Increasing the awareness of child-centered fathering in order to reduce the risk of harm to children and their mothers caused by domestic violence. Erasmus Project

Project Title

Increasing the awareness of child-centered fathering in order to reduce the risk of harm to children and their mothers caused by domestic violence.

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Gender equality / equal opportunities; Social dialogue; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning

Project Summary

Despite the importance of fathers in families, our child protection and child and family mental health service systems tend to work primarily with mothers; a trend that is exacerbated when fathers are deemed to be high risk. Ironically, this means that those fathers who most need to be monitored and helped by our intervention systems are not involved. Those men’s children pay the price with higher rates of aggression, substance use, criminal involvement, suicide attempts, mental health problems and chronic health conditions (https://caringdads.org/).

To address this gap, the project partners in Estonia, Latvia and Slovenia adapted, implemented, evaluated, tried and tested a Canadian intervention program „Caring Dads“. „Caring Dads“ program is integrated into child protection and women’s support services, in order to reduce the risk of harm to children and their mothers.

The activities of the project lasted from 1 November 2018 to 31 October 2021, which were initially planned to be carried out over two years (from 1 November 2018 to 31 October 2020). The project was extended by one year due to the volume of activities, the change of project manager and the late start of the program testing period. At the same time, the quantitative results of the project changed, exceeding initial expectations. We were able to take on more fathers’ groups than planned and, at the same time, involve more cohesion groups than planned (officials and specialists working with fathers).

The global pandemic COVID19, which began in 2020, posed major challenges for project promoters, that we overcame together. The fathers’ groups had to be transferred online, which proved to be a great challenge considering the target group of the program. At the same time, the organisation of online groups provided an opportunity for fathers living in remote areas or working abroad to participate in the program. Based on fathers’ feedback, participating in the online group work is important for them in terms of saving time and ensuring sufficient anonymity.

Result 1: The adapted new innovative program Caring Dads, including training and program manuals.

The main goal of the project was to test and integrate “Caring Fathers” program in Estonia, Latvia and Slovenia. A total of 14 fathers’ groups were trained in the three countries, adapting the program manual, workbook, training process, financial model, communication plan and all other necessary documents for the local circumstances. Problems and topics encountered during the testing period were reviewed with the help of a mentor appointed by the program owner and the program owners themselves. The collaboration was effective and efficient. The necessary discussions, exchange of information and meetings were carried out online using e-mail, Facebook (i.e. Messenger) Skype, Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

Result 2: Child protection protocols and processes to underpin intervention with fathers.

Current child protection practices focus on mothers that require them to protect their children. Fathers, who are perpetrators of gender-based violence, are often absent from child protection planning and are not called out to take responsibility for protecting their children. A local government’s child protection worker is a key player in the prevention and resolution of domestic violence. Appropriate interventions are important to support families with children in order to reduce violence. Child protection workers have acknowledged and welcomed the program and confirmed it’s impact.

In cooperation with the project’s leading partners MTÜ VAITER and Tallinn Social and Health Care Board, a service model was completed, which aim was to integrate the program into the child protection system. Social and child protection workers from eight districts of Tallinn (https://www.tallinn.ee/est/Linnaosad) were involved. Tallinn has been an important partner since about 35% of the Estonian total population lives in the capital (https://www.tallinn.ee/est/Tallinna-elanike-arv). The service model maps the route, needs and risks of the service user. In addition to the child protection system, the whole Estonian justice system was involved including courts, the prosecutors’ offices and victim support.

The program’s adaptation and integration into the child protection system was successful. Although, the lasting effect of a successful program depends on the ability of the child protection system to work with families with children and the ability of both the state and local governments. The program is only one type of intervention for bettering the involvement of fathers, which must be preceded and followed by effective work with parents. Thus, the impact of the program depends mainly on the capacity of each country’s social and child protection system.

During the project period, the ability to offer the program to the corresponding target group, i.e. fathers with child-damaging behaviour, was achieved in three countries. In the course of the project, information groups, involvement and guidance were provided in each country through information days, seminars and a final conference. Thus, the existence of the program creates good preconditions for dealing with the topic, i.e. involving the fathers.

Result 3: Web-based open-source program materials to support professional practice in this field.

During the testing and training of the groups, the guidelines and instructions related to the program were adapted to the local circumstances in each country. The most extensive work was to customise the program manual and other important documents such as: program introductory materials (information leaflets), instructions for group leaders, instructions for conducting a motivational interview, cooperation with child protection workers, client questionnaire, client agreements, application form, final report for fathers. In addition, an analysis of the violence in a relationship, a service model, a communication plan and a training process were prepared.

In Europe, the program is being implemented in various countries, such as England and Germany. As a result of the project, three new countries were added to the list. The joint adaptation of the program through the project was effective for the testing purposes and for the project partners to exchange their experiences. Simultaneously with the testing and implementation of the program, the informative work (seminars, conferences, information days) was conducted among legal groups and in the whole society. Only the owner of the program has the right to publish materials related to the program. An overview of the program can be found at https://caringdads.org/.

The program model tested during the project, that can be successfully used to involve and train parents, has four main objectives:
A. Engaging Men
B. Child-centered Parenting
C. Recognising and challenging abuse / neglect
D. Rebuilding trust & planning for the future

Result 4: Publications resulting from the evaluation of the project.

In addition to the model described above and the guidelines for involving fathers, our partner Miessakit RY from Finland, who was involved as an expert, prepared a number of recommendations and guidelines for working with fathers. All the project guides are available to anyone interested on the website www.vaiter.ee and https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/projects/.

Finland has made great strides in improving the mental and physical well-being of men over the past decade. The men-centered approach is valued – the needs of men are understood. It works for men and only men do it. Men’s well-being is supported and improved. Involving men begins with understanding men. In particular, a secure and cost-free counselling environment is provided. Getting help reduces men’s shame and increases trust and involvement. Support centres have been set up across the country to involve and support men.

The work on violent men, that begun in Finland in the 1990s, has proven to be effective. Change starts with recognising the problems. It is not just by supporting the victims that will solve the situation. The work poses a number of challenges for professionals working in the field, which is why resources must be actively sought to prevent and reduce domestic violence.

The results of the project are reflected in the agreement with the project partners on the website www.vaiter.ee

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 148379,5 Eur

Project Coordinator

MTÜ VAITER & Country: EE

Project Partners

• TALLINNA SOTSIAAL-JA TERVISHOIUAMET
• Miessakit ry
• DRUSTVO ZA NENASILNO KOMUNIKACIJO
• Riga Social Service