Understanding the Perspectives of Black Fathers Engaged in Child Welfare Services: Using the Ecological Framework

Abstract

Black children often reside in fatherless homes and are overrepresented in CWS. International scholars acknowledge the importance of positive father involvement on child outcomes and family functioning as well as recognize fathers’ underrepresentation in child welfare services (CWS). Consequently, it is imperative to encourage positive father engagement among Black fathers in CWS to mitigate the risks associated with child maltreatment and improve the outcomes of Black children and families. Unfortunately, there is a dearth of literature on fathers in CWS, particularly among Black fathers, and a paucity of qualitative research to understand the perspectives of service utilization from these men. The purpose of this dissertation research is to explore the lived experiences of Black fathers in CWS to better understand the barriers to and facilitators of their engagement in these services. Methods This qualitative research study adopted a constructivist grounded theory methodology with requires rigorous data collection and analysis techniques to best understand the unique perspectives of Black fathers engaged in CWS. Eighteen self-identify Black biological fathers from the Greater Toronto Area who received CWS in the last 3 years participated in semi-structured interviews. Results The study revealed that fathers who faced financial hardship, legal involvement, mental health challenges, abandonment, maternal gatekeeping, custody and access disputes, as well as incidents of domestic violence struggled to engage in CWS. At the organizational level, fathers who felt devalued or experienced gender bias, systemic racism, and a poor working relationship with their case workers often contemplated disengagement. With regards to the facilitators of engagement, fathers who felt securely attached to their children, held employment, and had connections with other fathers engaged in CWS were more likely to continue service utilization at the time of the study despite the barriers faced. Furthermore, fathers who felt valued by their caseworkers and who reported gender inclusivity in service delivery were more likely to be resilient and remained engaged. The findings from this research will grant child welfare agencies and affiliated community service partners new knowledge which may aid in the development of effective policies and practices to better engage fathers, especially Black fathers, in services.