About 50 % of parents are fathers. Fathers have a unique and valuable influence on young children. When fathers actively engage with the care of their young children, they foster cognitive, social-emotional, and physical growth.
However, like mothers, new fathers experience clinical depression and anxiety and parenting stress at rates comparable to mothers. This has devastating effects on families, children and mothers. Untreated depression increases the risk of child abuse and domestic violence, as well as mental health challenges for mothers and children.
Fathers need support. Yet, nearly all programs for developing families focus primarily on mothers and children. Families need more! Through direct service, research, and training, Love, Dad advocates for policies and practices that promote work with fathers as an expected and integrated part of engaging developing families.