Exploring Narratives of Three South African Fathers with Children in Care: Insights for Consideration

ABSTRACT The significance of fathers in the lives of their children is increasingly getting recognition worldwide, including in South Africa. However, critical gaps exist in the inclusion of fathers as child protection is maternally focussed and it seems to be a particular form of gatekeeping for fathers. This study engaged involved fathers on their inclusion and/or exclusion in identifying solutions toward their increased participation in relationship building with their children in a residential care facility. It this way, it also builds on family strengthening and reunification interventions. This was a qualitative study. Purposive sampling was applied and involved fathers with children in care were recruited by social workers. Using observation and interviews, three involved fathers were interviewed, and the data was analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. The findings indicate that although fathers wanted to participate in the lives of their children, they felt alienated. Thus, a transformative gender-sensitive social work and gender-conscious practice with men is recommended through development of specialized models of working with men similar to approaches with and for marginalized clients. Improved engagement of fathers and enhancing father-mother-child relationships are crucial for transformative child welfare and family practice and toward family strengthening and reunification interventions.