The Fatherhood Institute's Hit the Ground Crawling pilots inStaffordshire resulted in 78 per cent of fathers on the programmefeeling more confident about supporting the mother of their child.
The pilot involved small groups of fathers and a children's centreprofessional, discussing concerns with "veteran dads" who also broughttheir babies along.
A further 80 per cent of the 67 fathers who took part have continued touse services available through East Staffordshire Children's Centre,while 64 per cent said they had learned how to improve theirrelationship with the mother.
David Bartlett, deputy-chief executive of the Fatherhood Institute, whodeveloped the programme, said many fathers traditionally feel disengagedby antenatal and postnatal services. He intends to issue the findings tolocal authorities at the Institute's conference in April in an effort tosee the programme rolled out nationwide.
"We'll also be providing evidence to the government, as they are in theprocess of rethinking antenatal and postnatal services," he said. "We'rehoping it will inform the model that emerges."
The Fatherhood Institute delivers the government's Think Fatherscampaign, focused on making family services more accessible for fathers.Hit the Ground Crawling has previously been praised by the governmentfor being a positive example of family support.
