Orienting Services to Separated/Divorced Fathers: A Conceptual Framework

• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/fcre.12059
• Author: Lynda M. Ashbourne,Denise L. Whitehead,Linda Hawkins
• Published date: 01 October 2013
• Date: 01 October 2013

ORIENTING SERVICES TO SEPARATED/DIVORCED FATHERS:

A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

Lynda M. Ashbourne, Denise L. Whitehead, and Linda Hawkins

We introduce a conceptual framework incorporating the various domains that programs and services must address when

considering the needs of separating and separated/divorced fathers. The three core domains are: (1) Support for reconfiguring

family structure, attending to transitions associated with decoupling while maintaining a co-parenting relationship; (2) Support

for parenting, including acquisition of parenting skills and knowledge about the effects of separation/divorce on children;

and (3) Support for psychosocial needs, addressing issues such as mental health, substance abuse, and emotional distress.

These domains are situated within the broader context of socio-cultural and legal systems and will vary across time.

Keypoints for the Family Court Community

• Separating/separated fathers face major shifts in the configuration of family and spousal relationships, and in their roles

as fathers. In addition, these significant life changes affect their personal wellbeing.

• A framework is presented to guide service providers (e.g., mental health, court-related, alternative dispute resolution

services) and policy makers in addressing these three key domains of separated fathers’ experience.

• Broader socio-cultural and legal contexts, and specific suggestions for implementing the framework are included.

• Goal is to effectively address fathers’ needs in establishing positive postseparation parenting and parent–child

relationships.

Keywords: Conflict. Divorce;Fathering;Parenting;PsychosocialWell-Being Support;and Separation.

INTRODUCTION

“It was the best of times; it was the worst of times”—Dickens’description aptly portrays the reality

for many contemporary separated/divorced fathers. Today’s “involved” father is heralded for his

ability to care for and nurture his children while also engaging in a meaningful parent-child relation-

ship. The increasing numbers of fathers sharing custody and assuming primary parenting roles after

separation are touted for their efforts and the positive effect their engagement has on children.Yet, the

worst is often ascribed to separated fathers who are frequently portrayed as villainous and demonized

with much discussion about “deadbeat” and absent fathers (Braver & Griffin, 2000; Hallman,

Dienhart, & Beaton, 2007; Mandell, 2002). In part, it is an increasing willingness on the part of

society and researchers to stop and reflect on fathers specifically that has given rise to a great deal

of interest in fathers’ experiences, the role they have to play in child development, and those aspects

of their parenting that may both mirror and complement the parenting of mothers, revealing the

distinct ways that fathers contribute to their children (Day, Lewis, O’Brien, & Lamb, 2005; Doherty,

Kouneski, & Erickson, 2000; Doucet, 2006).

A father-focused lens, informed by critical theorizing on gender, highlights the difference between

fathers’ and mothers’ experiences. By training such a lens on separating and post-separation family

life, we attend specifically to the range of fathers’ experiences and challenges in maintaining rela-

tionships with their children, negotiating changed relationships with ex-partners, and coping with

associated stressors following marital dissolution. Some of these issues or challenges are similar to

those of mothers, and some are unique to fathers. The focus on fathers in this paper reflects a

deliberate decision of the authors who were active researchers in a five year pan-Canadian research

Correspondence: lashbour@uoguelph.ca; dwhitehe@uoguelph.ca

FAMILY COURT REVIEW, Vol. 51 No. 4, October 2013 666–680

© 2013 Association of Familyand Conciliation Cour ts