The Institute wants explicit government guidance to ensure that local services detail the number of young fathers they are engaging with, assessing and offering a service to, and publish the results.
The proposal is part of an action plan to help public services actively support young fathers in overcoming economic and social disadvantage.
Rob Williams, chief executive of the Fatherhood Institute, said: "Some services already do a fantastic job - our challenge now is to raise standards across the board. It is crucial that engaging fathers should be an optional extra."
The action plan was published together with an ICM poll, commissioned by the Fatherhood Institute, which found strong evidence that the public feels young fathers need extra help to overcome disadvantage and negative portrayals in the media.
Ninety-three per cent of respondents said they thought services that work with young mothers should also work with young fathers to help them develop close relationships with their children.
"The poll results are a welcome sign that attitudes towards young fathers are changing," said Williams. "We are moving beyond the blame game and the public now takes a pragmatic view."
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