work

• Role Identification of fathers (Honoring the uniqueness and value of fathers)

 

Strengths Themes:

• RAFN

• Faith Community groups, private agencies, public agencies = pockets of support in community

• Legal System, legal aid of Olmsted County

• Community awareness of fatherhood starting to grow

• Research on fatherhood growing

• Fathers engaged voluntarily and involuntarily

• Fathers engaged when there is a need or crisis

 

Children need Fathers Themes:

• Fatherhood starts at conception

• Neurological brain development

• Emotional and Financial support

• Logical thinking vs. emotional thinking

• Model Relationships from male perspective

• Morals and values

• Sense of identity

• Role model

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Future Themes:

• Lower number of alcohol and drug abuse

• Fathers giving to the community

• Less single parents and more healthy co-parenting

• Dad’s feeling included in prenatal appointments

• Single dad’s support group

• Support Groups